Kiss My Arse

4 March 88

Ahh, the Pogues. Went to see them at the Royal Court in Liverpool, 4th March 1988 (date courtesy of this site). It was part of the tour to promote my favourite album of theirs, If I Should Fall From Grace with God.

I think I went with either John Burrows or Tim Holden, but can't be certain. Anyway, it was a huge Irish celebration, drawing on the big influences in Liverpool, with tricolours being waves, and a quite rough gig down the front. Shane was totally drunk, not a surprise really. Kirty McColl joined them on stage for Fairytale of New York.

I haven't yet been able to confirm the set list, but Pogues Live has the following from the previous night in Manchester:

The Broad Majestic Shannon / Medley / Bottle Of Smoke / Repeal Of The Licensing Laws / Kitty / If I Should Fall From Grace With God / Boat Train / Metropolis / A Rainy Night In Soho / Thousands Are Sailing / Streets Of Sorrow-Birmingham Six / FairyTale Of New York (with Kirsty MacColl) / Lullaby Of London / Johnny Come Lately / Turkish Song Of The Damned / Dirty Old Town / Fiesta / Sally MacLennane / The Sick Bed Of Cuchulainn / Jesse James (Spider Stacy vocals) / A Pair Of Brown Eyes / The Irish Rover / The Parting Glass

I don't have many specific memories, but it was a good night. I recall the venom in Shane's voice during the Birmingham Six.

There's a video on YouTube of Fairytale from a few nights later in London.