With the smell of Guinness all around and people well and truly primed for some Celtic culture, The Pogues took to the Hordern Pavilion stage to a roar of approval before they even broke into “Streams Of Whiskey”. As is always with a Pogues crowd there are people hooting, yelling, stumbling and singing and this is even before they get inside the venue. With over 80 million people worldwide claiming Irish ancestry and over seven per cent of them in this country alone, this was a sold out celebration. On top of that, this was a chance to see Shane Mcgowan with teeth and standing; the last time around, well, some of those things were missing.
Here we are 30 years after Pogue Mahone came together. So much whiskey and tears have passed under the bridge and without it being stated anywhere, I doubt we will see them pass our way again as they are assembled tonight. Shane was in fine voice and the catalogue of dazzling songs he has written were given to us over the 90 plus minutes we stood or jigged the time away.
People have called them Celtic punk, but after this much time, the Pogues are now traditional Irish music with a swagger. Just have a listen to “The Repeal Of The Licensing Laws” (a Spider Stacy song), “A Pair Of Brown Eyes”, “Sick Bed Of Cúchulainn” and you would be hard pressed not to say this is as Irish as the Blarney Stone. This is a body of work that will stand the test of time and these songs will be passed along just as any song written by Paddy Maloney, any of the Clancy Brothers or Tommy Makem.
Hook in a band that has survived and thrived even when Shane could not perform (even bringing in the late Joe Strummer to fill Shane’s boots) and you have a night filled with a joyous ruckus. Spider added some vocals where needed as Shane got some rest and Jem Finer on banjo was absolutely stunning and a highlight of the evening. James Fearnley on accordion was still as jubilant as ever and the 8-piece gathering of mates that have seen some moments was what made this such a beautiful evening. The stage banter of one Shane Mcgowan may be unintelligible at best , but give him a song, especially one of his own, and his growl and guttural yelling are still there to show that he is alive and with us and comprehensible.
After an evening that approached 20 songs, and encore that included the classic “Sally Maclennane”, and a second encore that wrapped it all up with a shambolic but energised “Fiesta” from If I Should Fall From Grace With God, some of the throng were fluthered, but most coul d be seen smiling knowing how deadly the evening had been.
22 years ago when The Pogues last graced The Hordern stage the crowd was a tad younger, the sea of green VB cans that littered the floor made for some strange Irish sea of aluminum and the party went on and on. Tonight with a bit of rain (and being a ‘school’ night) and a number of years between visits the party seemed to end with the music but you could sense that for the most part, everyone took home a bit of Ireland with them thanks to Shane and The Pogues. And until we meet again:
May the road rise up to meet you.
May the wind always be at your back.
May the sun shine warm upon your face,
And rains fall soft upon your fields.
– Paul Busch
