The Blades are gearing up for their comeback shows in Dublin this December and frontman Paul Cleary is promising new material at the gigs.
Speaking to The Irish Independent, Cleary said: “I have written a fair few new songs but they're a bit different to what I've done in the past but don't worry! If there's one way to send people scurrying to the bar at a gig it's the dreaded two words 'new material' . . .
"No, for these shows it'll be 95pc Blades songs with a few Partisans' [Cleary's post-Blades band] tracks and maybe one or two from the solo album just to give the brass section a break."
Cleary made a surprise return at The Philip Chevron testimonial concert last August to share a bill with Horslips, the Radiators From Space and Shane MacGowan in honour of the late Radiators and Pogues' man.
The Blades' gigs at Dublin's Olympia will be the first shows by the Ringsend band since 1986.
"The reaction to that set at the Chevron gig definitely got things going,” Cleary says. “The notion of doing a few gigs with The Blades was always on the cards but, for one reason or another, the timing never felt right but this time I just thought 'Why not?' and was amazed when the first sold out almost immediately."
The Blades play the Olympia, Dublin on December 13 (sold out) and 14.
