Robin II, Bilston
Friday 16th May 2003
I
had really been looking forward to this gig as it was nearly six months since
I last saw the band when they were in Birmingham. I had been reading the reviews
of the tour on the website and everyone seemed to be in agreement that the
band was getting better and better with every tour. It was my sister's birthday
too and she was extremely jealous that I was going. All I can say to her is
it would have been worth every penny of the air fare from Australia to be
in Bilston on Friday night - the Damned were awesome!
Didn't
manage to see any of the support as we were having a couple of pints in the
excellent Olde White Rose with most of other people going to the Robin II.
Got into the venue about 9.30 and the atmosphere was great. It was a good
tight venue with a two-tiered floor so that the view was excellent wherever
you were. The only thing I would say is that this is the second West Midlands
gig in a row that has been sold out so maybe a bigger venue is required -
or personally I just rather have more dates!
The
set was pretty much as described in the other reviews so I won't repeat it
all, it was a seamless blend of the old and the new. I thought Disco Man
was an excellent choice to open with and I particularly enjoyed History
of the World which I'm not sure I've heard live before but I hope I do
again. Was looking forward to hearing Looking At You but got outvoted
when they gave us the choice of encore songs. There was a rendition of the
Ramones' Blitzkrieg Bop which doesn't get mentioned in other
reviews and which I think is becoming a feature of black-country gigs due
to the funny bald elf like creature that appears on someone's shoulders at
those gigs.
Just
a word to those idiots who kept getting on the stage - we go to gigs to see
the Damned not you talentless twats so in future either keep off the stage
or stay at home.
It
was good to see everyone having a good time and the band seemed to really
enjoy themselves too, which hopefully means that it won't be too long until
the next tour, assuming Captain can afford a new pair of sunglasses. Just
a quick word of thanks to Cully for coming with me and making it such a memorable
night and for also sorting out DVs wardrobe.
Paul
Newell
Another...
The
Robin was bigger than I thought it was. I was expecting a function room in
a pub but it must have a 500 capacity and it was packed! 
The
support was Harlan The Jester, and they were good - a bit like 'Noddy
Holder sings the Wonderstuff' with a bit of the Pogues / Dropkick
Murphys thrown in for luck.
We
were right down the front up against the stage (no barriers), in fact, so
close I shook Dave's hand and touched Patricia's bass.
Captain
had a orange Brighton Punks shirt on and Dave had 'Hurley' written in sparkley
things on his belt.
The
set was as follows (it starts in order, and the encore's right, in between
- who knows the order!):
They
were on fantastic form, there was no edginess between Cap and Dave, they were
well tight and seemed to be relaxed and up for it.
My
mate Martyn reckoned it was the best he'd seen them - we had a fantastic night!
Keith
Just
added...
I
was so excited about this gig coz I'd never seen The Damned before. The day
seemed to go dead slow leading up to the gig.
Finally
got there at 8.20pm ish and parked up and hoped the car wouldn't get nicked.
LOL Saw some fans outside kinda felt sorry for em coz the tickets had sold
out, which is a bummer if you were them but ace if yoy got a ticket for it,
it was a fuckign cracking night.
I
didn't manage to see the support bands too busy drinking, but I heard they
were good, so I'll try and catch em at the next gig.
Met
a few message boarders before the gig in the bar - Curtain Call and Damned
Fairy and a few more but I can't remember their names now, sorry you guys!
Curtain Call and Damned Fairy pointed out Pinch who was sitting on the next
table to us, and being Lottie didn't realise it was him with his cap on, very
fit in real life though must admit. And the message boarders were such a very
very friendly bunch! x love ya x
After
a few drinks went into the venue bit where The Damned were playing. Met Gravedigger
Bri, top bloke and all round entertainer you could tell ;-). Talked and waited
for about 5mins and then the moment came... The Damned came on!
Had
a damn good view but kept thinking whether to go down by the stage or not,
in the end though I decided just to stay where I was, glad I did. The gig
as a whole put the Sex Pistols to shame, fucking brilliant set I would
have said seeing them now and seeing them when they first started playing
would ahve been just as good. Captain is extremly enteraining as a vey nice
bloke indeed.
Particually
enjoyed my fave Damned songs they did - Neat Neat Neat, Smash It
Up and New Rose. I think everyone loved those fucking untouchable
and unmissbale gig can't wait for Stourbridge!
Met
Patricia who is very beautiful in the flesh and very very kind and lovely
(I'll try and post the pics up ASAP) Also met Monty when coming outta the
venue, cool dudde indeedy he didn't mind at all having a pic with Lottie,
great bloke, nice shirts too!
Cya
all at Storubridge hope to meet some more of ya take care and kEeP It DaMnEd
Loads
of love Lottie xxxxxx
Another...
I'd
just celebrated my fifteenth 21st birthday and had cashed in my Woolies gift
tokens to supply myself with beer money for the forthcoming gig. I live about
a mile from the Robin, but never thought the place would get sold out, I mean,
Bilston? Where's that? Oh ye of little faith (in the pulling power of The
Damned). Yep, so I cycle down there early (about 7.30) to get a ticket.
There's
about 9 people already outside and a BIG SIGN SAYING SOLD OUT! Shit. I spent
the next hour and a half attempting to buy a spare ticket, but there's a load
of chaps from Walsall (nine of them) who all want tickets, and they've got
the place covered: one at the bus stop, a couple on the car park, some up
the street, some down the street etc... I've got no chance. So after a while
I spot Pinch going into the tourbus (bloody big bus!), so I hover about to
see if I can have a chat with him (if I can't see The Damned play live, I'll
at least ask them if there's an importer of Sierra Nevada Beer). Pinch came
out of the bus and I chatted with him about English Dogs and old haircuts.
"Are you coming in to the gig?" he asked. I told him my woeful tale.
"Are you on your own?", "Yep", "Go in that door turn
left, then left again, if anybody asks, you're looking after The Damned".
You are a bloody STAR Pinch.
I'm
in the venue and meet up with some old friends, missed most of the support,
but from what I heard they sounded pretty good. I got myself a nice white
long-sleeved shirt (if you get into a gig for free you've got to give something
back to the band) which sported some nice pinhole burns the following day
(all my own work).
The
Damned came on with Disco Man, always a pleasure, followed by Just
Can't Be Happy Today, two excellent warm-up songs. Then there was a half-hearted
chorus of "Sensible's a...". The next one was dedicated to Brian
James and was one I'd not heard live before: See You Tonight, proper
old Damned stuff. Democracy was next, with the intro bit; tight as
you like. This went straight into Amen (again with the intro bit "Is
this the just judgement of a merciful God..."), top notch. Then this
went straight into 13th Floor Vendetta, what an atmospheric song, Monty
did his stuff on this one, brilliant. I'm not sure if I'd heard that one live
before, either. Then it was "Back to 1976 once again" with
this one dedicated to George and Tony, Born To Kill, definitely not
heard that one live before. Plan 9 Channel 7 was dedicated to Ed Wood,
lots of dedications at his gig. I always love it when they play this, and
I was not disappointed. The Captain said after this one that he hoped they
would one day be as good as Busted. Hmmn, maybe if you work reeealy hard at
miming, and not touch your instruments at all, you might just get signed to
a major record label for being talentless wankers. Next was Ignite,
dedicated to the firemen, full speed! (until the slow, quiet bit; and then
full speed again! Rah!).
Lots
of slagging of Paul Weller and Phil Collins, which was much appreciated. Pinch
slagged the "Sensible's a wanker" with "You load of fucking
boring bastards" to the same tune, which was refreshing. By this
time the band seemed to be nicely warmed-up and enjoying themselves. I thought
the crowd were great, really into it and having a good laugh, and the band
rode the wave, hence (tenuous link) Song.com next, followed by Street
Of Dreams. When they started playing Would You Be So Hot the drums
sounded like the beginning of New Rose, very confusing to one who has
consumed one or two beverages. She was dedicated to Patricia for adding a
certain amount of glamour to the band, never a truer dedication. Next up it
was the bloody amazing, totally unexpected Neat Neat Neat with Break
On Through in the middle of it. I nearly pappered me breeks it was so
good.
After
the break there was a bit of a big-up (?) to Noddy Holder, then History
Of The World. The band must have enjoyed it cos they played seven songs
for the encore (if you include a kind of impromptu Bing Crosby / Frank Sinatra
version of Happy Talk). A quick version of Blitzkrieg Bop (is
there any other version?) was followed by the marvellous Eloise.
Much
mirth and banter from The Captain all the way through the gig kept me laughing,
what a top bloke. The crowd were asked to vote between hearing New Rose
or Looking At You. New Rose won, inevitable. The penultimate
song was a blistering Love Song, with the crowd really going for it.
The final song was Smash It Up, preceded with a country & western
Turkey Song thing, not heard that before!
Well,
I think that was the best gig I've seen them do, to date. The Damned had a
good time, and the crowd had a good time. What more could you ask? I saw those
chaps from Walsall at the end, they'd all managed to get tickets, and celebrated
in style down at the front (one even twisted his ankle, a true fangatic).
Bloody marvellous night, and a great little venue. I hope they play there
again.
Pete
Thanks
to Gravedigger Bri for the photos above!