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Who's seen the Pogues back in the day?

Stories and anecdotes about live shows
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131 posts • Page 3 of 9 • 1, 2, 3, 4, 5, 6 ... 9
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Boston Pogues

Post Fri Dec 16, 2005 2:06 pm

I first saw them in 87 at Foxboro Stadium near Boston, opening for U2. All I remember was, that I danced a sad kind of dance during the Pogues set, drank out of a flask in the men's room during little Steven's set, and was mad, for some reason, that Bono's arm was in a sling. I was drunk, or more appropriately, pissed so my recollections are few and foggy. The next time was 89 at the Orpheum in Boston. Shane had a full beard and an electric green shirt and a red cup in his hand that I believe contained tequila and lemonade. That show I remember. James doing an Eddie Van Halen routine on accordian sticks out, as well as Shane holding a lyric sheet that he dropped, that got caught up in the breeze from the fans set up in front of Shane on stage, and that then stuck to his crotch for a good portion of the show as he grinned like a madman the whole time. Afterwards I got drunk, but that was later.

P.S. That was also the night my friend Marty Sweeny first showed me his tatoo of Joey Ramone that ran basically from his shoulder to his elbow. Impressive. Then I got drunk.
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Post Fri Dec 16, 2005 2:36 pm

My first time was St Pats Day 1985 at Hammersmith Clarendon Ballroom.

I'd only just passed my driving test a few weeks earlier and the day after had driven from Wycombe to Rough Trade Records in Notting Hill to get some tickets for the 17th. (The days when you had to go to a venue or agency no phone calls then) Anyway that night will always stay with me. There were three supports - Lash Lariat, The Rapiers and one other(Hank Wangford or Boothills ? ) . Anyway Shane was late arriving at the venue so Elvis Costello came on stage and played 4 songs to appease the crowd. Eventually Pogues came on stage and my life changed forever.

A week later back to London to see them at the Bull and Gate Pub , Kentish Town. I went with a mate and we joined this long queue and just made it in before they stopped admitting any more. Recall they filmed some of the crowd for A Pair of Brown eyes video. I think they played the song twice but may be mistaken. Don't know if this footage ever saw the light of day.

For the remainder of 85 tried to catch them whenever possible Reading, Glastonbury (first time there and been almost every year since...thanks Pogues) Scunthorpe (all day festival), Mean Fiddler supported by Duckbill Paterson (also known as Billy Bragg !). A coachload of us went to see them at the Top Rank Brighton in autumn 1985. Never been to Brighton before loved the place and moved there in 1986 where I've been since. So if it wasn't for the Pogues I would never have moved to the South coast, not met my wife (who I met at a Levellers gig in Brighton in the early 1990's) and my life would had been totally different.

One other funny was the Pogues were supposed to be recording a gig for London TV at the Camden Palace in the afternoon. A few of us travelled upto Camden and I bumped into Shane in the gents on the high street. Started a conversation with him and he mumbled something about they wouldn't be playing as all their gear was stuck at Stockholm Airport. Anyway we went along to the Palace and it was true so had to sit through 30 minutes of the Blow Monkeys. Most people didn't hang around so there must have only been about 20 people in there. When it was eventually shown on TV there were no crowd shots and crowd noise had been dubbed in !


Probably saw the boys about 20 times during 1986 - 1987. Then in March 1988 the best ever.

It was the Should I fall from Grace tour and I saw them 6 nights out of 8. It started in Brighton then Southampton before The Town and County Club for 5 nights of which I managed four (train or car from Brighton every night) and then they finished at Brixton Academy on the Sunday (took my Dad along though he did sit upstairs).

On about the 2nd T&C gig a couple of us were late leaving the venue and were stoped by one of the Pogues entourage who said were we interested in coming back the next morning to take part in filming Should I fall from Grace video. Would we !!!!. So back the next morning and there must have been about 50 people and we had to pogo around the venue for about an hour for about 7 or 8 different takes of the single. Met Spider who was very sociable. He put us on the guest list for the gig that night.

The following night was the infamous St Pats gig which was recorded.Never forget Joe Strummer coming on stage and then a few of the Specials for Rudy

1988 was probably the highpoint . After that there's been the tour with Joe Strummer replacing Shane went to a few of those.

The reunions have been great since and Guildford was good. Took my Dad again and this time got him down the front for a few songs before he gracefully retired to the back.

Pogues....thanks for everything and see you next
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Post Fri Dec 16, 2005 6:28 pm

QM Glasgow 85, 4 times on IISFWGWG tour - Palais Royale Toronto, Barrowlands, Glasgow, then twice at The Concert Hall Toronto the following summer. Barrowlands again on the Hell's Ditch tour. The 2 standouts were the Palais Royale. No one knew till he walked on stage that Strummer was playing, gasps all round, the bonus of a couple of clash tunes and the best version of Dark Streets Of London I heard. Barrowlands, the day my then girlfriends parents found her pills and realise we were having sex. (not when they found out!) She came to the gig in tears and it certainly picked her up. Strummer, Kirsty McCall, Fairytale in the charts and a phenomenal crowd. I' ve got a version of Maggie May from the gig that still sounds fantastic.
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Post Tue Jan 03, 2006 4:09 pm

My first Pogues gig was at Montreal's Club Soda (a small venue) July 4th 1986. A smashing gig, with Spider Stacy yelling "Vive Le Quebec Libre !" in any microphone left unattended (much to the delight of half the crowd :D and the displeasure of the other half) and Shane McGowan having a beer spraying match with the audience at the end. They started with Repealing of the Licencing Laws if memory serves me well.

Liked them so much I catched the Birmingham UK gig at the Powerhouse, Dec. 16th 1986, with Light A Big Fire opening. Another great night !

Saw them with Joe Strummer filling in for Phil Chevron in December 2nd 1987 at Montreal Spectrum. Had a psychic moment when I bought the ticket. As I walked out of the ticket booth, I heard "Joe Strummer...!" coming from the TV beaming Much Music at the time. "Christ, he's dead..." I thought "...will be playing with the Pogues on their upcoming US and canadian tour !" And I dashed to the nearest bar to celebrate :D A legend playing his heart out with a legendary band, what else can you ask for ?

My favourite gig, so much energy !

Then June 21st 1988 at Montreal St.Denis Theater. My ribs still hurt of being pushed on the edge of the stage !

July 15th 1989 gig, this time in an arena (Université de Montréal CEPSUM) with Mojo Nixon and Violent Femmes.

Last but not the least, was March 15th 1994 at Montreal's Metropolis.
La vie passe vite, mais c'est long par p'tits bouttes.
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1986 - Baltimore 8x10 Club

Post Wed Jan 11, 2006 6:12 pm

I first saw them after Rum Sodomy & the Lash was released at the 8x10 club in Federal Hill in Baltimore. 8x10 was is about the size of the place. It's a converted rowhouse with the stage at one end and a bar running down the length. The upstairs overlooks the stage. Maybe it fits 200 people.

Then a year or two later I saw them with Mojo Nixon'/Skid Roper and the Violent Femmes at Wolftrap in Virginia. Shane was on for about 3 songs before the rest of the band escorted him off. I don't remember if he came back on or not, or who headlined (Pogues or Violent Femmes).

Am going to Atlantic City for the show there. Can't wait.
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Post Thu Jan 12, 2006 1:05 am

First saw them in Detroit at St. Andrew's Hall, July 1986. Mojo Nixon opened for them. Cait was still in the band and Elvis was in tow.

Saw them again in Detroit at a place called Todd's in December 1987, Joe Strummer was in tow. It was shortly after they filmed Straight To Hell, if I remember correctly.
I'd be nothing without baseball.
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Post Mon Jan 23, 2006 4:20 pm

I saw them in Newport (the Welsh one) Centre in October/November
1990.
I left the gig feeling very sad. Shane really did not want to be there, his body language was not good, the bottle being emptied quickly, and the rest of the band sang more than they should of. Sad day for a die hard Pogues fan.
Last December in Cardiff was totally different Shane had a grin like a cheshire cat bounced round the stage and appeared to be enjoying himself.
Now that was more like it!
Cheers
Welshie
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Post Mon Jan 23, 2006 6:52 pm

Sun March 24 "85 @ B/burn Kings Georges Hall - Big Richards And some poet (I think ) support

fri 13 sept 85 @ B/burn King Georges Hall- Toxic Youth Support
"Put the Kettle on ."
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Bogarts in Cincinnati, OH - late 80's

Post Fri Feb 03, 2006 9:43 pm

Scan of set list that got "stuck" to my buddy's shoe during stage dive. (ok, got "stuck" to his hand but the dive was impressive nonetheless!)

Locked and loaded for 3/16!

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nips
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Post Sun Feb 05, 2006 3:40 pm

Right then! I have loved reading these stories so much I can’t resist sharing mine…
I had this buddy back in the late seventies who was into all things punk. I had been raised, in the states, in a nationalist family and this was well known by all who knew me. Was it from the bumper stickers on my Jeep or the memorabilia in the house or mabee all the time spent out in front of the brit embasy, doesn’t matter. My man said I had, HAD, to see these guys. Don’t remember the venue, someplace really small (the Birchmere maybe?) But the guy in front of me puked on the stage and got the bums rush big time. I remember someone onstage with long hair sweating profusely onto the crowd.
Then once in Dublin, must have been the same show mentioned earlier, “85”mcgonagles. But my most memorable show was definitely at Wolftrap in Virginia. I think it was 102 degrees (F) and 96% humidity. Incredibly stifling day. (I was so dehydrated I was sick for two days and could only whisper for three) I snuck in a fifth of 15 year old scotch and was the big hit in the fourth row. Tried to pass the drink up on stage but it never made it that far. I was removed from my seat twice for screaming, OUT, OUT, OUT, or UTP, or some such political slogan (heady times they were). All on stage were feeling the heat ( sitting, falling sweating), but The Pogues hot or cold, day or night are the best. (period) Best writers. Best performers. Best arraignments. Tightest, most entertaining, GD F*%#@ing band that ever graced my ears. Thank you, for then, for NOW and for everything. I am bringing my 24 year old hip-hop loving son (he heard about the show and got the tickets for my Bday, God Gods and Goddesses bless him)(Lord knows he’s heard all the songs and knows Irish history well enough to appreciate them) to the NYC show on the 17th. Might be too much info but we are staying at the Casablanca and plan to spend as much time as possible at Rocky Sullivan’s on Thursday and Friday, after the show. I’ll be wearing a shirt that says “I still hate Thatcher”
Once again Thanks to Spider Phillip and all.
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Post Sun Feb 05, 2006 5:54 pm

Great story!
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Post Sun Feb 05, 2006 9:24 pm

Glastonbury 1985 and 1986 One sunny the other a complete mud pit, and i got the bootleg on a cassette so have got to know the gig really well, Cait telling the crowd to stop pushing or someone was gonna get badly hurt, Birmingham nec on the grace from god tour all awesome gigs ansd several reunion gigs on each tour in citys from brum to glasgow and dublin and london. New York here i come !!
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Post Sun Feb 05, 2006 9:55 pm

back in the day?

1) The Ritz, NYC, the Saturday after Thanksgiving 1987. Big Dipper opened up-crowd really pissed them off. Joe Strummer came out and did "London Calling" and "I Fought the Law". I seem to remember "Maggie May" being played and Shane forgetting the words and just repeating Maggie, Maggie, Maggie, maggie, Maggie, Maggie, Maggie May to the melody.

2) Roseland Ballroom, NYC, summer 1988. Luka Bloom opened and totally won over the audience!

3) The Pier, NYC, summer 1989. Mojo Nixon, Pogues, Violent Femmes.
Vague recollection of a NYPost review with something to the effect of,
"You thought Rap music was violent, the crowd at the Pogues last night...."
I think I ran into Phillip and he handed me a backstage pass (he was sort of anonymous stage right watching Violent Femmes) got backstage and came a cross a bunch of record industry types and trailers and not much else

4) The Palladium, NYC, March 16, 1990. Pogues were on SNL and did a one off show....very blurry.

5,6) couple of times at the Beacon Theater, last one sober.

The dream is over....
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Post Sun Feb 05, 2006 10:02 pm

4) The Palladium, NYC, March 16, 1990. Pogues were on SNL and did a one off show....very blurry.


Oh yeah...I just remembered-it was an early show because later on it was Lambada night. It was very humorous to watch the drunken Pogues crowd come out while the NYC Latin community all dressed up and ready to dance observe with a confused, "what the hell happened in there?" look
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Post Mon Feb 06, 2006 8:36 pm

Reading festival.
What year was that? Maybe 88 or 89?
I have good memories of that gig. Vague memories....
"...fall on your face in those bad shoes..."
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