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By the time the Crocketts came on stage at 9.00 the place was already packed. The riverside itself is a small club that holds about 1000 people. If you managed to force your way to the front you were so close to the stage it was amazing.
The Crocketts themselves were not very good in my opinion but were well received by the time they had finished their 30 minute slot. The stage crew started to change over the equipment in preparation for the popes and the anticipation grew amongst the audience.
After 30 minutes of crew members walking on and off everything seemed ready. Every time the music over the speakers stopped the crowd grew more vociferous but still no Shane. By 10.30 the crowd were beginning to get impatient as it seemed more unlikely that they were going to play. 5 minutes later one of the stage crew started bringing on bottles of beer which seemed to suggest their arrival was imminent. Again no show - and with the crowd throwing bottles and glasses on the stage we had resigned ourselves to a no show.
Then a glimmer of hope - 2 pints of martini were placed next to the microphone and 1 minute later here he was looking as good as ever. Within one verse of streams of whiskey he had won over the crowd and to my surprise Shane’s singing was as good as I have heard him live.
With the popes jumping around and playing their hearts out through songs as 'donegall express', 'paddy rolling stone', 'rock 'n' roll paddy' and 'paddy public enemy #1' the crowd went wild. I must admit that all of these songs seem to come to life much more than on the albums. Further Pogues greats such as 'iisffgwg', 'the sick bed of culchulainn', dirty old town, 'boys from the county hell', sally maclennane and the Irish rover as well as the new stuff 'lonesome highway' 'come to the bower' celidah cowboy and skipping rhymes all that were performed very well. Shane did not forget any words and seemed to be enjoying himself. The popes played their traditional instrumental but included the melody to b and i ferry to which Shane remarked 'I hate fuc**g reggae don't you.
With an encore that included South Australia, bottle of smoke and more pricks than kicks Shane proved that he can still rock with the best and sent the crowd home delirious.