By Rob Curry
Carnegie Hall hosted a tribute to the music and lives of Shane MacGowan and Sinead O’Connor on March 20, 2024. These types of tributes can sometimes be staid affairs, but not this one. When you have two of the best Irish songwriters of the last 40 years it quickly turned into a celebration more like an Irish wake at the local pub. The only thing missing was a perfect pour of a Guinness.
Carnegie Hall hosted a tribute to the music and lives of Shane MacGowan and Sinead O’Connor on March 20, 2024. These types of tributes can sometimes be staid affairs, but not this one. When you have two of the best Irish songwriters of the last 40 years it quickly turned into a celebration more like an Irish wake at the local pub. The only thing missing was a perfect pour of a Guinness.
Michael Dorf, of City Winery vintage, put together a stellar group of artists to celebrate Shane and Sinead. They were Gordon Gano of the Violent Femmes, Steve Earle, Cat Power, Amanda Palmer, Glenn Hansard, Billy Bragg, Imelda May, David Gray, Dropkick Murphys, Flogging Molly, Josh Ritter; the list goes on and on.
The set list alternated between Shane and Sinead songs which highlighted the dark and introspective side of Sinead’s songs versus Shane’s raucous celebrations of the good and bad that life can bring.
The highlight of the evening had to be Sinead’s daughter Roisin Murphy doing “Nothing Compares 2 U”. With a closed crop hairstyle and a voice similar to her mother’s, it was a truly special moment. How could you not feel her pain and get choked up when Roisin sang:
“All the flowers that you planted, mama
In the back yard
All died when you went away”
In the back yard
All died when you went away”
LISTEN HERE:
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For me the highlight of the night was Hansard and Imelda May’s version of the Sinead/Shane song “Haunted” which originally appeared on the “Sid and Nancy” soundtrack. There was not a more appropriate song to celebrate the two artists. Imelda didn’t want the song to end as she did an extended call and response with the crowd on the refrain “haunted by your ghost” . We all felt we were going to be haunted in a good way by Sinead and Shane’s music even though they are not physically with us.
I don’t mean to slight the other artists as there were so many great performances, but my space is limited. Hopefully the concert was recorded or videotaped so that if you weren’t lucky enough to be part of the 2,700 person audience you’ll be able to hear the love and admiration for Shane and Sinead by the performers and audience.
It was last call at the Carnegie Pub for that night of music but the power of Shane and Sinead’s music will live on and on.
YOU MAY LIKE: Interview with Honorary Oscar Winner Diane Warren HERE
Editor's Note: All net proceeds of the concert to benefit PenAmerica.