Fangbase - Reviews

Liquid Rooms, Edinburgh

Friday 9th May 2003

Ventured north of the border for this one. Went to check out the location of the venue in the afternoon and who was outside peering through a pub window but Dave, Patricia, Captain and Jed. Said hello, shook hands and had a quick chat. Told Dave I'd seen them last week in Milton Keynes - "What are you doing up here?" was the incredulous reply. Little does he know about my campaign to see the band in as many countries as possible. Mind you I haven't got very far England, Ireland and Scotland so far.

Back to the Liquid Room in time for the gig. Early start for this this one as the place turns into a club after 10.

Very dimly lit venue, which worked really well as the band came on one by one to launch into Disco Man. The intro started with Dave nowhere to be seen and then he seemed to materialise out of nowhere just in time for the vocals. Two members of the band were clad in kilts for the occasion (guess who - clue it wasn't Dave, Patricia or Monty). The place was completely packed out. Something that I don't think has been mentioned before is Pinch's new bass drum skin - it used to feature the Grave Disorder cover and is now a purple D taken from the Damned logo.

The set list was very nearly the same as the other gigs on this tour, with a minor tweak to the encores but more of that later. I Just Can't Be Happy Today followed with once again Monty's keyboard solo being absolutely spot on. Brief pause here for Patricia (immaculate as usual) to read out a good luck message for a couple who'd got married that very day. "It'll be a broad, bracht moonlight night tonight" said Dave in a rather convincing Scottish accent. "Yes" said Captain "He'll see her tonight". See Her Tonite was indeed next.

The set careered on in the customary excellent manner including a particularly fine She before thundering to a close with Neat Neat Neat (with the chunk of Break on Thru in the middle). Dave really got his teeth into Amen. When the band returned to the stage we were treated to not four but five encore numbers. First up was History of the World (excellent live and goes down a treat with the crowd). Then Looking at You (chosen after a quick bit audience participation with Dave asking whether it was to be this one or Eloise), then a rocking New Rose. Then it was Eloise after all. Things closed with naturally Smash It Up, pogoing starting to spread right to the back of the crowd. Those five songs were played with more verve and skill than any other band can manage in an entire set - Pop Be Damned indeed. The crowd roared their approval, the band left the stage and that was it. Dead on the stroke of ten and the crew were already starting to strip down the stage before I made it to the door.

Nearly forgot - Captain dedicated Born To Kill to "Tony and George".

Froggy