Fangbase - Reviews

North Wales Theatre, Llandudno

Friday 13th December 2002

Been a while since I've been to a gig proper. Let me indulge you...

The Damned, the first band that I remember liking as a tiny young girlie all those years ago… So, to hear that the legends are playing just up my street, I could hardly contain myself. So, me and my 'posse' take a trundle to the theatre to find a room filled with beery old punks and some lost looking teenagers. Buy a t-shirt, as does my mate when the gothic beauty behind the merchandise stall told him he'd better not wear a Sisters Of Mercy shirt in front of Patricia!

Get in the main room, see the stage all set up with The Damned backdrop and the anticipation stings. First band on - local pop punk lads Homespun, and their six little chain wearing skater mates who stood perfectly still at the front of the stage while they played. Their special brand of Blink 182-style amateur crap went down like the proverbial lead balloon. We, out of sympathy as we kinda know them, clapped a bit, but no fucker else did. Because, frankly, they suck. Then, a surprise support act in the form of Metallic, a one woman angst machine who comes off like a zombie Siouxie with PMT, which was quite funky. Kinda like Collide but not as sexy.

Suddenly, musak fills the air, organs and pan pipes. We knew it was time, so we dashed to the front, and hung ourselves over the barrier. The crowd swelled behind us, then the cheers began to my right. Captain Sensible, resplendent in a 'Don't Attack Iraq' shirt, kilt, matching hat and (as revealed later) animal print thong was followed by the drummer (Pinch), that insane keyboard guy (Monty Oxymoron), the luscious Patricia Morrison and... Dave Vanian. A quick word about Dave - he's sexy. Very, very sexy. He's Elvis, if Elvis was a Goth and had become a vampire long before his Las Vegas phase. You should see the guy's skin, it's so good, and the way he shakes those hips...... *dribble*. But enough of that wank, back to the band. They rock, they roll, they've sold their souls. They aurally kicked my arse, and I was grateful for it.

Highlights included:

- Everything Sensible, from a rousing 'Happy Talk', to playing his guitar with his beer can, commenting on Tony Blair being the Thatcher of the millennium, to exclaiming with joy how many fit birds were in, he was a riot. And he threw me his guitar pick! I'm blessed! Awful arse though - sorry mate!
- Dave pointing at me and singing 'She'.Dave looking into my eyes.
- Dave's amazing voice. Dave's energy. Dave's presence. Dave. Dave. Dave.
- Nasty, Love Song, Absinthe, Neat Neat Neat, Eloise, Everything really. And Smash It Up at the end was blummin' great.
- Patricia's bass playing, her lovely smile, and the way she puts up with the chaos of Sensible!
- Really excellent drumming and keyboarding all night from Pinch and Monty.
- Being so close I could smell them (which wasn't that great when Sensible shoved his arse in our faces. But I did get his pick, although at first I wasn't confident that's what he actually threw, as it did seem to appear from his thong.......!!)
- Getting a set list at the end.

A very rowdy pogo pit started behind me, and every surge landed someone's elbow, knee or beer gut in my back which knackered it good and plenty. And it was so fucking LOUD, I've still got tinnitus now! Fucking fantastic! Shame the venue wasn't bigger really. But it's all good! I'm in love with them all, in the worst way! Come back soon, and stay a bit longer next time....!!

Discordia

Another...

A strange venue for The Damned to play I thought as I entered the building, first off to see Jed and purchase some items then up the stairs to the hall. As we were at the foot of the stairs, Monty flew past at the top - I still, after all the years going to see The Damned, have never met a member (so frustrating).

Entering the hall piped music by Hammond Organ was played Beatles and Glenn Millers in the mood blasting out?

At first glance I thought it was the Message Boarders dream come true with tables set out at the back of the hall for Dave to wander around crooning 13th Floor or something.

The lights fell down for Street Of Dreams, the rest just flowed, Nasty, Disco Man, 13th Floor Vendetta, Thrill Kill, Just Can't Be Happy Today (dedicated to Liam Gallagher by Dave - made me piss my sides). Rest of the set the same as Blackburn from the other week.

Well thats about all I can recall as it weren't my turn to drive.

All I can say is this was a fantastic gig in which each member os the band were superb.

I can't wait for 2003 to see them again!

Anon