Fangbase - Reviews

House of Blues, Anaheim, CA

Sunday 3rd November 2002

An excellent ending to an excellent American Tour. I had a blast at the show, even though I managed to miss seeing the Dwarves and Throwrag while running around Disneyland which is right next door... (the Haunted Mansion Holiday was pretty good though...!)

We dashed over to the House of Blues from the "House of Mouse" in time to see the curtains close on the Dwarves. Sorry to have missed them, I've heard good things and the crowd seemed to have enjoyed their set. We had a couple of beers and waited for the show to start.

Soon enough the lights went down and the lovely strains of "Beauty of the Beast" wafted from behind the closed curtains. At the songs close, the curtains were drawn back to reveal the Damned in all their glory as they launched into "Street of Dreams".

This show and the show at The Hollywood Athletic Club were among the best shows I have ever seen the Damned play. The entire set was played with style and energy. During the fast songs the crowd jumped about, a pit formed and a few hardy souls crowd surfed until being dragged down, and presumably slain, by the ever over-reactive HOB security staff... Even so it was a fantastic show and both the crowd and band seemed to have a great time.

I particularly enjoyed the excellent version of "Under the Floor Again" and "Video Nasty" was a real crowd pleaser. Dave even favored the crowd with a bit of "Stayin' Alive" at the end of "Disco Man"... They ended the main part of the show with "Neat Neat Neat" and soon the Captain and Monty came back out to play "Happy Talk" to the delight of the crowd (who sang along). The rest of the band appeared and Dave announced "Curtain Call" but after a bit of song I didn't recognize, the launched into a fiery "Love Song", then a amazing rendition of "Eloise" into "New Rose" and finished with "Smash It Up". For "Smash It Up" they were joined by guest bassist, and Damned 1st alternate, Warren Renfrow who filled in while Patricia danced, and a drummer (who I was told may have been Fred Hell from Tiger Army?) sitting in for Pinch... People danced and leaped about, drinks were spilled, the final notes played out, the curtain came down, the house music came up, and the Damned were gone!

Thanks Dave, Captain, Patricia, Monty and Pinch! Thanks to Jed too! We had a great time seeing you in the US this year! Come back anytime!

Beauty of the Beast
Street of Dreams
Song.com
Video Nasty
I Just Can't Be Happy Today
Democracy?
Absinthe
Wait for the Blackout
Amen
13th Floor Vendetta
Disco Man
(Stayin' Alive- refrain a cappella by DV)
She
Under the Floor Again
Ignite
Would You Be So Hot?
Neat Neat Neat

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Happy Talk
(unidentified song snippet teased as "Curtain Call")
Love Song
Eloise
New Rose
Smash It Up (w Warren on bass and drummer???)

Anon

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Anaheim Gallery

Thanks to Mrs B.B. Jayne for these photos!