Who's seen the Pogues back in the day?

[runjohnnyrun]

I saw Shane and the Popes in Toronto in 1995. Apart from FINALLY hearing those songs done live, my most vivid memory is a conversation I had with a girl at the t-shirt table after the show. I had just bought the "Donegal Express" shirt and this beautiful, and very drunk, girl beside me leaned over and said, "I've seen Shane MacGowan naked..." "Have you?" I said. "Where did this happen?" "Backstage in Glasgow," she cryptically replied. "Huh." I said. "Give us a kiss." And she did! Then disappeared.

Kind of a daft story actually.

[Michaelo]

I first saw them in 1988, at Wembley Arena (which I also wrote about on the "anyone injured at a Pogues concert" thread).
The thing that suprised me most about the gig was that, although IISFFGWG had come out that year, they had so many new songs already. Yeah, Yeah, Yeah, Yeah, Yeah had just come out so they played all the songs from that single, plus (if I remember rightly) NW3, Train Of Love, The Balinalee, U.S.A, Japan and Boat Train- all of which were unreleased at the time. The energy of the performance and the atmosphere were amazing. I remember Jem introduced Train Of Love by saying "It's time to get out the ear plugs because I'm singing this one".

[Maija]

The nearest I get to having seen the Pogues "back in the day" would be in the mid-nineties in Oslo. I skipped school that day, took the train to the Big City and found out that I had to borrow an ID to get in as I was nowhere near old enough to get in.

And, years later I named my daughter Ada after the woman who borrowed me her Uni ID card back then

[Lawlor in Roslindale]

This is in response to K Murray's post. I too saw the Roseland show in 1988 and the Pier 47 show with Mojo and the Femmes, which was in 1989 or 1990, not sure which. I fully concur with your memories of both shows.

The Roseland show, as I was just telling a friend the other night, was an absolutely phenomenal event. I hadn't heard a single Pogues song until the moment they came on stage and I was just blown away. The band played perfectly and the crowd was full of a kind of mad, boundless energy. I stood on the floor, on the far side of the quasi-mosh pit, and couldn't believe that Irish folk music was responsible for the frenzy. Does anyone who was there remember some dude waving a huge Irish flag? There may have been more than one. The song that did it for me that night was Medley, especially the chorus on the Galway Races section. It seemed like everyone in the crowd knew the words, except me.

Anyway, back to 2006. I'm going to the second Boston show. The Boston Globe did a piece on the band this past Sunday. I have to say, I was a bit shocked at the look of Shane, although he sounds from the article as if he's about the same as reported.

[RevolutionRock]

Just got a good pair of tickets for the march 14th show at the Orpheum on ticketmaster, it's worth checking now and then, occasionally tickets will pop up.
First saw the Pogues at Spit in Boston 1986, I recall there was a buzz that Elvis Costello was there and was going to join them onstage - he didn't. A year later at The Metro w/ Joe Strummer filling in on guitar. VERY rowdy croud that night. I got into a fight toward the end of the evening, in fact it seems like alot of people got into some sort of beef at that show. I saw them twice in 1989 - The Opera House in Boston and Great Woods in Mansfield, Ma with The Violent Femmes and Mojo Nixon. I taped both those shows with fine results, I think they're both floatng around as bootlegs. A few years later I had front row, dead fuckin' center seats at the Orpheum. Then I read Shane had been dimissed from the band, I was devastated, untill I heard his replacement was Joe Strummer. To this day still one of my favorite concert experiences.

[32club2]

I saw them in Sloskys in Manchester too, must've been 86 I think. We were having a bit of a session in Rusholme and just decided to go, jumped in taxis and paid at the door. We were quite early so hit the bar in the room back from the concert hall, I was waiting to be served and nudged my mate pointing out a guy on the other side of the l-shaped bar and said "he looks the spit of Elvis Costello". Only found out later the connection and realised it was him. Cool concert, massive hall with no seats, loads of room for dancing. Could have a good dance then wander straight up to the front of the stage to watch the band close up. Good set from what I remember.

Also went to see them for the first time at the Manchester Poly on Oxford St, a tiny student union room. Must've been about Sept 85. Most there had no idea who the Pogues were. Again could stand right next to the band as they played, pretty cool.

[Olive Isle]

I must be one of the few people here who haven't seen The Pogues. I did see the Radiators a long long time ago. Every time I hear the words Radiators from......it conjures up images of those old heavy Cast Iron radiators floating in Space.

[dub7]

i had my cousin over from ireland we were ready to head off to east leagues club 1980 or 90 somefin and the mother of all mother rain storms hit
i only had my 250 honda so we canned it and had a drink..my BIGGEST regret
shite shite shite
next toour i had pleaded with the door dude at byron bay gig to hold 3 tickets for me so called mates & me till 12am - enuf time for teh 3 hr drive from brisbane..effin mates decided not to go - they had car as was gettin late and was rainin again..
i don't speak with them still

SO YOUS POGUES BETTER GET YAR ARSES TO OZ BEFORE THE CANCER gets ya
everybodies got cancer there's noo answer

cheers

please please come to oz
ya can stay in the front room ..the front room.. i live near the beach & a bar and there's only a few stingrays!

[Guest]

Not so good at remembering the years:
1. Ritz in NYC in 1985/86 - it was hot/humid (July/Aug) and included Caitlin; will always remember the altercation we gals got into with some guys, security never came around, so we didn't get kicked out even when we created a big opening on the floor. Yes, the gals had the biggest guy down on the floor!
2. Palace in LA 1985/86 - same tour as above, had a friend at the box office pull a dozen tix for me!!
3. Palladium in LA opening for Los Lobos. Might have been the next time they came through LA, mid 80's, after the Palace show.

Also saw tour with Joe Strummer fronting.

Don't remember much except that I always had a great time!! Was it the drinking or is it now "old timer's" disease?!?!

[Andy P. Davies]

First saw The Pogues in Birmingham in December 1984 and then 56 times after that between 1984 and 1990. Between 1985 and 1987 they were the most incredible live outfit you could imagine. Absolutely stunning!

[gimphead]

saw them on the fall from grace tour at the NEC with Kirsty and I think the special AKA prob the best time i ever saw them also saw them at St Andrews supporting UB40 left before UB40 came on stage saw every Christmas show on the reunion tours (midlands dates)

My sister had a tickets for a Rum Sod & Lash show and didn't go and sold her ticket to a gypsey outside the gig (for face value)

[mats]

First saw The Pogues in Birmingham in December 1984 and then 56 times after that between 1984 and 1990. Between 1985 and 1987 they were the most incredible live outfit you could imagine. Absolutely stunning!

56 times I´m jealous

I´ve seen them 3 times, soon to be 5

[Johan From Sweden]

First saw The Pogues in Birmingham in December 1984 and then 56 times after that between 1984 and 1990. Between 1985 and 1987 they were the most incredible live outfit you could imagine. Absolutely stunning!

56 times I´m jealous

I´ve seen them 3 times, soon to be 5

Mats you´ll be meeting Andy in Glasgow.

have nice day.

Now i´m soon of for a "Octoberfest" (gues i´ll be hungover tomorrow at work)

[mats]

First saw The Pogues in Birmingham in December 1984 and then 56 times after that between 1984 and 1990. Between 1985 and 1987 they were the most incredible live outfit you could imagine. Absolutely stunning!

56 times I´m jealous

I´ve seen them 3 times, soon to be 5

Mats you´ll be meeting Andy in Glasgow.

have nice day.

Now i´m soon of for a "Octoberfest" (gues i´ll be hungover tomorrow at work)

Sounds great, it´s getting time to start planning a meet-up before the shows soon.

Cheers Mats

[MacRua]

Two tours have been mentioned here, called "Brother Wouldn't Look At An Egg" and "Nobody Tells Me Anything". The first was inspired by Myles Na gCopaleen. What about the second? Is it from The Forsyte Saga by John Galsworthy? It reminds me James Forsyte's moan.