I've long loved The Pogues and recently developed a major obsession with them, despite not coming from a terribly similar cultural background. They play music heavily based on the Irish cultural tradition, and the lead singer is a notorious substance abuser, from an early age. But he is an idiot savant, and a true poet I think. Though Marjorie and I have both liked them for a long time - we even used one of their songs as the opening song of our wedding! - I had a spell a few months back where I went absolutely mental for them; I'd go as far as saying they peaked higher than any other music in my life, and that's saying a lot. It only sustained itself for a few weeks, sadly; I don't know what happened, but try as I as might I couldn't hold onto it. It slipped away; the love was still there, just not the infatuation.
Shortly after this fall from grace, I found that they were actually planning a concert here in town. So of course I had to get us tickets. I just didn't believe it would happen, as a decade or so ago Marjorie and I flew across the country to San Fran to see him (then solo) at a music festival, but he didn't show (we had to "settle" for just my other great love, Elvis Costello). So I wasn't really expecting him to show, especially given his past personal issues and resulting bad blood with the band. Honestly, I didn't believe it until he walked out on stage. But he did show up this time!
And was in great form - so much better than I had expected. He seems so slow-witted in interviews these days that I had doubted he could pull off any of their faster numbers, or for that matter, remember all the words to his wordier ones. But apart from some minor articulation issues, he was fantastic on all counts. Most importantly, the spirit was there. And the band still smokes as well.
The next day, I posted a message on a Pogues forum where I know their guitarist hangs out, thanking them for their show, saying how much I loved it, and asking if by any chance they're working on any new material. He actually responded immediately - and curtly: "We're quite happy with our old material". Serves me right. They played their hearts out for us, and here's me asking for more.
This was the set list:
- Streams of Whisky
- If I Should Fall From Grace With God
- Broad Majestic Shannon
- Greenland Whale Fisheries
- Pair Of Brown Eyes
- Tuesday Morning
- Kitty
- Sunny Side of the Street
- Repeal of the Licencing Laws
- The Band Played Waltzing Matilda
- The Body of an American
- Boys From County Hell
- Thousands are Sailing
- Dirty Old Town
- Bottle of Smoke
- Sick Bed of Cuchulainn
- Sally Maclennane
- Rainy Night in Soho
- Irish Rover
- Poor Paddy
- Fiesta
A great set list, I must say; I'm happy with nearly all of the choices. Biggest surprise to me was Bottle Of Smoke, which is pretty much the song that kicked off my recent obsession, so I was overjoyed to hear it. Of course it was great to have them play our wedding song (Rainy Night In Soho). The other highlight to me was A Pair Of Brown Eyes -- a hit for them, but never my favorite before; seeing it live though, I "heard" it for the first time.
