All Of It with Alison Stewart

Episode: Celebrating St. Paddy's Day with Pogues-Inspired Tribute Band Dark Streets

Date: March 13, 2026

Episode Overview

In this vibrant pre-St. Patrick’s Day episode, Alison Stewart welcomes Dark Streets—a New York-based tribute band inspired by the iconic Irish punk-folk group The Pogues. The conversation celebrates the legacy of Shane MacGowan and Irish music traditions, explores the band's personal journeys, pandemic-era challenges, and the joy at the heart of live performance. Listeners are also treated to high-energy, live in-studio renditions of Pogues classics.

Key Discussion Points & Insights

1. Introduction & Live Music Kickoff

[00:59–07:56]

• Dark Streets begins with live performances of two beloved Pogues tracks from their third album, If I Should Fall from Grace with God.
• Alison introduces the band, noting upcoming performances spanning NYC boroughs in celebration of St. Patrick’s Day.

Let me go, let me go, let me go down in the mud for the river so sure I… (Nate Palin, singing, [03:35])

2. Band Origin Stories & The NYC Connection

[07:56–09:20]

• Caitlin and Nate’s friendship began in Madison, Wisconsin; both moved independently to New York.
• Their shared history includes years playing in other Irish music bands before reconnecting in NYC.
• The group reminisces about intending to restart a Pogues project annually each St. Patrick’s season.

“Every year around St. Patrick's Day was like, why did we forget to get together and do this again?”
—Caitlin Oliver Ganz [08:45]

• The band first rehearsed in March 2020 but pandemic lockdowns hit immediately; they recall potentially hosting "the last live show of the world."

“Our first rehearsal… turned out to be a petri dish of COVID… I think we had the last live show of the world, and then after that, the next day, they closed everything down.”
—Caitlin Oliver Ganz [08:59]

3. Navigating Pandemic and Return to Stage

[09:20–10:09]

• The band didn’t perform together again for several years. Reuniting during the pandemic was challenging, with memories of masked gigs and uncertainty.

“I know I had to wear a mask at our first show, which was fun to sing with.”
—Bill Bell [09:28]

4. Choosing Pogues as Inspiration (Not Strict Imitation)

[09:35–10:21]

• Conversation shifts to artistic vision: Dark Streets draws inspiration from the Pogues’ vast, emotionally resonant repertoire, rather than strict mimicry.
• Caitlin and Nate express reverence for Shane MacGowan’s songwriting.

“He tapped into something that is very rare and very beautiful… it’s an honor to be continuing to play these songs out live. They continue to find new ears and they continue to inspire.”
—Caitlin Oliver Ganz [10:05 & 10:09]

5. The Enduring Power of Pogues’ Music

[10:21–10:49]

• Bill shares how Pogues’ music is deeply ingrained—physically and emotionally.
• The songs evoke connections with love, family, history, and society.

“The music is timeless… it just gets in your bones… it just taps into everything.”
—Bill Bell [10:25]

6. More Live Music: "The Broad Majestic Shannon"

[10:53–13:58]

• The band plays “The Broad Majestic Shannon,” offering listeners spirited vocals and instrumentation.

7. How WNYC’s Jason Isaacs Joined as Drummer

[14:13–15:22]

• Jason Isaacs recounts joining the band post-lockdowns after seeing their gig listed outside a neighborhood bar. A chance encounter turned into a regular spot as their drummer.

“If you ever need a sub on drums, give me a call… Two weeks later, he called me up and said, ‘remember when you said if we need a sub, we should call you? Well, we do.’ And then a week after that, he was like, yeah, we need more than a sub, so the gig is yours if you want it. And I've been here ever since.”
—Jason Isaacs [15:03]

8. The Joy and Meaning of Live Performance

[15:34–16:34]

• Nate and Caitlin share what drives them to perform live: connecting with audiences, feeding off their energy, creating unforgettable shared experiences.

“There’s a magic that is just really the greatest thing in the entire world. I love performing for people more than anything.”
—Nate Palin [15:38]

“I love the shared experience with the audience… Music kind of belongs to everybody, especially right now—we’re playing somebody else's music, so we get to share it and have a shared experience. It's my favorite thing.”
—Caitlin Oliver Ganz [16:14]

9. Show Plugs & Final Song

[16:34–19:57]

• Alison shouts out the band’s upcoming St. Patrick’s week shows in multiple NYC venues.
• The band closes with the driving, eponymous Pogues song, “Dark Streets of London”—their namesake and rallying anthem.

“This is our namesake song. It's a Pogues song called ‘Dark Streets of London.’”
—Caitlin Oliver Ganz [16:50]

Notable Quotes & Memorable Moments

• “Let me go, let me go, let me go down in the mud for the river so sure I…”
  —Nate Palin, belting Pogues lyrics live [03:35]
• “He tapped into something that is very rare and very beautiful… it’s an honor to be continuing to play these songs out live.”
  —Caitlin Oliver Ganz [10:05]
• “There's a magic that is just really the greatest thing… I love performing for people more than anything in the entire world.”
  —Nate Palin [15:38]
• “Music kind of belongs to everybody… we get to share it and have a shared experience. It's my favorite thing.”
  —Caitlin Oliver Ganz [16:14]
• (on first pandemic-era gig) “I know I had to wear a mask at our first show, which was fun to sing with.”
  —Bill Bell [09:28]

Timestamps for Key Segments

• 00:59–07:56: Introduction & first live performances ("If I Should Fall from Grace with God" & more)
• 07:56–10:09: Band origins, pandemic disruptions, why the Pogues?
• 10:21–10:49: Deeper appreciation for the Pogues’ songwriting
• 10:53–13:58: Live: "The Broad Majestic Shannon"
• 14:13–15:22: Jason Isaacs on joining the band
• 15:34–16:34: Why live performance matters to the band
• 16:50–19:57: Final live song: "Dark Streets of London"

Episode Tone

Warmly nostalgic, spirited, and community-oriented—just like the best St. Patrick’s Day parties. Authentic banter among bandmates and genuine affection for the music create a festive, down-to-earth listening experience, channeling the Pogues’ enduring legacy within New York’s local music scene.