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

Summary

All Of It with Alison Stewart

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

Date: March 13, 2026

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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.

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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]

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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]

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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"

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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.

Transcript

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[Alison Stewart]

This is all of it on W. Welcome back to WNYC. I'm Alison Stewart. St. Patrick's Day is next Tuesday and there will be a lot of ways to celebrate in the area. One way you can get into the spirit is to see the local band Dark Streets play live. Dark Streets is a tribute band inspired by the Pogues. Dark Streets is playing a series of shows this weekend starting tomorrow at the Burin Public House in the Bronx, Sunday at Mama Tried in Brooklyn, Monday at Lucinda's in the East Village, and Tuesday at Patty Riley's Music Bar in Kips Bay. Dark Streets was co founded by Nate Palin on acoustic guitar and lead vocals and Caitlin Oliver Ganz on bass. We've also got Bill Bell, Daniel Sutton and Sean Pluckett in studio and our very own WNYC engineer Jason Isaacs is the drummer. Dark Streets is here now to perform their shows and to perform live. Welcome to wnyc.

[Caitlin Oliver Ganz]

Thank you.

[Nate Palin]

Thank you.

[Alison Stewart]

You're going to start us off with two songs back to back. What are we going to hear?

[Caitlin Oliver Ganz]

We're going to hear the first two songs off of the third Pogues album. If I should fall from grace with God.

[Nate Palin]

Take me plumber beneath the sand but angels want to see me Let me go boys let me go boys let me go down in the mud where the river so try. This land is always there it's the problem of our fathers it belongs to us and them not to any of the others Let them go let them go boys let them go down in the mud where the river. Some other ghost can't hug me if a rocket found a way

[Alison Stewart]

Coming up

[Nate Palin]

three boys Coming up three boys Let me go down in the mud for the river so try. If I shut all grace with God where no doctor can relate me if I'm begging me to slide Let me go, let me go, let me go down the mud for the river so sure I. Come on you break from out tonight across the ring sea got the nails the Christ and the photographs can bring you on the sea. Just stand outside your dark forest Just keep on watching the dead man's hand See the wedding coming in Wah. Wanna wanna share as a dancer? Jerker. Song of the dam. You remember when that ship went down and left me on the deck? The captain's cross came up and wrapped his arms around my neck Borrow all these years I've had him on my back this deck cannot be payload Keep on watching the dead man's hand See that one away the coming Turkish song. Of the town. And as they sit and talk to you I watch your face turn white the shadow hanging over me is no trick of the light the sister on my back will sling baby that that they've come to claim a death from me to keep on watching the dead man's and see thou coming at way and when the strand is a denture chick Song of the dems Keep on watching dead man son say thou wear wanna Shannon. With a combination song of the. Sam.

[Alison Stewart]

That was a live performance from Dark Street, a Pogues inspired tribute band. They're here to perform live ahead of St Patrick's Day. You can see them perform Saturday at the Buren Public House in the Bronx at 9, Sunday at Mama tried in Brooklyn at 6 and Tuesday at Patty Riley's Music Bar at Kips Bay at 7. Let's go back to the beginning of the band. So Caitlin, you knew Nate from Madison, Wisconsin. How did you both end up in New York?

[Bill Bell]

Yeah, just totally separately. We played in another band for a long time that played Pogues music and original Irish songs and toured around a bit. And then eventually I left the band. Many years later, he left the band. We both realized we lived in New York, got together over some Guinness and whiskey and talked about every year.

[Caitlin Oliver Ganz]

Every year around St. Patrick's Day was like, why did we forget to get together and do this again?

[Bill Bell]

Weren't we supposed to? Yeah, we were supposed to start another podcast.

[Caitlin Oliver Ganz]

Yeah, next year.

[Alison Stewart]

Well, I understand you got together Nate, around. Oh, March 2020.

[Caitlin Oliver Ganz]

That was it. Yeah, those were supposed to be our first shows. Yeah. And so our first rehearsal TR turned out to be a petri dish of COVID and our five piece band at that time turned into a two piece Band. And I think we had the last live show of the world, and then after that, the next day, they closed everything down.

[Alison Stewart]

And when did you get to play again together live?

[Caitlin Oliver Ganz]

It was a couple years, right? I think 20. Were we allowed to do it in 20? 22?

[Bill Bell]

Maybe 20, 24?

[Alison Stewart]

Maybe.

[Bill Bell]

I'm not sure. Yeah, I know I had to wear a mask at our first show, which was fun to sing with.

[Caitlin Oliver Ganz]

Yeah.

[Alison Stewart]

Oh, that's a blast.

[Bill Bell]

Yeah.

[Alison Stewart]

When did you decide you were going to sort of not focus on the Pogues but be inspired by the Pogues?

[Caitlin Oliver Ganz]

Well, you know, the Pogues are a band that I've known for, you know, just 30 years of my life, and they're a band that I just never seem to get sick of. Like, I know these songs inside and out, but I can still put on a record and enjoy it, so. There's something timeless about the songwriting of Shane McGowan, who passed away a couple years ago, where he just.

[Nate Palin]

He.

[Caitlin Oliver Ganz]

He tapped into something that is very rare and very beautiful.

[Nate Palin]

And.

[Caitlin Oliver Ganz]

And so it's. It's an honor to be continuing to play these songs out live. And, you know, they continue to find new ears and they continue to inspire, and it's. It's wonderful.

[Alison Stewart]

Caitlin, what do you think you understand about the Pogues music now?

[Bill Bell]

Oh, my gosh. Well, like Nate, I've been playing it for so long, it just gets in your bones. I don't even know if it's a, you know, mental understanding, but more of like, a physical understanding. It's just like he said, it's in my bones. The moment I hear it, I kind of. Something lights up like a spark inside. It just taps into everything. Love, family, history, society. Just. The music is timeless.

[Alison Stewart]

Let's hear another song. This is gonna be the broad, majestic Shannon, is that correct?

[Bill Bell]

Yes.

[Nate Palin]

The last time I saw you was

[Caitlin Oliver Ganz]

down at the creeks.

[Nate Palin]

There was whiskey on Sunday and tears in her cheeks. You sang me a song that was pure as the breeze bled up on a road and a bay. I sat for a while at the cross if you know where young lovers would meet when the flowers in bloom heard the mess then come as the ferret. You know they're hurts and Tipperary wherever they go. Take my hand and dry your tears, babe Take my hand forget your fears, babe there's no pain, there's no more sorrow They've all gone, gone in the years, babe. Except for a while at the crossing Finneau found a rusty tin cannon and her old hurley ball. There are cars being dealt down the road to Reach calling a fennel's playing tongue on the gay Next time I'll see a beat down at the creeks There be whiskey on Sunday and tears in her cheeks it's useless to laugh and stupid to bawl Bought a rusty tin can and an old early ball sa. Take my hand forget your face years babe there's no pain there's no more sorrow They've all gone Gone in the years baby so I walked as the day was dawning the small birds sang and leaves a falling where we once watched the rowboats Standing by the broad just a ch.

[Alison Stewart]

You're listening to Dark Streets. We're listening to Nate Palin, Caitlin Oliver G. Bill Bell, Jason Isaacs, Daniel Sutton, and Sean Pluckett. Jason Isaacs, You're a WNYC engineer. I've been around on drums.

[Jason Isaacs]

I know this place.

[Alison Stewart]

How did you hook up with this band?

[Jason Isaacs]

So during the Pandemic years, when they went dark, I went dark musically, too. I put all my energy into keeping WNYC on the air.

[Alison Stewart]

Yes, you did.

[Jason Isaacs]

And it was 2022, guys, when things started to reopen and. And the first couple of Dark Streets gigs after that were at the 11th street bar, which is pretty close to where I live, and one of the band members, Matt Islin, who is not here today, I've been playing in bands with him for 20 years, and I knew, I had seen his post, that he was doing this. So one night I was walking home from work, and I saw Dark Streets on the chalkboard outside the bar. I didn't even know that you guys were playing that night, but I was like, oh, hey, that's Matt's band. I'm going to go in. And I stayed for a set, and I pulled Matt aside after the first set, and I was like, this looks

[Nate Palin]

like a lot of fun.

[Jason Isaacs]

If you ever need a sub on drums, give me a call. I would love to do it. I don't really know the music, but, you know, this looks like a blast. And two weeks later, he called me up and he's like, 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.

[Alison Stewart]

That's a fantastic story.

[Jason Isaacs]

I don't know if you guys knew. The gig is yours if you want it.

[Bill Bell]

I thought it was. We saw you on a street corner and walked by and said, that guy.

[Caitlin Oliver Ganz]

That guy playing some buckets.

[Alison Stewart]

Nate, what do you like about playing live?

[Caitlin Oliver Ganz]

I love the energy of making people have a good time. Like performing music in front of people, in front of eyes, in front of thoughts and opinions and all of those things that are like, real and undeniable. There's a magic that is just really the greatest thing in the entire world. I love performing for people more than anything in the entire world. And it's, I think, the thing that I feel most comfortable doing in this world. So, yeah.

[Alison Stewart]

Caitlin, what do you like about performing live?

[Bill Bell]

Yeah, it's funny you asked that because I think maybe that's why Nate and I get along so well. I love the shared experience with the audience. I love performing live more than studio anything. Just like being there with that energy and also sharing. I mean, 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.

[Alison Stewart]

I want to let everybody know that you can see Dark Street Saturday at Burin Public House in the Bronx at 9. Sunday at Mama Tried at Brooklyn at 6. Tuesday at Patty Riley's Music Bar in Kips Bay at 7. And I'm going to get one more song in here. What can we hear?

[Caitlin Oliver Ganz]

Well, this is our namesake song. It's a pogue song called Dark Streets of London.

[Alison Stewart]

Thanks so much for being with us.

[Nate Palin]

I like to walk in the suburb Dumped by the dead old trees and drink with my friends Hammersmith Broadway and dirty doll I pull all drunken old D Now the wind summers down I loved it so dearly the pubs in the bookies where you spend all your time and the old men who were singing where the roses bloom again and turn like the leaves to a new Sumas town Now the winds to us down are cast down and chill this coast to the streets around Christmas time Now far into that nation I haven't got a penny to wander the dark streets of London. And every time that come the first day of summer Chasing back to the place with a gay basic tea and the chucked up psychos with death and neuroids and all of this really means nothing to me now the winds among the stout I cast and a shell the cups in the streets around Christma this time now Fucker, shut up. They should haven't got a penny to wander the dark streets up on time. And every time that I walk on the first day of summer Chasing back to the place where the gay basic teeny and the trucked up the psychos with that and all of this really means nothing they're made out of winds and sounds I cast down the chills the cops Illustrator of Christmas time now buggers in a nation I haven't got a penny to wander the dark streets of London to wander the dark streets of London to wander the dark streets of und. Sam.

[Caitlin Oliver Ganz]

When I lost my sight I found a way to win. Bank of America champions. Blind soccer player and coach Antoine Craig and everyone who dares to ask what would you like the power to do? Bank of America Proud to be the Official bank of FIFA World Cup 2026 bank of America NA Member FDSE with

[Nate Palin]

its two juicy beef patties, three slices of melted cheese and tangy Big Arch sauce. The Big Arch is what happens when you start making a McDonald's burger and never stop. The Big Arch, the most McDonald's McDonald's burger yet for a limited time.