Fangbase - Reviews

Rock Café 2000, Stourbridge

Saturday 25th May 2002

This was the first gig of the year for us and it was only because it was on a Saturday night that we were able to make it - and I'm really pleased we did! It was one totally fantastic night!

We arrived just before 9pm to try and get a good spot at the front. Unfortunately, there was already people standing there (damn!) and that was even before the support came on! The place was packed!

The support, Weed, (the same band that supported last year) were really good. We particularly liked their version of S Club 7's 'Reach for the Stars'! One thing we'd like to know though - after each song, there was a particular group of the audience who started 'singing' the riff from Black Sabbath's 'Smoke on the Water' - why? (Anyone know?)

The Damned were due on stage about 10 - 10.15pm, but they were delayed because of some problems with setting up etc. - Monty's organ was giving some problems. By now, we had managed to edge our way to the barrier.

The Damned eventually came on around 10.40pm, with Captain 'paying tribute' to the Queen Mother. haha! Then it was straight into 'Street Of Dreams'. Fantastic!! We've never heard this live before so it was a real treat! From then on (I can't remember the exact order of the set-list), it was similar to last years set-list but with the addition of the great 'Under The Floor Again' (and a few others). This sounded absolutely brilliant live. DV said that it was only the second time they'd played it live, but you couldn't tell - it came over very well, and was well appreciated by the audience! I saw the set list on the floor and 'New Rose' was no where to be seen, but straight after U.T.F.A, Pinch went straight into the intro for it. A nice surprise! They also did a good version of the Ramones' 'Blitzkrieg Bop' which went down great.Unfortunately, Monty's keyboard broke down so the keyboard parts to 'Just Can't Be Happy' (and some others) was non-existent and a real miss! Monty commented that it was never the guitarists of a band that have the problems! Poor Monty.

The band looked very relaxed and happy - there was good banter between themselves and with the audience. Captain mentioned that Pinch was making him feel hungry 'cos he was eating a curry!!! He asked for a bit of his Popadom, from which he made a 'Rat's nose' shape!

To 'end' (as everyone thought) they played 'Smash It Up', then disappeared off stage. A couple of minutes later Pinch came back on-stage and told everyone to "F*** off...", we'd had all we were going to get. Of course, the others came back on, and DV asked if they'd "forgot one?" After the crowd had settled down again, they launched into 'Love Song'.

We'd noticed there was a lot of young kids and teenagers in the audience which is a great sign! One, aged about 8, was even standing along side us at the barrier for 'Smash It Up', and he loved it!

Brilliant gig, the whole band were on top form and a great night was had by all! Can't wait 'till next month when we will get to see them again!

The icing on the cake, for us, came next morning. We had been lucky enough to be staying at the same hotel as the band, and before we left, we had a nice chat with Jed, and later, Captain.

Moaner Lisa & Ma

Another...

I am a relatively new attendee at Damned gigs having been to my first back in the mid 90's at a venue that is now the All Bar One at the Angel in Islington before the Captain was re-united. I can at least now claim that the number I have attended is in double figures which I appreciate is small beer compared to some of you who have followed the band from the beginning. I shouldn't really apologise for the accident of birth that makes me too young to have witnessed the band in those heady early years. What is becoming clearer to me however is that this is a band that is still improving as has been evident from the current tour.

The balance between old material and new at Stourbridge and Derby was just right and the switch between tracks that spanned more than 25 years was almost seamless. Colleagues at work find it strange that I could go and see the same band so regularly however unlike my beloved football team (no details, therefore no abuse) for whom I hold a season ticket, I have never been let down or disappointed by the performance of the Damned. As others have mentioned in their reviews there is nothing to compare to hearing personal favourites performed live, in my case currently Disco Man and Wait for the Blackout.

Of course last year there was plenty of unfamiliar material being performed from Grave Disorder, less than twelve months on these songs are now welcomed like old friends. There were a couple of tracks I loved but didn't know, which the other reviews inform me were "Street of Dreams" and "Under the Floor Again". The Captain mentioned at Derby that they were doing two tracks from each album so I obviously need to improve my collection.

I won't give you a blow by blow of the gigs (assuming that you are still reading this) as others have already done that. Instead I will give you a more personal insight to my attendance as the contrast was stark. Usually at gigs I can be found as close to the front as possible with my active participation varying according the current level of my fitness. At Derby I was bouncing around as usual surrounded by the increasing number of young people (or am I just getting old) as well as the old stagers (and by are some of them old). I have to admit that now I consider myself a more seasoned fan I get somewhat irritated by the antics of some. For example at Derby people were shouting "The Captain is a w**ker" when everyone knows that it is "Sensible" that gets his enjoyment from self-gratification. I have also never understood those who cry out for "Smash It Up" 10 minutes into the set. I always have mixed emotions when I hear the intro because much as I love the song it means that it's nearly the end of the gig - don't people know it is always the last song.?!

Imagine then my consternation when I read the Stourbridge review and found out that they had come back on stage and done another song afterwards. On that occasion I had taken a lady friend to a gig for the first time and rather than jumping up and down at the front I was rubbing myself up and down against her at the back. By the time that the final chords of Smash It Up were fading away we were out of the venue, in the car and at it like a couple of rabbits. (Thanks for sharing that with us! - Ed.) Little did I know that there was a second encore although I suppose it was apt that I was missing "Love Song". Mind you it might as well have been "Three Minute Hero"!

Anyway thanks for the band for a couple of great nights - and for anyone wondering the black thong you may have seen in the car park at the Stourbridge gig wasn't the same one the Captain wore at Derby. If it had been he would still have it stuck to his head!

Name withheld to protect the identity of those involved!

And another...

I have been brought up listening to my moms Damned records.

I went to see the Damned at the Rock Cafe and thought they were superb. I especially loved 'Smash it Up' and managed to get right up front. I will be going to see them again definately and look forward to getting the box set out soon.

From Aaron

Photos supplied by Moaner Lisa