Into Live Music Review: The Pogues & The Barrowland – a love affair continues
The run of shows commemorated the fortieth anniversary of their seminal second album, Rum, Sodomy & the Lash. Original members Spider Stacey, James Fearnley and Jem Finer were joined on stage by a host of guest musicians to play the album in full, in addition to a selection of other tracks from the band’s extensive back catalogue. A few years ago, I wrote an article about that specific 1985 concert (see link here) and in many ways this gig was the perfect bookend.
Moment #1 – don’t believe any set list you see, as the band took to the stage, the crowd started chanting The Celtic Song and Spider started singing along, a Celtic scarf draped around the mike stand. First song of the night and Stacey’s smile was as wide as the Clyde. Eventually, the familiar intro of The Sick Bed of Cuchulainn kicked in, the crowd lost their shit and went suitably mad. That spring based dancefloor may have helped but I doubt it made much difference as for the next chaotic two hours, there was no let up. Nadine Shah took on vocal duties for A Pair of Brown Eyes adding real venom and menace to produce something different, challenging and worthy of one of Shane MacGowan’s best lyrics. Shah was a constant throughout, her take on The Boys From The County Hell was laden with a Strummer sneer and a fuck you attitude to be marveled at.
Moment #2 – Holly Mullineaux on bass turned to Jem Finer and mouthed “wow” as the crowd took on the words to Dirty Old Town. She then did the same thing with Spider who gave her a nod and a wink, the look of a proud parent saying, I told you so. I was at the Brixton Academy gig a few days before and while a great venue, bigger capacity, I doubt Holly or the other guest musicians had experienced the Barrowland like this, it truly is a special place. Lisa O’Neill, another of The Poguettes (along with Nadine Shah and Iona Zajak) did the Ewan MacColl cover proud, taking over from the crowd who by now were breaking into jigs, reels and the occasional waltz.
Moment #3 – of course, there was no Shane MacGowan, at least not in body but definitely there in spirit. Spider’s dedication to Shane before The Parting Glass was touching. Simply put, Shane MacGowan changed lives with his music, his poetry, his wit, his attitude. I wasn’t alone in thinking not only about the mercurial, unique singer as the song weaved along, but also of friends and family who we saw The Pogues with over the years. Departed they may be, but their ghosts still dance with us as we heard the sounds of long ago……
Moment #4 – the night before that 1985 gig, Jock Stein sadly passed away at the end of the Wales v Scotland World Cup qualification match in Cardiff. The crowd chanted his name before the band played I’m A Man You Don’t Meet Everyday and it was mentioned by Spider tonight as Iona Zajak took the lead vocal but not before the crowd chanted Jock’s name in memory.
Moment #5 – we mainly look at gigs through the prism of our own life, but sometimes you get a sense of what it means to the band. That grin from Spider as he came on stage, you knew what it meant to him. Later, he said “It’s so fucking great to be back – there is no place like it on earth“. It was heartfelt and it was genuine, you can’t bullshit a Glasgow crowd after all.
Moment #6 – John Francis Flynn singing And The Band Played Waltzing Matilda with its brutal words was wretchedly stark, the brass section really came into their own, haunting, bleak yet beautiful. Beforehand, the crowd chanted Free Palestine, the band joining in as we continue to witness the horror of war and genocide on our screens too often.
Finer switched instruments with ease, Fearnley wrestled with his accordion and the other musicians brought something different to these familiar songs. An absolute joy.
For me and many others, The Pogues continue to define our musical journey through life and death, the good, the bad and the ugly times. Time can’t erase those memories and moments. So many magic fucking moments. The Pogues and the Barrowland, a love affair continues…
John Welsh
