Civic Hall, Guildford, 2002

Fangbase - Reviews

Civic Hall, Guildford

Monday 16th December 2002

David Vanian, Guildford

Well, that was my first Damned gig and it was well worth the 8 hour trek home!

Everyone was playing so well it was hard to know who to look at. Hearing Dave's voice live is amazing - so rich and unique in rock music. Captain's guitar playing was also brilliant, the solos especially. I don't think I've ever seen anyone quite like Monty (!) but he really plays those keys well. Pinch is an excellent drummer and Patricia looked great and played solidly.

The support act, Retallica, wasn't my cup of tea. One of those torchered goth females singing to metal/goth backing tapes. She didn't get the crowd going in any way but she did keep their interest for the most part.

The Damned came onto Street of Dreams - one of the songs from the back catalogue they have breathed new life into - the others being 13th Floor Vendetta and Under The Floor Again. I won't say I was dissapointed that I didn't get to see New Rose, Plan 9 Channel 7 or Ignite as I loved all the songs they played - I was more frustrated they couldn't play a 3 hour set! The set list went something, but not quite, like:

Street of Dreams
Nasty
Disco Man
I Fall
Democracy
Amen
I Just Can't Be Happy Today
Thrill Kill
13th Floor Vendetta
Under The Floor Again
Song.Com
She
Neat Neat Neat
encore:
Absinthe
Would You Be So Hot
Eloise
Love Song
Smash It Up

Plenty of Grave Disorder tracks then, but not to the detriment of the night. GD definately stands up with the best of Damned albums - I would like to see one more track from the Black Album and Strawberries in future though. A 5 song encore just goes to show how many great songs The Damned have in their catalogue - and what a way to end a gig with Eloise, Love Song and Smash It Up!

Funniest Captain moment for me (and their were a few!) was when Captain (wearing a kilt) sat on the head of the biggest, ugliest, smelliest bouncer's head! You should have seen the look on the blokes face! All in all then, a great set, performed well with confidence and enjoyment. Can't wait for the next one!

Joh Bridge

Captain Sensible, Guildford Another...

The atmosphere was electric, as the gang took to the stage, DV (looking dandy and dapper as usual) - wheeling in the Captain on a sack barra, and Captain announcing his greetings thru` a bullhorn!

Not sure of the full setlist, but all the classics were played, mixed with some new material from the Grave Disorder album, 'Video Nasty' sounded as good as ever...... Half way thru` Captain has to deal with a silly arse git who still thinks its cool to chuck beer glasses at the band, but Captain being his charismatic self put him and others in check!!

'Neat Neat Neat' got the biggest rush of adrenalin and rocket fueled the mayhem in the crowd, but all in all a great night was had by all, even all the wallflowers got their arses movin to the evergreen 'Eloise'.

I hoped that the Captain got his 'afters' as a few lasses were hauled away from the Captains Kilt and contents that night, and in the words of the Captain, again, ............... "Merry fuckin Christmas ya bunch o` bastards" - it was goodnight from him and it was goodnight from me, as my ears were bleedin from the pumped up volume of the night, - just a case of "pure Damned - pure genius"

All the best
Frank Rawding
(Weybridge, Surrey)

And another...

It's getting harder to write these reviews without using the same glowing praise every time but it's true - the gigs, the songs and the standard of playing just get better and better. This one was a real belter, on a nice sized stage too - as Dave said to the rest of the band "aren't we a long way from each other".

The set list was pretty much the same as the earlier gigs in this tour (so were the Captain's kilt and "Don't Attack Iraq" T shirt). I couldn't write this as soon after the event as I would have liked because Croydon beckoned the following night so things are a bit hazy but if I remember correctly Ignite was AWOL. The encores were a bit different too - Absinthe was there (I've mentioned its absence before and it was a real treat to hear it again live - a cracking song and I reckon a good but not too obvious choice for a single release). Love Song made a very welcome comeback too, squeezed in just before the customary and brilliant as ever Smash It Up.

Highlights:

-Dave (resplendent in grey frock goat with matching trousers and waistcoat) wheeling Captain onstage aboard a porter's trolley
-Captain's little speech dedicating She to Patricia being interrupted by a young lady clambering on stage to lift his kilt. He seemed to enjoy it.
-Once again Monty's perfect keyboards during I Just Can't Be Happy Today, with Sensible and Patricia looking on from the far side of the stage
-The above mentioned young lady (I think it was her) reappearing a bit later and being bundled off stage by security. This led to some mildish on-stage bouncer baiting
-The guaranteed to confuse to the unwary New Rose drum intro to Would You Be So Hot, which was made even more deceptive by Dave uttering several "Is She Really Going Out With Hims"
-Dave introducing Smash It Up in a Jimmy Saville voice.

Froggy

Another one...

First memory of Guilford was getting into a cab at Guilford station and having a taxi driver with the slowest and most monotomous voice I've ever heard. He hadnt heard of the Damned and said he was an era that appreciated Cliff Richard. Obviously a kindred spirit of Captain?

Got dropped off at the venue which was closed so made my way to the Sports bar, and wasnt sure if I had the right place but Wayne (Damned for Damnation fanzine) came running out shouting "Nitegirl", which made an elderley couple walking behind me cross the road in fear that they may be entering the outskirts of a demonic cult, (or the red light district in Guilford!)

Anyhow, met Nigel horror taxi (wicked sense of humour), Womble and his son (and the slayer jacket!), Wayne and later Woody who wandered in looking completely knackered. Either that, or he was pining for his love GDB who didnt make it that night, although Woody and Brian were in constant contact through text massages and phonecalls (ah!) Brian even managed to be put onto me and ask if I'd brought a sick bucket with me, cheeky bugger! Steve Final (The Final Hour - great band) and Belle, their old singer turned up and we all indulged in some pre gig beverages.

Got to the venue to discover I didnt have enough cash to get in, but luckily at the moment Captain came downstairs and Wayne asked him to put me on the guestlist, so thanks Wayne and Cap for that! Girl warm up was a Kate Bush lookalike, who was actually quite decent. Stood at the front and was joined by Wayne, and Woody briefly, but he slipped back to the back of the hall, maybe coz he was tired and needed a wall to prop against, but i suspect so he could get a better phone reception should Brian call again!

Band were great, took a few songs to get the crowd going. Mainly through shock of the band being at Guilford again I suspect, particularly one bloke who kept grabbing Wayne and I by the scruff of the neck and saying "I havent seen the Damned for 20 years you puffs, Fooking dance," As they say in Ledbury, he was built like a haystack, but given the opportunity, I think Wayne could have knocked him out with his little finger! Set list was Street of Dreams, Nasty, Under the Floor Again, Eloise and yes LOVE SONG!

Made a retreat from the front row for Smash it up, because the mosh pit was wild. Worse thqan a rugby team from the Forest of Dean. Particularly the women, christ. Two stage invaders were obviously of the Jerry Springer show guest list ilk. Very scary.

Patricia was excellent during Neat Neat Neat and Love Song. Absolutely no complaint. Steve Final was impressed too. High praise indeed.

Highlights:

-Captain chewing on microphone like a naughty pony on a haynet...
-Pat's bass...
-Dave looking lovely in black suit and waistcoat...
-Pinch's sheer noise and excellence on the drums....
-Captain's timely stage departure for a word in the ear of me and Wayne..
-The moon! (surprised dave didnt turn into a bat after that!)
-Neat, Neat, Neat...
-Love Song...

Fabulous performance!

Backstage Wayne and I managed to run after Dave and Pat for a quick chat. Pat liked Wayne's tattoo, and he was more than willing to strip off and show her! Dave was charming and polite as ever. We chatted to Pinch and Monty initially. Monty seemed on great form, and Pinch had obviously recovered from his flu because he dazzled us all with his smile and wit! Apart from when he asked if I'd puked up yet....Even Capatain was in a truly excellent mood, full of fun, and ddnt even moan at me, Born to Kill, and Pinch when we began smoking. Had a good old chat with cap about Paul Macartney and Politics. But what did make me laugh was the usual backstage politics of a group of grown punks when the nicotine craving kicks in, they finger their boxes of Malboro's in their pockets, and edge towards poor Pinch for moral support and away from Captain. Come on guys, (LOL), you can't be that
scared!

Brilliant night.....

Nitegirrl

Monty Oxymoron, Guildford

And there's more...

I am a new visitor to the site but went to see the gig at Guildford Civic having recently discovered a compilation tape I made years ago of various tracks from Damned albums. I hadn't seen the Damned live since 1986 so I was really looking forward to the gig.

I arrived in time to see a solo female artist called 'Retalik' who although young looked and sounded like she had stepped out of the late seventies/early eighties era - Hazel O'Connor meets Kate Bush if I was to trying to describe her. Although she didn't have a band behind her she held the attention of all those there with her theatrical antics and distinctive sound. This was a good sign I thought if the Damned can inspire a young artist as a support for them then they must still be a relevant force. Watching Retalik (right spelling because I checked out also her website as well) I found that I was transported back to the era - I was really ready for the Damned now and they didn't disappoint.

From the outset they looked and sounded as good as I had when I last saw them. Maybe it is because there is a lack of characters with some of today's bands but I felt that Dave Vanian and the Captain looked and sounded fantastic. The addition of a new female bass player (Patricia Morrison) also added to the look. The Captain had plenty to say and wearing a T shirt made his feelings clear on possibility of bombing Iraq. I soon realised the limitations of the tape I had discovered (mainly it was The Strawberries album) when they delivered classic track after track 'I Just Can't Be Happy Today' 'Nasty' (forever immortalised now in the Young Ones Series), Smash it up and Disco Man I also started to realise how many great songs that I hadn't heard I would love to hear the band perform 'Curtain Call' and probably their most commercial 'Grimly Fiendish'. The Damned delivered all their songs as they always have done at a 100 miles an hour which was great except may be for 'Eloise' a song which would have had more impact if the tempo and pauses of the recorded version were observed. Saying that it was a great gig and from the outset with the support Retalik and right through the Damned's set I could have believe it was 20 years ago.

Mark and Loretta Jennings

Thanks to Ed Wheeler for the photos!