Christmas with The Pogues

Tonite I paid 50 euros to go watch one of the most famous drunken toothless irishmen stumble around a stage.

It was worth it.

There was more energy in the room than I’ve ever felt. He didn’t need to sing because there were about 5000 Irish people singing and dancing for him. Imagine the energy of any rock/punk/metal show you’ve ever been to, then imagine that the audiance is made up of boys/girls/men/women ages 16-70 all having the same amount of energy singing along with Shane MacGowan. The crowd was something else, most people were wearing red and green, even the punks had died their mohawks red or green. And once the music started, out of now where people in the audiance pulled out huge Irish flags which then “rode the crowd” continually the whole show. In between songs I’d watch the crowd of full of drunken Irishmen hug and yell how much the loved eachother.

They did two encores with one of the final songs being the famous Fairytale of New York. “Snow” fell from the ceiling while they all danced around stage and the crowd went mad…I was also up and dancing. I couldn’t let the old women out dance me!

I can’t say I feel too sorry for Shawn MacGowan, but he has made some great music and its a shame he can’t sing it the way he use to.

Without further adu: