Happy St. Patrick's Day Detroit !
Shane MacGowan the legendary, frontman of The Pogues shared a parting glass with his devoted followers on March 4 th at The Royal Music theater. The place was filled to capacity with rebel rousing fans just hoping to get a glimpse of Shane. The last time the Pogues ventured to Detroit was over twenty years ago...and rumor has it that Shane didn't make it to the stage. They say Spider Stacy continued on with the show. Shane made it to the stage this time. The dark silhouete entered from stage left, all you could really see was a lit cigarette glowing in one hand and a drink in the other. As he slowly made his way to center stage he set his drink down and grabbed the microphone. The middle aged crowd erupted like teenagers with glorious Hoots and Hollers. Shane tends to avoid the spot light and chooses to sing in the shadows. I was unable to get a well lit shot of him during the first three songs. The crowd continued to roar as Spider said "It's been twenty years Detroit. ..Twenty fucking years to long!" The show was on ! Shane was really here and the crowd was jumping with Irish Joy. The Pogues got the party started with the classic "Streams of Whiskey!"
Streams of whiskey poured all through the night...Jameson of course! A shot of Jameson with a warm Guinness chaser !
The people raised their glasses to honor the Pogues and the their founder Shane MacGowan. This was a short US tour that started with one show in Chicago, Detroit, and Baltimore, and then two nights in Washington DC, two in Boston, and a three night stand in New York capping it off on St. Paddy's Day !
The Pogues will do a summer festival tour in select European cities and then decide what direction they will go next. Could this really be the Parting Glass?