D.C. Roll Call

[Eric V]

it's not like the 9:30 club is in the middle of Tikrit or Kabul.

Yea, those places aren't so bad. Kabul is downright tame compared to the area around the 9:30 Club. But I would go to any of those places to see the Pogues! If in doubt, wear body armor.

[Mr.Awesome]

After the fall of the Taliban in Afghanistan the first bar to open up was an Irish pub in Kabul. I'm sure the jukebox is very Pogue-heavy so while you couldn't see them in Kabul, you could at least listen to the records in a bar.

[Eric V]

After the fall of the Taliban in Afghanistan the first bar to open up was an Irish pub in Kabul. I'm sure the jukebox is very Pogue-heavy so while you couldn't see them in Kabul, you could at least listen to the records in a bar.

http://www.kabulguide.net/kbl-irishclub.htm

Thanks for the tip. I'll swing by.

[DzM]

After the fall of the Taliban in Afghanistan the first bar to open up was an Irish pub in Kabul. I'm sure the jukebox is very Pogue-heavy so while you couldn't see them in Kabul, you could at least listen to the records in a bar.

http://www.kabulguide.net/kbl-irishclub.htm
Thanks for the tip. I'll swing by.

So you've hinted at this several times and thus far nobody has taken the bait. What the hell - I'll go first.

Eric V, please tell me what you'll be doing in Afghanistan.Will I be proud of you? Will I tell people that I'm Canadian following the disclosure of what you'll be doing? Will you be getting shot at? Will you be shooting at others? Are you and a baseball bat going to have a secret conversation with somebody's knees? Will you get me a few cans of the local version of Coca-Cola (Not just some local cola - Coca-Cola. I have a collection going of cans of Coca-Cola from around the world.)?

I'm consumed with curiosity.

[Eric V]

please tell me what you'll be doing in Afghanistan.Will I be proud of you? Will I tell people that I'm Canadian following the disclosure of what you'll be doing? Will you be getting shot at? Will you be shooting at others? Are you and a baseball bat going to have a secret conversation with somebody's knees? Will you get me a few cans of the local version of Coca-Cola (Not just some local cola - Coca-Cola. I have a collection going of cans of Coca-Cola from around the world.)?

There are a lot of people in Afghanistan. One day, soon after the shows, I'll just say goodbye here and you most likely will not hear back from me until sometime in the summer, unless I am unfortunate, in which I'll be dead, or my deployment will have been extended. When I get back, you can be sure I'll check in. What will I be doing? I'm not entirely sure. I don't think talking about that, or guns, or that kind of stuff here would be a good idea. So, you're one of those Coke fiends I've run into from time to time. Well yes, DzM, I'll see what I can do. And thanks for caring, man!

[DzM]

There are a lot of people in Afghanistan. One day, soon after the shows, I'll just say goodbye here and you most likely will not hear back from me until sometime in the summer, unless I am unfortunate, in which I'll be dead, or my deployment will have been extended.

So you'll be one (or two, really) of the proverbial "Boots On The Ground?" Wow.

I've only directly known one other soldier due for deployment in Afghanistan or Iraq. He is (or was) a Green Barret (so he told us all). About a week before the Iraq invasion he went silent. Nobody on that mail list has heard from him since.

He is (was?) quite the gung-ho soldier. I find myself thinking of him often these days. I hope he's OK.

Hope you stay safe.

When I get back, you can be sure I'll check in. What will I be doing? I'm not entirely sure. I don't think talking about that, or guns, or that kind of stuff here would be a good idea.

Why? Due to the generally liberal leaning many of us have here, or for Security Reasons? I'll agree with you if the latter, but disagree if the former. As far as I'm concerned this place is welcoming to (nearly) all as long as people can disagree wthout being assholes. But yeah, <i>Medusa</i> does not have a particularly high security rating and is certianly not FIPS-140 compliant.

So, you're one of those Coke fiends I've run into from time to time. Well yes, DzM, I'll see what I can do.

Not a Coke field per se (though I do consume a hell of a lot more than I should). A coworker and I started doing this a few years ago though. Each time one or the other of us would travel we'd pick up a few cans of the local "average" sized Coke (usually 350 through 375mL or so) and give them to eachother. Now I've got quite a collection going: Australia, New Zealand, Japan (more variations on size and container style there than you can imagine), India, England, Germany, France, etc. I'd fill my colleague with The Jealous if I were able to get some crazy Afghan or Pakistan Coke - particularly if it had the logo rendered in the crazy local language rather than the triditional Coca-Cola logo.

But I digress.

[Eric V]

No. I think of soldiers as boots. I'm not in any more. I will be wearing some nifty hiking boots though.

As for staying safe, I intend to. Thanks. If you want me to look into your friend's safety you could PM me his name and I'll see what I can find if you are serious.

As for my vagueness, I'm here as a Pogues fan and enjoy the company. If I wanted to spout off about terrorism, there are lots of places out there on the internet to do that if I wanted to, but at the moment I'd rather whine about tickets , the 9:30 Club , cheese , and some 14 year old gutter rabbit who I swear I still think is Shane having some fun... or maybe I would just like to think so for some redeiculous reason. And besides, I can talk about that stuff at work all day long, but nobody there knows who the Pogues are.

BTW, I once drank a six pack of warm Panamanian Coke on a six hour bus ride from hell. Also, try Turkish Coke. If it is still anything like it was in 1984, it will take the enamel (sp?) right off your teeth.

[Eric V]

Thought some of you might enjoy these shows around D.C.

http://www.dogfish.com/news/Live_Music_at_DFH_Alehouse_-_The_Kissers/108/index.htm

I've read that the Kissers are a good bar band. They have been doing a lot of touring over the last year, and every time they come near us I seem to miss them. Anyway, Dogfish Head Brewery makes amazingly powerful beers (taste and octane), and the show is free. Can't beat that. Its at the DFH Alehouse in Gaithersburg on Feb 2nd!

http://www.thestatetheatre.com/

Black 47 plays the State Theater in Falls Church March 16th. They open for Seven Nations, who are apparently a Celtic Rock extraveganza, but I don't know who they are, which probably says more about my lack of information than their lack of talent. Tickets are $17... ouch, but it might be a fun night out.

[neilinseattle]

I'm a big fan of the Kissers. I lived in Madison, WI from 2000-2004 and got to see them numerous times as they grew from a Pogues cover band to develop their own distinctive sound. (They also do a great Johnny Cash tribute show.) I got to see them here in Seattle back in the spring and bought them all a round of Jameson. They're coming back in February. I wish them luck and hope that they achieve their goal of making a living playing music. I know they are trying very hard, with what appears to be good results. If they are in your area, I highly recommend getting out to see them.

"And I thank the Lord for alcohol and grass....."

[philipchevron]

Black 47 plays the State Theater in Falls Church March 16th. They open for Seven Nations, who are apparently a Celtic Rock extraveganza, but I don't know who they are, which probably says more about my lack of information than their lack of talent. Tickets are $17... ouch, but it might be a fun night out.

Interesting pairing. Seven Nations used to be called Clan Na Gael and covered my song Faithful Departed on their first album.

[Eric V]

Something just tumbled into my in box that led me to find this, and I think some of you might want to know:

Billy Bragg solo
17 March - South By South West gig, with The Klezmatics (To Be Confirmed)
18 March - SXSW Anti Gig (TBC)
19 March - Minneapolis, MN, Fine Line
20 March - Chicago, IL, Park West
21 March - Ann Arbor, MI, The Ark
23 March - Boston, MA, Somerville Theatre
24 March - New York, NY, NYSec
25 March - Philadelphia, PA, Keswick Theatre
26 March - Alexandria, VA, Birchmere
Box office/booking details to follow.

Also, I see TicketBastards list him as playing at the Birchmere on the 27th as well. I guess Billy wanted to take two days to thrash Bush and Cheney.

[sheva]

Ah...now that's what I like to see, a show coming to the Keswick Theater! It's a lovely old place - originally a vaudeville theater, then a cinema, now host to all sorts of live performances - and did I mention that it's right down the block from my house?

Billy Bragg in my neighborhood, yay!!

[anfield boy]

I got to see them here in Seattle back in the spring and bought them all a round of Jameson. They're coming back in February. I wish them luck and hope that they achieve their goal of making a living playing music. I know they are trying very hard, with what appears to be good results. If they are in your area, I highly recommend getting out to see them.

"And I thank the Lord for alcohol and grass....."

I'd go, do you know which venue?

[Michaelo]

Black 47 plays the State Theater in Falls Church March 16th. They open for Seven Nations, who are apparently a Celtic Rock extraveganza, but I don't know who they are, which probably says more about my lack of information than their lack of talent. Tickets are $17... ouch, but it might be a fun night out.

Crikey, I didn't realise Black47 were still around. I saw them support The Pogues at the Camden Electric Ballroom around 1990. I bumped into Darryl Hunt before the show and he gave me and my friend tickets for the aftershow party. What a nice guy. What a night! At the party I had a chat with Black47s singer. Can't remember his name but I liked the band- they had a unique sound.+-

[neilinseattle]

I got to see them here in Seattle back in the spring and bought them all a round of Jameson. They're coming back in February. I wish them luck and hope that they achieve their goal of making a living playing music. I know they are trying very hard, with what appears to be good results. If they are in your area, I highly recommend getting out to see them.

"And I thank the Lord for alcohol and grass....."

I'd go, do you know which venue?

Wed., Feb. 22 9:00 PM Tractor Tavern
5213 Ballard Ave NW Seattle, WA

You can see their full schedule on thekissers.com

Let me know if you go and we can share a pint or two.