ITLM OTRS Presents: The Pogues and the Rum Sodomy & the Lash 40th Anniversary Tour at Lincoln Theatre in Washington, D.C.

Sep 11, 2025 admin_bitlc Features, ITLM OTRS, Music News, Reviews 0

Written by: Raymond Estes

Photos by: Fleurette Farley Estes

On Friday, 5 September 2025, The Pogues delivered a nearly two-hour set at Washington, D.C.’s historic Lincoln Theatre, celebrating the 40th anniversary of their landmark album Rum Sodomy & the Lash. Surviving members Spider Stacy (vocals, tin whistle), Jem Finer (banjo, hurdy-gurdy), and James Fearnley (accordion) were joined by a host of guest musicians who brought fresh energy to the band’s timeless songs on “Washington’s Black Broadway” in the U Street neighborhood.

Although the tour centered on an album released four decades ago, the performance felt rooted in the present and hopeful about the future. Guest performers—many clearly inspired by the Pogues—played with enthusiasm and gratitude. Among them were Holly Mullineaux (bass), Daragh Lynch (guitar, vocals), Jordan O’Leary (guitar, vocals), Fiachra Meek (pipes, low whistle), Jim Sclavunos(drums, percussion), Iona Zajac (harp, vocals), John Francis Flynn (vocals), Lisa O’Neill (vocals), Nadine Shah, and James Walbourne(guitar). I didn’t manage to get the names of their horn and woodwind players, but their contributions were indispensable. And it was a thrill to see a Bad Seed (Sclavunos) and a Pretender (Walbourne) on stage.

I’d last seen the Pogues at the 9:30 Club on 17 March 2009 and 15 March 2011, with Shane MacGowan and Philip Chevron still in the lineup. This time, I wasn’t sure what to expect—only that I was glad to be there.

Fans began lining up as early as 2:00 pm. Thanks to fellow fan Matt Crowe, I scored a soundcheck ticket and caught the band’s playful warm-up, with Stacy, Finer, and Fearnley bantering with fans and encouraging their new collaborators. The soundcheck wrapped before doors opened at 6:30 pm, and by 8:00 pm the theatre was packed. The Pogues launched into “The Sick Bed of Cuchulainn,” setting the tone for a high-energy night. Highlights for me included Spider leading “Billy’s Bones,” “The Old Main Drag,” “Boys from the County Hell,” and “Sally MacLennane.”

The band made bold choices with Shane MacGowan’s songs. Rather than imitate his voice, guest vocalists performed in their own styles. Jordan O’Leary gave a heartfelt “A Pair of Brown Eyes.” Iona Zajac and John Francis Flynn tore through “Navigator.” Lisa O’Neill stunned with “Dirty Old Town” and “A Rainy Night in Soho.” Zajac delivered a raucous “Poor Paddy,” Flynn a soulful “And The Band Played Waltzing Matilda,” and Lynch a jubilant “Streams of Whiskey.” As Crowe noted, it was refreshing to hear the lyrics delivered with such clarity.

The night was a celebration. Longtime fans sang with the same joy as first-timers, all united by songs that had become part of their lives. Rumors swirled that Mike Scott of the Waterboys—who had played the 9:30 Club the night before—might appear, but he didn’t. (The Pogues and Waterboys did share a bill days later at the Seisiún festival in Boston.)

Adding to the weekend’s magic, my wife, Fleurette, and I saw Pulp at the Anthem the following Saturday. A fan told us members of Pulp had attended the Pogues show from the balcony—fitting, since both bands share roots in the English punk scene. After waiting 30 years to see Pulp, their set was extraordinary but knowing they’d shared that Friday night with us at the Lincoln Theatre made it even more special.

It’s impossible to capture every detail of a night like this. What mattered most was hearing these timeless songs with renewed vitality and sharing them with Fleurette as she discovered the Pogues for herself.

If you’re just discovering the Pogues—or seeing them for the first time—you still have a chance. The band is currently on their U.S. tour:

September 10 – Toronto, ON @ History

September 12 – Montreal, QC @ MTELUS

September 16 – New York, NY @ Terminal 5

September 17 – New York, NY @ Terminal 5

September 19 – Chicago, IL @ Douglass Park (Riot Fest)

Soundcheck Setlist

Wild Cats of Kilkenny

A Pair of Brown Eyes (Jordan O’Leary on vocals)

Billy’s Bones (Spider Stacy on vocals)

London Girl (Spider Stacy on vocals)

The Irish Rover (Jordan O’Leary on vocals) (Joseph M. Crofts cover)

Navigator (John Francis Flynn and Iona Zajac on vocals)

Show Setlist

The Sick Bed of Cuchulainn (Spider Stacy on vocals)

Wild Cats of Kilkenny

A Pair of Brown Eyes (Jordan O’Leary on vocals)

Billy’s Bones (Spider Stacy on vocals)

Navigator (John Francis Flynn and Iona Zajac on vocals)

Planxty Noel Hill

The Gentleman Soldier (Spider Stacy and Lisa O’Neill on vocals)

Jesse James (Spider Stacy on vocals) (Bentley Ball cover)

I’m a Man You Don’t Meet Every Day (Iona Zajac and John Francis Flynn on vocals) (traditional cover)

The Body of an American (Spider Stacy on vocals)

The Old Main Drag (Spider Stacy on vocals)

The Parting Glass (Iona Zajac on vocals) (traditional cover)

Dirty Old Town (Lisa O’Neill on vocals) (Ewan MacColl cover)

A Rainy Night in Soho (Lisa O’Neill on vocals)

A Pistol for Paddy Garcia

Poor Paddy (Iona Zajac on vocals) (traditional cover)

And The Band Played Waltzing Matilda (John Francis Flynn on vocals) (Eric Bogle cover)

London Girl (Spider Stacy on vocals)

Encore Set

The Irish Rover (Jordan O’Leary on vocals) (Joseph M. Crofts cover)

Streams of Whiskey (Daragh Lynch on vocals)

Boys from the County Hell (Spider Stacy on vocals)

Dark Streets of London (Lisa O’Neill on vocals)

Sally MacLennane (Spider Stacy on vocals)

Upcoming Anniversary Releases
To celebrate the 40th anniversary of Rum Sodomy & the Lash, Rhino Records is releasing two special editions: a collectible 2LP red marble vinyl on 24 October 2025 and a deluxe 2CD set on 28 November 2025. Both feature the original album along with the Poguetry in Motion EP, BBC Janice Long session tracks, B-sides, rare live recordings, and a rough mix of the Pogues’ unreleased cover of The Lovin’ Spoonful’s “Do You Believe in Magic.”