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Recorded live at Webster Hall, New York, New York on March 17, 2001 and The Olympia Theatre, Dublin, Ireland.
Dublin had to move 2001's St. Patrick's Day from March 17 to May 19 due to an outbreak of hoof-and-mouth disease. Consequently, Shane MacGowan was able to perform Paddy's Day shows at both Webster's Hall in Manhattan and Olympia Theatre in Dublin during the same year. Across the Broad Atlantic, which features performances from these two shows, is basically the soundtrack to a 75-minute party. The audibly rowdy crowd noises combined with the boisterous performances by MacGowan and his fine band give this album a celebratory atmosphere. Upbeat numbers such as "If I Should Fall From Grace With God" tend to benefit from this raucous setting more than ballads such as "A Pair of Brown Eyes," but MacGowan and the Popes are hardly the only musicians to sacrifice a bit of subtlety and finesse for raw energy in their live performances, and the group sounds tight most of the time anyway (e.g., the impressive interplay between banjo player Tom McMannamon and accordionist Mick O'Connell on the "Popes' Instrumental" medley). MacGowan's vocals and between-song comments are somewhat slurred, of course, although this isn't much worse than on the recorded versions of the songs. Indeed, his enunciation is actually better in some instances, and he seems particularly adept at pronouncing his favorite expletive. Anyway, the album's 20 songs feature a nice balance of MacGowan's songs from the Pogues and his solo career, as well some traditional numbers and a fine cover of Hank Williams' "Angel of Death." As you'd probably expect, the songs flow together well without jarring juxtapositions and seem appropriate for a Paddy's Day show. The album concludes with a rendition of "Fairytale of New York" in which Theresa MacGowan trades vocals with Shane; it's an odd pairing considering the song's lyrics, and Theresa's off-key singing can't match the wonderful Kirsty MacColl's performance on the original recording of the song, but it's a fitting conclusion to an album that conveys the good-natured cheer of a drunken gathering of friends. ~ Todd Kristel
Live On St.Patrick'D Day 2001 In Both New York & Dublin
Shane MacGowan's Popes: Shane MacGowan (vocals); Paul McGuinness (guitar); Tom McMannamon (banjo); Mick O'Connell (accordion); Bob Dowling (bass); Andy Ireland (drums).
Track listing:
1. If I Should Fall From Grace With God
2. Rock & Roll Paddy
3. Nancy Whiskey
4. Rainy Night in Soho
5. Poor Paddy Works on the Railway
6. Broad Majestic Shannon
7. Popes' Instrumental: My Ballyvourney Love/The Limpin' General/Bag of Chips
8. Dirty Old Town
9. Mother Mo Chroi
10. Body of an American
11. Granuaille
12. More Pricks Than Kicks
13. Aisling
14. Pair of Brown Eyes
15. Streams of Whiskey
16. Lonesome Highway
17. Angel of Death
18. Sick Bed of Cuchulainn
19. Irish Rover
20. Fairytale of New York
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