I Like the Pogues
I had never heard of the Pogues - or, at least, the name had not been processed by my brain - until at age 47, I got married for the second time. My wife was a big Pogues fan - having been turned onto them several years earlier by her younger brother.
She introduced me to them, and it was love at first hearing. We have all of their albums - as well as Shane MacGowan's solo albums, and those he did with the Pope's, in the years after he was kicked out of the Pogues - and listen to them about every other day. I was so glad they got back together again.
My wife lived for a year in London - the city she considers her favorite in the world - working in the British health system. Her grandfather was born in Cornwall, and she has gone to England several times to get a London-fix and to do genealogy. Thus, she has seen the Pogues in London.
We tried to see them a couple of times in our now 19 year marriage, but could never coordinate concert dates with our work schedule.
UNTIL, that is, about four or five years ago, when I read an article that the Pogues were preparing to embark on their final tour of the United States!
We live in Northern Michigan and the first stop on the tour was to be in Chicago - about a seven hour drive away. Yes, that's a 14 hour investment in time driving alone.
That did not matter. We immediately got on line and got front row seats in the balcony - with a large bar at the back of the balcony. The set-up was perfect.
The concert was set to begin at 7;30 PM with a lead in band, followed by the Pogues at 9::00 PM.
The lead in band, Titus Andronicus, was very good, but everyone's attention was focused on the Pogues - set to appear next.
Then, we and the audience sat, and sat, and SAT ...
Rumors started to circulate and voices started to be raised. Every half an hour or so, some from the theater would come on stage and say it would just be a while more,
So, we and the audience waited, and waited, and WAITED ...
Finally, about 11:00 PM, Shane kind of staggered out to the microphone. The band came out, quickly warmed up, and began to play. And, the music was incredible, the atmosphere was fantastic, and the show well worth waiting for. It was easily one of the best concerts I have attended - or heard, for that matter,
We can't say for sure, but knowing Shane's habit of coming to concert gigs late and/or drunk, we assumed the delay was while he was being sobered up enough to perform. His late drunken appearances at concerts was the reason the band had kicked him out a number of years earlier. Whatever the reason, the wait was worth it - in spades!!!!!
Of course, there can never really be a Pogues' concert again, since Philip Chevron - who contributed guitar work and vocals to the group - died a while back.
I kind of hope that don't try to replace him; it will change the music, the mood, and the atmosphere. And, I will always have my albums and my memories.
Good on all of you!
Quakertrucker
She introduced me to them, and it was love at first hearing. We have all of their albums - as well as Shane MacGowan's solo albums, and those he did with the Pope's, in the years after he was kicked out of the Pogues - and listen to them about every other day. I was so glad they got back together again.
My wife lived for a year in London - the city she considers her favorite in the world - working in the British health system. Her grandfather was born in Cornwall, and she has gone to England several times to get a London-fix and to do genealogy. Thus, she has seen the Pogues in London.
We tried to see them a couple of times in our now 19 year marriage, but could never coordinate concert dates with our work schedule.
UNTIL, that is, about four or five years ago, when I read an article that the Pogues were preparing to embark on their final tour of the United States!
We live in Northern Michigan and the first stop on the tour was to be in Chicago - about a seven hour drive away. Yes, that's a 14 hour investment in time driving alone.
That did not matter. We immediately got on line and got front row seats in the balcony - with a large bar at the back of the balcony. The set-up was perfect.
The concert was set to begin at 7;30 PM with a lead in band, followed by the Pogues at 9::00 PM.
The lead in band, Titus Andronicus, was very good, but everyone's attention was focused on the Pogues - set to appear next.
Then, we and the audience sat, and sat, and SAT ...
Rumors started to circulate and voices started to be raised. Every half an hour or so, some from the theater would come on stage and say it would just be a while more,
So, we and the audience waited, and waited, and WAITED ...
Finally, about 11:00 PM, Shane kind of staggered out to the microphone. The band came out, quickly warmed up, and began to play. And, the music was incredible, the atmosphere was fantastic, and the show well worth waiting for. It was easily one of the best concerts I have attended - or heard, for that matter,
We can't say for sure, but knowing Shane's habit of coming to concert gigs late and/or drunk, we assumed the delay was while he was being sobered up enough to perform. His late drunken appearances at concerts was the reason the band had kicked him out a number of years earlier. Whatever the reason, the wait was worth it - in spades!!!!!
Of course, there can never really be a Pogues' concert again, since Philip Chevron - who contributed guitar work and vocals to the group - died a while back.
I kind of hope that don't try to replace him; it will change the music, the mood, and the atmosphere. And, I will always have my albums and my memories.
Good on all of you!
Quakertrucker
70-79, M
