THE POGUES w/ CARDINALS
@ HISTORY, TORONTO
SEPTEMBER 10, 2025
There is a certain joy to be gained from seeing a band play live, especially if one’s prior experience has been simply hearing their music on record. I can attest to this personally, after seeing The Pogues’ Toronto date for their current tour, which celebrates the 40th anniversary of their 1985 album Rum, Sodomy and the Lash. Playing a 24-song set which featured the contributions of many guest vocalists and instrumentalists, original Pogues members Spider Stacy, Jem Finer, and James Fearnley took their audience on a musical journey that went far beyond the boundaries of the celebrated album.
The evening was kicked off by Cardinals, a five-member post-punk/indie-folk outfit from Cork, Ireland. “It’s an honour and a pleasure to share the stage with one of our favourite bands,” said vocalist/guitarist Euan Manning. In terms of energy, this band seemed quite low-key at first, presenting with guitars/vocals, bass, drums and accordion. This proved not to actually be the case, as many of their songs featured multiple movements and changes in tempo. One song, “She Makes Me Real” begins in a sloppy waltz style, then shifts to a strong 4/4 with a pop-flavoured chorus.
Musically, Cardinals give a sort of calculated grunge/shoegaze feel, with Finn Manning’s ever-present accordion providing melodic and percussive anchor support. Their set ended strong with their track “If I Could Make You Care”. Beginning simply with guitar, voice and accordion, the intensity grew slowly as the rest of the band kicked the song into bombastic chaos. Very cool. We have not seen the last of Cardinals.
Before The Pogues came onstage, the amount of space that they were to take up was apparent. A huge drum kit was centre stage and included a large orchestral drum. Space also was given to a harp and piano, and a large area across the front for those who would play pipes, guitar, bass, banjo, mandolin, accordion, hurdy-gurdy, and tin whistle. An expansive stage for an expansive performance.
“It’s a pleasure to be here!” declared Spider Stacy as the full band took the stage and immediately launched into “The Sick Bed of Cúchulainn”. On lead vocal, Stacy was in fine voice, with a commanding presence and just a touch of Shane MacGowan’s energy, complete with mock-drunken slurring. The band was amazing right out of the gate, playing the music that everyone came for, the way it ought to be played.
CARDINALS
It was great to see the original Pogues sharing their music via the next generation of traditional musicians. Spider Stacy’s tin whistle playing was spot on (even if a little too forward in the mix by times), and Jem Finer lent the classic band feel with his banjo, mandolin, and hurdy-gurdy playing. James Fearnley gave entertaining and energetic performances, mostly on accordion, solidifying his pre-eminence.
As far as the guest artists go, there were almost too many to mention, but standouts included the fun-spirited powerhouse Lisa O’Neill singing lead on “A Rainy Night in Soho” and duetting with Stacy on a number of other songs, including “Dirty Old Town.” Iona Zajac was stellar on clarsach harp, and she possesses one of the purest and clearest voices in folk and traditional music, as proven in her solo turns on “The Parting Glass,” “I’m a Man You Don’t Meet Everyday,” and “Poor Paddy Works on the Railway.” The male guest musicians also shone, with Daragh Lynch of Lankum giving a great rendition of “Streams of Whiskey,” and Jordan O’Leary singing an earnest version of “A Pair of Brown Eyes.” Shoutouts to the bottom-end engine of bassist Holly Mullineaux and drummer Jim Sclavunos, and also to über guitarist James Walbourne, and to tin whistle and uilleann pipes player Fiachra Meek.
The hits just kept on coming. So many songs, with plenty of variety, and songs interspersed with instrumental sets like “Planxty Noel Hill” and “A Pistol for Paddy Garcia.” The regular set ended with a fun, energized version of “London Girl,” featuring Spider Stacy, with Lisa O’Neill and Iona Zajac on vocals.
Before the encore began, Zajac brought out a Canadian flag, which elicited much cheering from the crowd. Holding the flag, Spider Stacy declared, “Not for sale, Mr. President!”, while Fearnley commented, “It’s great to be in Canada after all these years.” The band played five songs in the encore, ending with “Sally McLennane”, after which Stacy raved, “What a fucking band! The three of us are lucky to have these brilliant fuckers around us. Thank you!”
What a treat it was to see this band live. The near future looks bright for another tour, as January 2028 marks the 40th anniversary of their 1988 album, If I Should Fall from Grace with God. Catch them if you can!
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Photo Credits: Holly Whitaker
