Fangbase - Reviews

London, Islington Carling Academy

Saturday 20th December 2003

Another great show, although I thought that the packed crowd (another sell out? - ignore the doomongers) were a bit subdued compared to Northampton. Having said that I did manage to get caught in the fall out of a shower of beer thrown during Neat Neat Neat which did a neat neat neat richochet off the face of the lady standing in front of me.

The set was exactly the same as Northampton but with Sensible being joined on stage by three beauties (possibly of the page 3 variety judging by the way one of them [Jo Guest - FB] gave us a quick flash of her boobs) during his routine. The inflatable Santa did two quick circuits of the crowd and the roadie's hat did much the same courtesy of the Captain. Two different girls were on stage during Smash It Up too having a bit of a dance.

Thought Eloise sounded particularly fine here, although there was a bit of a false alarm when Captain was announcing the song with a tale about how many people had said to the band they named their kids after it and Patricia walked over and, said something in his ear and they did Looking At You instead. I quite liked the bit where Captain told this tour's target (Cliff Richard) where to stick his bible too. Dave got in on the impressionist act tonight doing a very good Jimmy Saville leading up to Eloise.

As yet another storming Smash It Up roared to a halt, the drum kit survived intact unlike the last two Christmas shows and I went home to give me, the ears and the car a well earned rest.

Quick gripe - why oh why do people talk through gigs. The four people standing next to me did nothing but yak through every single song. This strikes me as (a) bloody annoying and (b) a complete waste of fifteen quid. If you're one of those four and you're reading this, next time keep your traps firmly shut (or even better don't bother coming). Thank you.

Froggy

Another...

Second best gig of the year, definitely.

Classic opener 'Ignite' everyone pogoing from the off. But not before the crowd have already greeted the band with the classic "Sensible’s a wanker!" You know it’s going to be a good gig when Pinch gets a round of applause when he’s the first on stage (he was roundly booed before the Glastonbury set in the summer). Monty, Patricia and the Captain then bound on, and there’s something in the air.

I’d heard Patricia was looking very pregnant, but she stays in the background mostly, doing sultry. Captain looks rather fetching in his army jacket, but no one else in the crowd seems up for a chant of YMCA, so I shut up. Spike is mostly invisible all night, Monty bounces up and down like a loon, bless him, whenever he’s not playing.

I can never remember set lists, but the next couple of tracks include a racing Disco Man and Wait For The Blackout.

I’ve never seen Vanian so talkative on stage before. "It’s Sergeant Wanker to you" he explains when a small group continue shouting at his guitarist. He throws in a Jimmy Saville impersonation mid-set too. It made me laugh at the time, but I can’t remember why on earth he did it now.

The encore began with Captain coming out dressed as 'Sanity Clause' (love it) and ranting about Cliff Richard for a good five minutes. Then he brought on Jo Guest and two other girls, one of them being the kind of girl who is so drop-dead gorgeous that it’s just depressing. In fact, as Captain casually slung his arm around her and said "She’s my friend" it was almost enough to make you wish it was Roman Jugg up there instead.

Anyway, Monty then came on, and they all mimed to 'Ere’s Your Christmas', while Monty danced with a giant inflatable Santa which he threw into the crowd halfway through. Several people tried destroying it by punching it, kicking it, or leaping on top of it. A lot of sexual frustration in the air, but that girl on stage really was stunning.

(ahem) Other highlights: Eloise (never my favourite Damned number, to be honest) is brilliant, nobody wants Looking At You to end, and Smash It Up closes the set list with a killer. Singing Curtain Call with my sweat-drenched arm draped around an equally sweaty stranger while we were waiting for the encore was both beautiful and, erm, sweaty.

Miscellaneous stuff: Couldn’t be bothered to check out the support band, were they any good? The Damned always have terrible music before they come on-stage that it puts me off seeing whoever’s opening. Three Brian James songs, but the better Vanian’s voice is the less they seem to suit him. Or is that just my opinion? Oh, and as it hasn’t been mentioned anywhere else, fair play to the Cap for offering his merchandise to anyone who can get him packets of his favourite chewing gum.

Keep breathing

Razinho