It was seven o'clock on a Thursday, Saint Patrick's day. I was sitting in a honky-tonk bar in Nashville's Grand Old Opry district. There were pictures of famous Country singers. The bar was a pit, with one side level and one elevated. They served traditional country food, burgers and steaks and all the beer you could want, though most on this night drink Guinness, that time of year and all that. There was a real Country band, John England and the Western Swingers, playing(not a mainstream Sothern Rock group calling themselves Country) playing Irish Folk Songs. Irish Folk music was, after all, the foundation of Country and Bluegrass. It was a bar frozen in time and I was digging the atmosphere. The Nashville Palace was the type of bar you see in modern western. I half expected to see Philo Beddoe to fight some drunk for being rude to a woman o spilling his beer. You may be asking yourself, "What's this guy doing in a Nashville Country Music bar on Saint Patrick's Day?" Well, maybe if you keep reading and stop asking questions, you'll find out. Well, I drove down from Cincinnati where I was for a Dave and Phil Alvin concert to this Nashville honky-tonk for, in fact, the most ideal Saint Patrick's day possible. You see, in the back of this Country Music bar was another room. A larger stage. There was a bar, a dance floor and a stage. The man who was headlining the concert that night was the reason, I would be willing to drive 270 miles, on no sleep, and brave a hotel that would have H. H. Holmes proud(granted, cheapness was a factor in the hotel choice) is an icon in Irish culture. He is in fact one of the godfathers of modern Irish music, a master of the tin whistle, a master lyricist and one hell of a good singer. The Man was Spider Stacy, member of the Pogues. The Pogues stopped touring a couple of years ago, leaving a shamrock shaped hole in all our hearts. I've personally listened to every Pogues album more times than I've brushed my teeth. The Pogues' classical sound and powerful lyrics made them a house hold name. Their lyrics could be used as an Irish history lesson and their energetic instrumentals sound like an orchestra. They have so much energy that magazines and labels have deemed them Celtic Punk. I wouldn't say that their music is Punk but I can understand that how that energy gives you that high Punk energy. There aren't a lot of Celtic Rock bands today that wouldn't list the Pogues as an influence. Dropkick Murphys for instance, have collaborated with Shane MacGowan and Spider Stacy, just as the Pogues collaborated with The Dubliners. The Pogues are a significant link in twentieth century Celtic music. With the Pogues disbanded, people were left with a nagging disappointment in the fact that they wouldn't see the Pogues again or in my case, never get a chance to see them at all. Lucky for us, Spider Stacy, a New Orleans transplant saw a band at One Eyed Jacks and after admiring their talent, decided to play with the Lost Bayou Ramblers. I can't imagine the feeling With the Lost Bayou Ramblers as his backing band, Spider embarked on the Poguetry in Motion tour, performing songs by the Pogues, and giving us a chance to get a glimpse at something we missed or have missed.



I saw people going in the doors. It was time. I wandered in the doors to the large back room. It was a sea of green that night, in order to honor the holiday and show a pride in the type of music and culture we were all there to be a part of. There's a quote that goes something like, "relax, sit down, have a pint, we're all Irish on Saint Patrick's day." The idea is a sense of community. There's a lot more to the day than drinking. In fact Saint Patrick's day isn't about drinking at all. It's about celebrating Ireland's patron saint and first bishop. The hole drinking thing comes from the one day off from lent in order to celebrate the holiday. There would be great feast and celebratory drinks. But this isn't a history lesson. The point is people were festive and friendly. There were women wearing traditional Irish dresses and a man wearing a leprechaun costume with a giant hat. It was Saint Patrick's day alright. I went to the bar and ordered a Guinness. I bumped in to a man wearing the same Dropkick Murphys shirt as me. We discussed the tour and compared the concerts. I loved how fans of this type of music can talk to each other as if they've known each other all there. In the middle of the conversation and you find yourself thinking, I wish I could remember this person's name, I've apparently known them my whole life. It's only with right kind of music though. The type of music that makes you feel, music put on by real showman. Beliebers wouldn't understand this. I sat down a friendly couple. The wife had been dying to see Spider. She had been lucky enough to not only see the Pogues but to meet them as well. It was easier, she said, to meet bands. I enjoyed free beers with my Pogues history lesson. What she didn't know was I already knew it all. Though, I guess, I didn't know what it was to see them in concert and that feeling that cane with it. Something, you couldn't get with a cd. There were two talented Iris acts opening for Spider Stay and the Lost Bayou Ramblers. The first group, The Secret Common Wealth was excellent and really set the mood. The charismatic tin whistler/singer was running through the audience, enjoying himself as much as the audience. The second act was a talented man by the name of Dylan Walshe. Armed with just one acoustic guitar and harmonica, Mr. Walsh put out a powerful sound that nigh. He played classical Irish Folk music and covered artists from Christy Carol to the Clash and played his own music as well. The opening acts were great and I intend on seing them again someday. They were very personable and just as excited for the main act as the rest of us. You could see the Secret Common Wealth's tin whistler dancing with audience members and Dylan Walshe was yelling, "you're a legend, Spider! You're a legend!" That you are sir. That, you are. After Walshe's set, I walked over to the merchandise booth to buy a tour poster and a Lost Bayou Ramblers cd. I talked to the man selling the souvenirs. We discussed the Lost Bayou Ramblers, Spider and if the Pogues would ever get back together. We spoke solemnly about the loss of Phil Chevron and if I had ever seen the Pogues. When I told him how far I had driven, he told me to see him after the show and he'd see if he could get Spider to sign my poster.

I sat down and noticed one of my friends was gone. Perhaps it was the drink. She was rivaling Macgowan in whiskey consumption. A few songs in, the husband sighed, "I guess I have to leave. " It was a shame to be that close to seeing that giant of Irish music, of music, really, and to have to turn back at the closest moment. You made it to the Blarney Stone and forgot your lipstick, lass. The Lost Bayou Ramblers came out without Spider and played us some Cajun music. Most of the songs were in Cajun French but we all understood the language of music. Next to the Pogues themselves, Spider couldn't have picked a better backing band. Louis Michot did things with that fiddle you can't even imagine. It was no wander they were nominated for a Grammy. Irish and Cajon music you wouldn't have thought it but everyone in the audience was tapping toes and dancing just the same to this Bayou ball. When Spider walked out, I had a feeling of disbelief. I bought the ticket, taken the drive but actual seeing him felt unreal. Here he was, a titan of Irish music, a voice of a culture, tin whistler and singer of the Pogues, Spider Stacy. The classics were played. From Red Roses for Me to Waiting for Herb, from "If I Should Fall From Grace With God" to "The Wild Rover." Songs like "The Sick Bed of Cuchulainn" and "Greenland Whale Fisheries," had us dancing, while songs like "Kitty" and" Lullaby of London" warmed our hearts in that way that no one can describe, yet everybody knows. spider Did just as good a job singing Shane's parts as his own, such as "Tuesday Mourning." "Tuesday Morning was a beautiful song with a powerful bass line. I remember that song to be one of the first I learned to play, adding to my sentimental mood. Spider displayed inhuman lung power with his tin whistle classic, "Repeal the Licensing Laws." Seriously, his lungs must be like wind turbines to produce enough breath to power that long stretch of tin whistle playing. Spider Stacy is the Jimmy Hendrix of the tin whistle. One of the audience's favorite moments was when the band played Ewan Macoll's "Dirty Old Town," a song the Pogues have made their own. Spider stuck to the tin whistle while Louis sang. Louis didn't sing the classic himself, though. He and Spider angled the microphones in to the audience and believe me, everyone knew the lyrics. This was just another example of the community that this music gives us. No real separation of the band and its fans. His concert was more than just show on Saint Patrick's day, it was an event, a gathering of likeminded individuals, a chance to catch a glimpse of something that meant so much to so many, to hear the music that was just as much a part of us as the air we breathe. This music is history, culture, and a romping good time. The audience begged for an encore. Spider asked, "how about we do a dangerous publicity stunt?" The audience wanted more music and Spider and the band jokingly left. They, of course ran right back out to give us three more song. Their cover of the classic "Auld Triangle." It was the greatest version of the classic and believe me, I've heard a lot. That tin whistle could give a sociopath cold chills. Energy picked up with "The Body of an American," one of the greatest songs of Irish Immigration. There couldn't be a better way to end Saint Patrick's Day than with "The Wild Rover?" The guitarist traded in for a bottle and drum stick and the drummer played the triangle. The song was played in the classical way. Never forget the classical way. After all the singing, dancing, drinking, and comradery, it was time to leave, the concert room any way. The band cleared the stage and the audience left for the front bar and the parking lot. It's disappointing to leave such an event but we would be able to ride that spiritual high, music provides, for quite some time. I went to speak with the man at the merchandise booth. I expected him to go out to the tour bus with the poster and come back with a signed poster but instead, he came back with Spider Stacy. You know that feeling I talked about earlier? That surreal feeling? Multiply that by ten. Being a music journalist, I'm used to meeting singers and have no problem thinking of what to say but with Spider Stacy all I could muster was, "It was a great honor to see you, sir. I've been listening to you since I was a kid. When I heard you were playing here I had to make the trip." I shook his hand and got his autograph. I could have asked for an interview but he was on his way out and stayed behind to meet a dedicated fan. That's what I was and am. Though, I decided to right a review, I was there, just to hear the music that been a part of my life for so long. There was no better way to spend Saint Patrick's day than to have a couple pints of Guinness, good company and good music.

Check the band's websites for tour dates. You can find all their music on iTunes. Remember, Record Store Day is on April 16. So go out and support your favorite bands and your local record stores. Remember, you can keep the music going. Keep reading and keep listening. Erin go Bragh.