It seems an odd thing to say—but I delighted in the clip of Shane MacGowan’s funeral.
The clip of Glen Hansard leading a motley crew of Irish musicians through a mournful but stills somehow joyous version of “Fairytale of New York” is something to behold.
It wasn’t all so joyous, of course. The clip of Nick Cave singing “A Rainy Night in Soho” is crushing in comparison, but lovely still.
I’m just wowed at the effort that went into celebrating this man and his strange but lasting body of work. I find The Pogues discography a bit uneven, to be honest, but love many, many of the tunes.
I learned also that Shane directed there to be a $10,000 tab paid at his favorite pub for his wake. I think the spirit of that gesture says it all.
Taylor Coe 