Fangbase - Reviews

Bierkeller, Bristol

Tuesday 29th April 2003

Got to the venue after meeting up with a few message boarders in a dodgy wine bar around 8pm, nice queue of people buying tickets outside. The Bier Keller is quite a fair size and it was pretty much full, with the bar staff working their socks off. I found a space at the bar that wasn't packed only to be told it was for food service only. So I asked them for a bowl of lager and a spoon. No luck there.

After chatting to fellow Damned nutters, hi to everyone, too many to mention!! Had a look at the support. Made quite a racket, if you like that sort of thing.

Then shortly before 10pm, and many dodgy double whiskeys later, The Damned came on, opening with "Disco Man", a much better opener than "Street Of Dreams", if you ask me.

The sound was great and very loud, Pinch's drumming excellent and really pounding. Patricia looked elegant as ever, very animated with her bass growling to perfection. Monty's new keyboard is fantastic, especially on "History of the World", which is fantastic live, especially with the crowd singing along at the end. Nice addition to the set. Dave on top form as usual, prowling the stage, a very commanding performance. Captain seemed in high spirits too, nicking a ciggie of some poor punter after berating him for smoking. Then of course, straight into "Ignite". Only a couple of shouts of "Banzai!!"

Another healthy addition was "Born To Kill", great song live. If "Ash" had been there, they would have given up their day jobs!!

Two encores, rightly so as they mentioned it was their favorite gig on the last tour. Sound was fantastic, no f#ck ups, place packed out and only one chap thrown out on his arse. A proper gig, like they should be.

Big hello to everyone I met, and apologies if I spilt beer on you, which was probably everyone judging by the state of my shoes this morning. I'm off to lie down in the dark for a while and sip some lemon tea.

Cheers,

Al Fiendish

Thanks to Al Fiendish for the above photos!

Another...

Right, where to start; due to setting out a bit later than planned we got to the venue about 8-45 so missed any pub time beforehand, (sob). First person I saw when we walked in was Al Fiendish (cheers for the drinks Al, see he is nice really ha ha) followed by board tormentor-in-chief Mark Vickery.

Support band ('Pebble Dash', I think someone said) didn't do much for me but they didn't get completely ignored or abused either, except for the drummer receiving a quick round of "you fat bastard"

The Damned came on stage about 10 ish and kicked off straight into Disco Man followed by I Just Can't Be Happy Today, the rest of the set in no particular order as I didn't manage to swipe a set list:

See Her Tonite
Democracy?
Street of Dreams
13th Floor Vendetta
Born to Kill (which I think went tits up at the end but I could be wrong as I was at the bar)
Amen
New Rose
Song.com
Eloise
History of the World (which I thought was superb, I never thought that song would work so well live, but it does, best song of the night for me)
Neat Neat - Break on Thru - Neat
Would You Be So Hot (if you weren't dead?)
Ignite
She
Love Ssong
Smash It Up

and a second encore of:

Looking At You (which I haven't heard for a while and was excellent)

I thought it was a great venue (only complaint.....the bar was too small ha ha) and the crowd were really into it,as were the band, especially Patricia who seemed to enjoy every second of it moving around a lot more than I've seen in the past. Captain had the best guitar sound I've heard for a long time (actually everything sounded great to me) and also announced that Bristol was the best gig on last years tour, and is obviously a favourite place for them. Dave's vocals were spot on all the way thru. Pinch was tight as hell and Monty was....well Monty - mad as a hatter!

The gig ended with DV on his knees doing the 'we're not worthy' bit.

All in all a top nite seeing a band on top of their game and with energy to spare!!

Also got to meet Dave, Patricia and Captain afterwards and some other MBers- Pedro, New Rosie, Miche and others I've probably forgotten ..sorry! Oh and 'Mistress of the Merch', Jed. Don't know how she can miss most gigs by serving us lot????

Go and see 'em - you won't regret it.

Steve L

Thanks to Steve L for the photos in this review!

And another...

The build up to this one had seen me running around advertising the band around Bath to help publicise the tour. I hoped that the place would fill out and the band would put on a great show, both of which happened. The Damned have always had musical quality and humour at their best times and these are well and truly back and there to see.

There was a good atmosphere in the venue by the time the band came out and Pinch opened with a heart felt West country welcome (he should join the Wurzels with that accent, Never mind the Bullocks could have done with a sticks man !). Everyone's smiling already and not a note uttered.

The set was really well put together and polished. I can honestly only remember one slip and they just turn any cock-ups into humour in any case so it doesn't matter. The additions since I saw them last year were, I Just Can't Be Happy Today, See Her Tonite and History of the World. Thrill Kill, Absinthe and Under The Floor Again were rested.

The last time I saw them, they opened with Street of Dreams which didn't come across that well. I thought it was one of the songs of the night here, absolutely superb. Other highlights were Neat Neat Neat which mixed in The Doors along with New Rose, Song.com, History of the World and the vocals on Democracy? came out really well. The set was long, good value (2 encores), energetic, funny and the musicianship was superb. The Captains guitar playing is top drawer and Dave seems to really believe in the music again, his vocals were great and not over done. Pinch didn't drop a beat and Monty and Patricia were in good form.

The night was also educational. You're in trouble for at least 3 days if you take your wife to see your favourite band on her birthday as a special birthday suprise, Monty is also known as Minty Wank (I think) and Sensible is going senile and starting to repeat himself. Memory loss and middle age spread in the band are just about acceptable but I'll stop going when incontinence sets in.

Thanks to the band for a great show & hope the PR bit helps with the tour.

Mike, Bath