Tuesday 16 December 2008

Live Review: The Pogues, Carling Academy Sheffield. 12/12/2008.

Another Christmas is creeping up on us fast, meaning The Pogues are once again embarking upon their annual tour of the country to perform their greatest hits to the old fans and the new generation. Tonight's crowd is a great mix of youngsters (both those who really love the band, and those who have clearly been dragged along by their parents) and the old hardcore.

Opening their first gig in Sheffield for a good while with Streams Of Whiskey and then proceeding to rattle through their greatest hits, highlights include The Sick Bed Of Cuchulainn, The Body Of An American and the mass sing-along to Dirty Old Town. However, the biggest highlight of the night was the state of singer Shane MacGowan, who did not miss a beat or word all night, interacted a lot with the crowd and was clearly having the time of his life.

Saving the best till last, The Pogues (second) encore comprises rare track Poor Paddy On The Railway followed by Fairytale Of New York, featuring Jeremy Finer's daughter on co-lead vocals with Shane in place of Kirsty MacColl, complete with a shower of fake snow. The band close with Fiesta, igniting a full scale jump around session, encompassing young and old alike. I'm not sure how Shane is still alive, but if he's lasted this long there's no reason he can't for at least one more tour, if not, might as well cancel Christmas for next year, The Pogue's reunion is easily the best bit.

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