The Pogues, Zenith, Munich, 6. 7. 2011

One summer evening drunk to hell the Pogues graced the city of Munich with their memorable performance...

While Cambridge dictionary defines zenith as "the best or most successful point or time" (apart from other things), Munich’s Zenith seems well past its zenith: part of a former railway repair shop (according to all-knowing Wikipedia), resembling an old factory or a warehouse, converted into a concert venue. Set in the middle of nowhere, but mercifully close to a metro station at least.

When we arrived there, we saw an endless line of people. A truly impressive sight, attesting to the Pogues’ boundless popularity... well, only until I noticed that the word "Zenith" was in fact written on another building, not the one that the line was disappearing into. It turned out that there were two venues, side by side, and the other one was occupied by Snoop Dogg that night. No line for the Pogues at all. But Terry chatting with Paul Scully, the sound engineer, in front of the venue proved that it weas indeeed the right place and the Pogues gig was on.

In the photo pit, there were a surprisingly few photographers – a striking contrast to the previous year’s Moscow gig where the pit was crowded with rough guys fighting for every image. The stage was almost pitch dark, darker than in Moscow. Later Ian Turner, the lighting engineer, apologized, explaining that Shane threatens with leaving the stage if there is light on him. He at least tried to compensate for it with somehow decent light for Shane-less songs and some nice effects with lights shining on the audience during Thousands Are Sailing. Alas, taking photos is only allowed during the first three songs sung by maestro light-shy Shane...

When the security drove photographers away from the pit, I joined MacRua in the wings – a space to the side of the stage and slightly lower. Not a bad spot, but soon a security guy came to us and started explaining something. Probably that we should not be there – though it was hard to say why as it was a huge empty area. Anyway, it was impossible to hear the guy in the noise and finally he just pointed to the stage as such. So we climbed up there and entered the wings proper. There were huge crates on the side of stage, Vicky (stretching her legs and body in the weirdest yoga positions), Louise and a young girl who accompanies Darryl (daughter? very young girlfriend?) sitting on them. And Joey. We said hi to Joey, he immediately got up, showed us to take his sitting place and shuffled to the infamous "tent" (no tent any longer, just a space separated with a screen). Thus we got a perfect VIP place.

The show rocked, much like its Moscow predecessor a year ealier.

And there were not only the Pogues on stage but some wildlife too:

("Various forms of wildlife have lived in and on our equipment for the past ten years now, ranging from miniature farm animals to lucky Japanese mechanical cat gods to teddies to life-size fowl, as the picture demonstrates. The Pogues is an acknowledged National Park." --- Philip Chevron.)

 
The aftershow was in a room that looked like a school canteen next to the dressing rooms. And there were just crowds of teenagers. Who were they? How did they get invited? No idea. But while MacRua was chatting with Joey, they managed to drink all free beer. (Paul Scully then saved thirsty MacRua by stealing a bottle of beer from a fridge in Shane's dressing room.)

Setlist:
Streams of Whiskey
Fall from Grace
Broad Majestic
Boat Train
Brown Eyes
Tuesday Morning
Lullaby of London
Sunnyside of the Street
Repeal
Waltzing Matilda
Body of an American
London Girl
1000s
Dirty old Town
Bottle of Smoke
Sickbed
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Sally Mac
Rainy Night
Dog
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Poor Paddy
Fiesta