{"id":1274,"date":"2009-10-29T20:00:54","date_gmt":"2009-10-29T20:00:54","guid":{"rendered":"http:\/\/216.71.127.204\/wordpress\/?p=1274"},"modified":"2015-10-15T16:34:12","modified_gmt":"2015-10-15T16:34:12","slug":"the-pogues-house-of-blues-houston-tx","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/houstonmusicreview.com\/wordpress\/2009\/10\/29\/the-pogues-house-of-blues-houston-tx\/","title":{"rendered":"The Pogues – House of Blues – Houston, TX"},"content":{"rendered":"\n\n\n\n\n
Written by Jim Bille <\/span><\/td>\n<\/tr>\n
Oct 29, 2009 at 08:00 PM<\/td>\n<\/tr>\n
\"Image\"Traditional Celtic punk fusion rockers the Pogues have been there and now back again with a surprise 9 city tour of the US that included a stop at the House of Blues last Thursday night. I knew I\u2019d need at least a day to recover from what I expected could turn into at least a 6 Guinness Stout night so I scheduled a vacation day from my real job on Friday. I\u2019m glad I did\u2026I needed it.<\/p>\n

If you\u2019re not familiar with the Pogues try to imagine The Chieftains on steroids, crystal meth and single-malt whiskey with an accordion and banjo mixed in – and you still might not get it. Rough, raw and potent are other ways to describe the Pogues music. Their revved up traditional Celtic sound is infectious and certainly slam dance and mosh pit worthy.<\/p>\n

The musical pub crawl kicked off with a somewhat stumbling Shane McGowan on vocals, opening the show with a number called \u2018Streets of Whiskey\u2019 from their 1984 debut release \u2018Red Roses for Me\u2019.<\/p>\n

High energy was ignited throughout the crowded house with this number and the second tune \u2018If I Should fall from Grace with God\u2019 as the Pogues immediately took control of the venue\u2019s soon to be raucous crowd.<\/p>\n

This incredibly tight sounding performance featured something from all seven Pogues releases. Highlights from the set included \u2018The Broad Majestic Shannon\u2019, \u2018Boys from County Hell\u2019, and \u2018The Sick Bed of Cuchulainn\u2019. My personal favorites from the evening were probably \u2018Young Ned from the Hill\u2019 and \u2018Thousands are Sailing\u2019.<\/p>\n

Each musician took their turn on vocals as well as instrumental solos throughout the show.<\/p>\n

To the untrained ear, Shawn McGowan\u2019s accosting vocals were nearly unintelligible most of the time. Had his words been shown in subtitles on the big screen overhead, the sometimes politically charged lyrics might have incited a few brawls. But mostly the Pogue\u2019s music is about hard drinking, hard living, love, loss and desperation at a high level.<\/p>\n

James Fearnley almost single handedly stole the show with his frantic accordion playing, bouncing and sliding from one side of the stage to the other at any given moment. Originally a guitar player with Shane McGowan\u2019s early band called The Nipple Erecters, Fearnley switched to accordion when joining the Pogues.<\/p>\n

Spider Stacy\u2019s vocals were spot on as was his trademark Pogues tin whistle playing that augments most of the music; and Jem Finer\u2019s banjo and sax playing was as over the top as ever.<\/p>\n

Terry Woods, who was a founding member of Steeleye Span was also on hand playing the cittern, a mandolin type instrument dating from the Renaissance era.<\/p>\n

Philip Chevron joined the Pogues shortly before the band\u2019s second release \u2018Rum Sodomy & the Lash\u2019, and has been the guitarist ever since. While playing his acoustic Martin flat top, Chevron is also featured on many of the vocals.<\/p>\n

Darryl Hunt was added to the Pogues line-up after original bassist Cait O’Riordan (Elvis Costello\u2019s wife) left the band in 1986. Along with Jem Finer and McGowan, Hunt has also penned many of the bands songs.<\/p>\n

Rounding out the ensemble and maintaining the band\u2019s driving and hearty beat was Pogues veteran Andrew Rankin on drums.<\/p>\n

The final song of the evening was \u2018Fiesta\u2019. McGowan took this opportunity to play to the crowd by pouring a bottle of wine down his throat from about arm\u2019s length above his mouth while Spyder Stacy kept time with the music by continuously banging a baking sheet on his head.<\/p>\n

This song was a fitting end to one of the most entertaining and energetic shows I\u2019ve seen in a long time and the Pogues is one band I\u2019ve waited to see for about the last twenty-five years.<\/p>\n

If you get the chance, you should check these palookas out next time they come to town and see for yourself; and if you don\u2019t agree, you can Pogue Mahone !!!<\/td>\n<\/tr>\n<\/tbody>\n<\/table>\n","protected":false},"excerpt":{"rendered":"

Written by Jim Bille Oct 29, 2009 at 08:00 PM Traditional Celtic punk fusion rockers the Pogues have been there and now back again with a surprise 9 city tour of the US that included a stop at the House of Blues last Thursday night. I knew I\u2019d need at least a day to recover… <\/p>\n

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