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I took the band, that I play in, along to see Shane, as they had never seen him before. There were thirteen of us, including assorted partners and we started off pissed and got drunker.
I thought the Crockets (or the Crochéts as one band member put it) weren't too bad but then my expectations were lowered. In fact I felt sorry that they were playing support for Shane because if they hadn't been then they would almost certainly have got the crowd bouncing, as it was, the punters were saving their energy for Shane.
Shane was late, very late, later than late, later than even I expected.and I know what Shane being late usually entails. But no matter because he is, amongst other things, a genius of timing. My mates were getting worried that he would come on for half an hour and fuck off home but, again, he didn't fail to surprise and delight. He came on stage with that gazelle-like grace characteristic of someone that moves absolutley nothing like Shane. He said "Viswanzanauldwancawd fieshudfawfomgrazewivgod" (see bottom of message for the full translation) and then launched into that classic footstomper. The crowd heaved, coughed and retched a couple of times and then with a lightness of foot, that would astound even a brewer given the collective alcohol consumption of the crowd, all the punters dived into the mosh pit mayhem in perfect antiphase to the music. Fucking marvellous.
Shane's singing was astoundingly good (and I wouldn't be shy of crtiticising it if he wasn't in good form) the band were fantastic and you should have seen the faces of my friends after they had spent 20 minutes in the mosh pit without having put one foot on the floor. To quote one them: "You don't dance, you just fight to stay alive" Thats about right. They were also amazed that despite the huge amount of alcohol consumed everyone was friendly in a very physical (pretty violent) way. They all absolutely loved it which to me was as good as as having Shane invite me to come around to his house for a quiet drink... followed by fifteen very loud ones. Well, ...almost.
Shane seemed to be enjoying himself, conducting the band, abusing the crowd and drinking his usual liquid concoction washed down with plenty of cigarette smoke. He looked good and pretty together. He only forgot one verse bit in The Body of an American but the again I like that. Who wants to watch a performing robot? Not me.
Set (in very approximate order):
IISFFGWG
Paddy Rolling Stone
Donegal Express
Paddy Public Enemy No 1 (which he dedicated to the British Army)
Come to the Bower
Boys from the County Hell
Dirty Old Town
Rock and Roll Paddy
Skipping Rhymes
Lonesome Highway
Repeal of the Licensing Laws
Bring down the Lamp
Body of an American
Sick Bed of Cuchulain
Bottle of Smoke
Sally MacLennane
South Australia
Streams of Whisky
Irish Rover
I know I have missed some out but, hell, if you had had as many kaliber shandies (with a lime tops) (not) as I had then you might have developed partial temporary amnesia as well.
The only thing that Shane said on stage that I understood was what I mentioned before (right at the beginning of the gig ) and Fanyu gniteyvbinnawunafulawjence (right at the end). Ingrid, is there a Shane stage-chat translation course I could go on? I don't understand alot of what Shane says on stage, am I the only one?
Shane was great, the band was great, the venue was great, the crowd was great, my band was great and, while I'm at it, I was great. I think I must still be pissed.