Fangbase - Reviews

The Temple, Mobile, AL

Monday 11th August 2003

Most groups mouth the cliche that they do it for the fans. The Damned mean it.

Mobile, Alabama: In the middle of a blistering set, Pinch stopped pounding his drum set and abruptly went off to the side of the stage seemingly to start pounding someone over there. It looked as if the pressure of the tour was getting to him and that he had snapped over the sound problems the band was having. Captain Sensible and Dave Vanian stepped into the gap and chatted up the crowd as Pinch was going berserk somewhere off stage. Vanian told the crowd that even seasoned professionals such as themselves still have problems, which is what Vanian struck me as-a pure, classy professional. The Captain then took over and inadvertently became the straight-man for Patricia. He told the crowd how thankful he was to Jerry Only for putting the tour together and how much the Damned loved him. The Captain then took over and inadvertently became the straight-man for Patricia. He told the crowd how thankful he was to Jerry Only for putting the tour together and how much the Damned loved him. Meanwhile, Patricia was incredulously shaking her head no and giving an emphatic thumbs down to the Jerry Only-love vibes.

Pinch settled back into the drum kit, though he looked as angry as when he left. He then informed the crowd that the promoters had paid to rent the hall, the PA, and the cops, but that they were not going to pay any of the bands. The Damned were playing for the fans. Bless 'em.

And they played exceptionally well. I was lucky enough to snag the Captain's set list after the show and here's what we got:

Ignite
Just Can't Be Happy
Song.com
Street of Dreams
Amen
13th Floor
Love Song
History of the World
Neat Neat Neat
Smash It Up

I think I pogoed the entire show and by the time I got through screaming the words to History of the World Part I, which was brilliant and gave me goosebumps as I flailed around like a crazed but blissfully happy maniac, my voice was shot.

I ran into Captain Sensible earlier in the day on the street and I had to run up and say hi even though I knew I'd look like a fool. And, I did, but I did get to tell him how my group had driven down from Tennessee, and that The Damned are my favorite band and how excited I was to get to see them. It was typical fan behavior, but it may have contributed to them deciding to play even though they weren't getting paid. (Another person in my group ran into Dave and Patricia and said they couldn't have been nicer.) If any of the band ever reads this, thanks.

So, if you're in a city on one of the remaining tour stops, go to the show. And buy a shirt. The same goes for The Dickies, and the rest of the bands. Except the Misfits. Their sort of malarkey shouldn't be encouraged.

Tim

P.S. On a side note, what's the point of wearing sharp spikes in the middle of a frenzied crowd? If the girl down front who was wearing a bracelet with spikes like that reads this, you're a pathetic cartoon and you need to grow up and think about other people, "punk."