The Kissers
to
Malt House 2609 E. Washington Ave., Madison, Wisconsin 53704
Gustav Ryberg
The Kissers
media release: Shane MacGowan passed from his earthly form on Thursday. The Kissers are so greatly indebted to him in so many ways. A couple of us are going to be at the Malt House tomorrow night to pay tribute to him and raise a toast in his honor. We hope you can join us.
A Tribute to Shane MacGowan
Friday, December 1, 6-9pm
Here's what Ken from the Kissers posted on Facebook:
Quite simply, without Shane MacGowan there would be no Kissers. We started off as a Pogues cover band after all. But his influence went beyond that. There was the ethos behind his songwriting: write about the places you know, the people you meet, the issues that are important to you, your history. That's why so many Kissers songs are not about Shane’s homeland of Ireland, but about Wisconsin and the US. American Folk Song was my attempt to write Sally MacLennane.
And celebrate the uncelebrated. The downtrodden, the addicts, the homeless, the ones society rejects lifted up in song, immortalized in verse. Because "we" in this world includes everyone. And for Shane it was seamless because it was honest, it was his life. He used the language of the streets, of the brothels, of the prisons. His lyrics were full of cursing and matter of fact descriptions of drug use, debauchery, and torment. They're firsthand accounts spoken in the native tongue of a glorious awful hurt. He was right there with them, us, everyone in brutal truth and stayed right there at the height of his fame and forever after.
When we listen to Shane's music we are all celebrated. There is no act you can commit that excludes you from this revery. His music is universal in the absolute truth of the human condition.
We owe a hell of a lot to you Shane. You were a god damn force. Still are.
"I'm sad to say I must be on my way
So buy me beer and whiskey cos I'm going far away
I'd like to think I'll be returning when I can
To the greatest little boozer and to Sally MacLennane"
-Ken and The Kissers