Fangbase - Reviews

Fiendfest - Twilight, Tampa, FL

Tuesday 12th August 2003

After the 11 hour drive to Tampa, FL; I was fairly certain that something would go wrong to lessen my shear euphoria with the prospect of seeing my favorite band Balzac, no kidding, The Damned. I was paranoid the whole trip that the Damned would not show up and I would be subjected to hours of sludge rock by the Misfits. Given my disposition of "the worst case scenario," I was pleasantly surprised by one of the most musically proficient and creatively fun bands I have ever seen.

The Damned were in top form. Dave, The Captain, Monty, and Patricia looked extremely well-preserved. Hell, they looked prettier than most folks half their age. What with Dave in black t-shirt and gloves, Patricia in black flowing dress, Captain in a Groucho mask & safety-pinned McShit shirt, Pinch with Red Mohawk, and Monty in shades & Skull shirt.

The tone of the show was set by introduction music from either The Day the Earth Stood Still or Plan Nine from Outer Space (From the soundtrack of Ed Wood). Smoke rose from the stage and fans blew as the vampiric forms of the Vanians emerged. Captain came out and said, "Have you people heard of the Sex Pistols? ; We'll fuck them, we're the Damned." Then the opening chords of Ignite rang out. The set list was essentially the same as other Fiend Fest Gigs. I lifted this set list from the Mobile show, but added See Her Tonight, since that's the only other one I remember them playing, not on the list.

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

The other bands on the bill were extremely hit and miss. The Dickies were great and freaking hi-larious. The Misfits weren't not really the Misfits honestly. I met the Captain and Monty on the tour bus after the show. They were gracious enough to chat, sign my Grave Disorder cd, and take pictures with me. Monty and I talked shop of Psychiatric Nursing, geriatrics and what not. Captain was very nice and funny. He truly is an unrecognized genius. The bottom line was I had a Damned good time. I plan to do it again next year or whenever they play anywhere remotely close.

Tootles, Jeff

Another...

Finally, The Damned came back to Florida. Yea, my husband and I had to sit through some... interesting stuff to get to see The Damned, but, at least we saw them.

The Dickies were a riot (even though they didn’t play "Killer Clowns" (understandably so)).

The other bands were alright. but The Damned were great. They didn’t play nearly a long enough show though!! We loved Captains t-shirt *Mc Shit* I'd like to see The Damned back soooooooon. Not another two year wait please. Come back to St Pete...

~Amber~ 'N' Paul

Thanks to Amy Hemmelgarn for these photos!