Dirty Old Pogues

The finalists for our Raglan Road/Kansas City Irish Fest free Pogues tickets contest have been gathered and our two winners will be chosen and announced a little later this morning. Building the suspense, you know. And aren't the Pogues all over the morning paper today? Tim Finn has a nice interview with Pogues accordionist James Fearnley and quotes our man Ronan Collins, former member of the board of directors of Irish Fest, as well as Elders frontman Ian Byrne. Apparently the band has cleaned and sobered up in this new incarnation...all but one member who Fearnley declines to name. Wonder who he means.

I saw the Pogues in Columbia, MO many years ago. The show started something like an hour and a half late as I recall because, as a staff member at the venue told us, they couldn't get Shane out of bed. Once the show started, MacGowan would sit and smoke on the drum kit riser until vocals were required, then he shuffle over to the mic stand, hang on for dear life and do his bit. When the verse or chorus was over it was back to the riser for more rest. It was, for all that, a great show to see...but then I'm a fan.

Anyway, as I said I'll have you winners here shortly. Thanks to all of you who entered, and there were a BUNCH of you. I wish you could all win.