Irish,  Rock

The Past and the Present: the Pogues in Boston

Joe Strummer and Shane MacGowan

With St. Patrick’s Day quickly approaching, and the Pogues set to play two sold out shows at the Avalon in Boston this weekend, what better way to celebrate than with a Pogues show from the very same venue twenty years earlier? It was called the Metro back then, and this was the period when Joe Strummer played guitar for the band on tour (87-88). In the early 90’s when Shane MacGowan left the band, Joe would take lead vocal duties for a couple of years.

While the lucky folks in Boston get to enjoy the 2007 Pogues this weekend, the rest of us can live vicariously through them and the 1987 Pogues. If the crowd at this weekend’s show is anything like this crowd, one hell of a good time is in store.

Lucky bastards.

The Pogues (featuring Joe Strummer on guitar)
The Metro, Boston, Mass.
December 1st, 1987

01. Streams Of Whiskey
02. The Irish Rover
03. Medley
04. The Body Of An American
05. If I Should Fall From Grace With God
06. The Repeal Of The Licensing Laws
07. Lullaby Of London
08. South Australia
09. Bottle Of Smoke
10. Metropolis
11. The Broad Majestic Shannon
12. Dark Streets Of London
13. I Fought The Law (Joe on Vox.)
14. London Calling (Joe on Vox)
15. Fiesta
16. Turkish Song Of The Damned
17. Dirty Old Town
18. Sally Maclennane
19. The Sick Bed Of Cuchulainn

POGUES/STRUMMER VIDEO ACTION: But that’s not all, folks. How ’bout St. Patrick’s Day, 1988? From a DVD? Some kind soul has the whole show up on YouTube. With guests Joe Strummer, David Byrne, and Kirsty McColl. It’s broken into 15 parts but well worth it. Here’s part 3, “If I Should Fall From Grace With God“, with a Joe Strummer interview leading it off. Check all of ’em out here.

The Pogues Official Web Site.

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