The Damned
Friday 11/2/01, The Backroom Austin, TX
Saturday 11/3/01, Deep Ellum Live Dallas, TXThe first time I saw The Damned was in 1998. It was amazing to finally see one of my all time favorite bands. I didn't think it would ever happen again. But here we are in 2001 with not only a new tour, but new tunes to boot. I can barely believe it ...
The openers were The Briefs and NYC's The Toilet Boys. The Briefs were pretty good, snotty old school punk complete with an 80's new wave look of shades and ties. In Austin their finale was a real treat: "Jet Boy, Jet Girl" with the one and only Captain on vocals (I'm not sure if that happened in Dallas or not as I missed their set). The Toilet Boys were *really* something. They're five of the ugliest guys I've ever seen on a stage, the cross dressing s/he vocalist being the most attractive of the lot, but just barely. They do a glam rock thing that's part New York Dolls, part Kiss and part Misfits. Stage raps included such classics as "are you ready to rock tonight <insert city name here>?" and lyrics were mostly about rockin' and partying. Their stage show included synchronized headbanging and arm windmills, gimmicks like guitars with lasers and fire emitting devices on the headstocks, a fire breathing guitarist and fire bursts from the drumset ... all without a trace of shame. It was utterly deplorable yet thoroughly enjoyable ...
Finally, The Damned. The band:
Dave Vanian - vocals
Captain Sensible - guitar, backing vocals
Patricia Morrison - bass
Monty Oxy-Moron - keys, backing vocals
Pinch - drums, backing vocalsVanian is still sporting the slicked back black hair, sideburns, shades and outfits that have probably, at some time or another, also been in the closets of Elivs Presley, Neil Diamond and David Copperfield. In Austin it was a purple top and matching gloves with black pants and in Dallas it was a leopard print top with black pants. The Captain had blonde/black mottled hair, shades and leopard print top. Morrison was in her typical gothic styled dress plus glow in the dark green devils horns. Monty was fairly inconspicuous save for his mass of curly black hair and Pinch was in shorts and t-shirt and has short, bright red hair ...
The set list:
Democracy?
New Rose
Song.com
Wait for the Blackout
Would You Be So Hot (If You Weren't Dead?)
Plan 9 Channel 7
Amen
13th Floor Vendetta
Neverland
Absinthe
Eloise
Thrill Kill
Neat Neat NeatHappy Talk
Disco Man
She
Love Song
Smash it Up (parts 1 and 2)After a bit of goofy music they took the stage and exploded into "Democracy?", Vanian mouthing the words of the intro sample. Ever been about 30 seconds into the first song of a band's set and realize that everything you're going to hear tonight is going to be fucking great? Any worries I had were blown away by the opening number. This band has become very tight over the past 3 years, having played live and in the studio a lot and with a more competent drummer. Vanian and Sensible sound and perform like Vanian and Sensible, still. Both of them are all over the stage and up on the amps to the side. They're having a blast. Morrison and Pinch were very solid, the former exuding a very sexual charm over myself and probably everyone else. Monty laid down some wicked solos and piano and often does a hilarious spastic dance when he's not playing. I seem to be in the minority in that I like to hear new songs at concerts. I'm ecstatic to hear new songs ... especially from The Damned! Vanian mentioned that the new album "Grave Disorder" was their first album in 12 years, obviously referring to 1989's live album "Final Damnation", as the last one with Sensible. About half the set was from the new album and they were just as good as any of the classics. And oh, the classics. Captain mentioned this was the first tour ever that they'd done "13th Floor Vendetta" and I was oh so happy to hear it. They nailed it, right down to the piano and keyboard atmospherics. "Eloise" was a definite highlight. Sensible added the amusing "imagine no Lennon" line to the end of "Would You Be So Hot.." Their dynamics are impressive, from slow and quiet to fast and hard. Captain's in-between song banter was extensive: he playfully slagged off the openers which he also said were two of the best bands they'd ever toured with (I don't think so), he claimed "Eric Clapton taught me everything I know", quipped "all pop stars should be lunatics like Michael Jackson" and in Austin belittled a woman smoking in the front - "I didn't get to age 45 by smoking these things" after she threw a cigarette on stage. Austin was beleaguered early on by technical problems like sabotaged drumsets and keyboard rigs (courtesy of The Briefs), mics cutting out/dying and roadies scurrying about fixing things during songs. But overall the vibe was very good and energy high from band and crowd alike. Everything seemed to work fine in Dallas but the vibe wasn't as good. By mid-set, the crowd in Dallas just wasn't giving them the energetic feedback they needed and deserved. Captain didn't kid around as much and Pinch became a bit upset, yelling after one song something akin to "what's wrong with you pussies? There was more noise at my grandmother's funeral" ...
The encores began with Captain re-appearing only in his hot pink bob wig and matching tutu for "Happy Talk" with Monty. Absolutely hilarious. He pointed out that the first rule of punk rock is no rules and that this was one of the dubious things he did during the '80s, "before you were born" pointing at a youngin' up front. Dallas was the final show of the tour so, of course, chaos had to ensue. During the mellow part 1 intro of "Smash It Up", roadies lit sparklers positioned on the drum kit and around the stage. Then when part 2 kicked in, members of The Briefs rushed out and assaulted Sensible and Pinch with pies, Vanian barely able to sing while looking on and laughing. The band carried on, Sensible in particular completely blinded by pie, while The Briefs and Toilet Boys all joined on stage singing and running about. Someone introduced a 5 ft long inflatable penis on stage which made its way out into the crowd. Vanian replaced a few choice lyrics with 'inflatable penis'. By the very end of the song, Sensible handed the guitar over to The Briefs guitarist, then lowered his tutu and mooned the crowd, motioning for someone to jam the flying phallus where the sun doesn't shine. No one did, so he shot water from his water bottle on his backside instead and carried on celebrating on-stage with everyone else. It was one hell of a party. I don't think I've ever seen that much outright fun exhibited on a stage. I had an wonderful time, both times. Thanks guys. See you next time ...
UK/Europe tour dates for the rest of the year:
November
18 - Oxford - Zodiac
19 - Brighton - Concorde II
20 - Frome - Cheese & Grain
21 - Newport - TJ's
22 - Birmingham - The Sanctuary
23 - Scunthorpe - Baths Hall
25 - Dundee - Fat Sam's
26 - Edinburgh - 26 Liquid Rooms
27 - Newcastle - University Union
28 - Blackburn - King George's Hall
29 - Leeds - Break For The Border
30 - Norwich - The WaterfrontDecember
4 - Roma
5 - Biella
6 - Milano
7 - Mestre/Venezia
8 - Cesena
9 - Firenze (to be confirmed)
21 - London - Hackney Ocean Xmas