Reviews

The Magnificent 40 Tour is now over – please see the reviews below.  

40 Years and counting

The 40th anniversary tour of ‘The Men They Couldn’t Hang’ was always going to be a complete sell out. The Shepherds Bush empire was one of the places where it all started so it seemed apt to appear at this iconic venue this time round. Having first seen the Men in 1988, and probably 30 odd times since, it is fair to say that they have never failed to deliver. This gig somehow felt different though. Since the untimely passing of Cush, the band have had to reinvent themselves without their talisman. Swill and Cush were the perfect duo, Swill’s velvety smooth vocals resonating perfectly with the gravelly edge of his comrade in arms.

The Men will never replace Cush but they have moved on, it was always going to be so. The fans have been with them since the beginning, we have grown old and grey together. It seemed fitting that the Bush was packed to the rafters.

Skinny Lister have to be one of the best support acts I have seen in a long while and they set the tone of the evening. Vibrant, energetic, raucous, they were the perfect foils for the Men.

What followed was so much more than a 40 year celebration, so much more than a walk down memory lane. It felt like 1988 all over again, just without Cush and certainly no Hofmeisters in sight. The set was scintillating and the 50 something’s in the crowd became teenagers once again. The favourites were covered, the pace was relentless, we all swayed to Swill’s beat. The rendition of Green Fields of France was heart wrenchingly poignant especially with original member, Shanne Bradley joining the band on stage and Cush’s son Stan and Joe in the audience. For 6 minutes, we were all as one.

I have used the cliche, rolling back the years too many times, this evening transcended the boundaries of age, it was so much more than perfect. I wanted to write these words before I forgot this special feeling. I am still resonating now.

I definitely haven’t done this gig justice, I know that. But it means so much to be part of this amazing family. Long may it continue.

Simon Thorpe, April 2024 

“This is an old story, that’s rarely ever told…”

I travelled over to London this weekend for The Men They Couldn’t Hang 40th anniversary gig. Shortly after take-off from Dublin Airport, on a bright clear morning, I had a perfect view of Lambay Island below. And that was a moment of synchronicity, as it on the island where I first heard the band (though it was 39 years ago, not quite 40).

Once upon a time, back in those olden days, I was on Lambay Island (of all places) and the Dave Fanning show was playing on the little transistor radio. The song which I eventually discovered was “Ironmasters” came on. I shushed Mary so I could hear it properly, but at the end Fanning never announced who it was ! That of course was pre internet or google or whateverso I’d no idea who it was. My opinion at the time was – “It sounds like the Pogues, but it’s not”.

My instincts weren’t too far wrong. It took a while to discover who the artists were, and I got my hands on their debut album as soon as I possibly could, which wasn’t always easy in 1980’s Dublin. I never actually had that single. I’m going to be honest and say that it was only a few years ago that I realised that Philip Chevron had produced TMTCH’s early single and half the album.

Released during the miners strike, the song is not only brilliant, but it got banned by the BBC for insulting Margaret Thatcher (“the Iron bastard always gets her way”), so really, what’s not to like ? Here’s Ironmasters : https://youtu.be/_jnA3N-gGy8

The 40th anniversary show was amazing. After four decades and more than ten studio albums and about twenty singles & EP’s to choose songs from it was classic after classic for 90 minutes of non stop energy. There were at least two songs I’d never seen them play live before. This was also the first time I’d seen them seen the sad passing of Stefan Cush in 2021. He was well remembered tonight.

Special guests included John for an appearance on drums (brother of Phil Odgers) and Shanne Bradley. Great support also from Skinny Lister.

Hoping to catch The Men They Couldn’t Hang again later in the year in Bristol, where I’ve been lucky to see them on quite a few occasions.

Joe Mooney, April 2024

Photo by Louise Phillips Music Photography