October 5th 1985 – Leicester University
I’d say the Pogues were at their peak in 1985, for a number of reasons. They had just released their second album, Rum Sodomy and the Lash, which for me is still their greatest album (quite possibly because it was the first one I bought!). Secondly, in the years to come, lead singer Shane MacGowan would have one long battle with drugs and alcohol, which would sadly affect his live work, but what a performer and what a band!
To my embarrassment, I have still not gone back to their first album “Red Roses For Me”….I must right that wrong!!
The Pogues are a very strong knit Irish folk band. They were a total breath of fresh air when they first surfaced in the England in 1984 (I’m sure they were around long before that!!). Generally you would see a 5 to 7 piece band playing a real mix of traditional Irish music and original compositions, with a fascinating rock beat. They used a wide range of instruments too.
The main protagonists in the band were:
- Spider Stacy – Vocal, all round musician and tin-whistle and inspirational songwriter. Spider pretty much kept the band ticking over during any offbeat moments from Shane.
- Jem Finer – Banjo, mandola, guitar, saxophone, hurdy-gurdySpider Stacy – Vocal, all round musician and tin-whistle and inspirational songwriter. Spider pretty much kept the band ticking over during any offbeat moments from Shane.
- James Fearnley – Accordion, guitar, mandolin
- Cait O’Riordan – Bass guitar and vocal
- Andrew Rankin – Drums
Pogue Mahone was the original name of the band and you get they were certainly not planning on being main stream when you find out this is a variant of the Irish phrase póg mo thóin, meaning “kiss my arse”
Well, we had been to some fine moshpits in our short gig going lives, so we were ready to mosh with The Pogues. The etiquette of moshing is that you all get into position and generally some move forwards and some escape to the back. We thought we got to the gig early, but due to the being so popular we could only get half way to the front! This was unheard of! Normally you could manoeuvre around people and at least be on row 5 before you knew it……not tonight, this was going to be special.
It was so hot, sticky and sweaty before The Pogues turned up. The Sick Bed of Cúchulainn was the opening track, which starts slow an lets rip 🙂 This would be a good time to move forward……absolutely stonewalled, no space to move, just pogo with the flow! What fun!
This would be non stop dancing and loud singing whilst a bunch of Irish boys and girls ploughed out fast moving folk and rock tunes.
I’ve never been so hot and sweaty at a concert before or after! Sally MacLennane is a firm favourite for me and the crowd and we all get a chance to singalong as well.
There were quite alot of cover versions, but as they were mainly of Irish folk songs it was a great education and another introduction to a new style of music for us. We would learn about Ewan Macoll (father of Kirsty) and I would find out more about Irish folk bands such as, The Dubliners and The Chieftains.
Each of the songs were mainly a few minutes of high intesity, laughter fun and dancing, plus a real good sing along……A really great night.
Set List
- The Sick Bed of Cúchulainn
- Streams of Whiskey
- Repeal of the Licensing Laws
- Transmetropolitan
- Wild Cats of Kilkenny
- The Old Main Drag
- A Pair of Brown Eyes
- Dirty Old Town (Ewan MacColl cover)
- The Battle of Brisbane
- Dark Streets of London
- I’m a Man You Don’t Meet Every Day
- Sally MacLennane
- Billy’s Bones
- Dingle Regatta
- Whiskey You’re the Devil
- The Gentleman Soldier
- Poor Paddy ([traditional] cover)
- Waxie’s Dargle
- Encore: Muirshin Durkin, Greenland Whale Fisheries ([traditional] cover), Boys From the County Hell
- Encore 2: The Wild Rover (cover)
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