Fangbase - Reviews

Widnes, Queen's Hall

Saturday 13th December 2003

Right, so this was gonna be easy. Pick up Neil, (fellow Damned botherer) from Burnley, 6.30pm, 40 minutes down the motorway, to Widnes, sorted. 6.30pm - Burnley, Neil where are ya, 7.00pm - Burnley, still waiting. 7.05pm Sorry pal, I canna wait no longer. So, with only the Radio for company, I made the dash To Widnes.

After battling my way through the torrential storms that hammered the motorway, arrived in Widnes about 8ish. Had to ask the way to the Venue, as the map I had hurriedly scribbled proved inadequate, (Note to self, get printer sorted). Another ten minutes of frantic searching landed me up a side street, and as luck or' Fate' would have it, right next to a great big silver Bus Ha Ha! 'I,ve seen that bus before' Damned tour Bus like the star of David guiding me in.

With venue duly located, thought I'd have a look around to see if there was anyone I knew about. Had to brave the mockery of drunken locals, because of lookin' like a vicar. But I finally found Paul (Damned) Wright, Claudia and Her bloke (sorry can't remember your name) in the Boozer across the road. After a bit of a con flab the happy Drinker adjourned to the venue for the evenings entertainment.

The Queens Hall was deceptively big inside, bit like the tardis, which is ironic cause there was a bloke who looked like Dr Who wandering about (Exterminate). Anyway spent my time before the Damned came on by annoying MB's and others fan around the bar and the merchandise stall with my inane drivel and wit. The sufferers included GDB, Woody, Vickey, Kenny, Daz, Miche, Andy, Damned Fairy, Love Policeman, SOD, Kevin, Grimly Vanian and friend (Ta for the beer), Ask and Mrs Alice, Curtain and Ellie, Nightgirl, Dave, Claire, Ted and pal.

It was about 9.15 that the Damned appeared on stage to the usual shouts for there most famous numbers. As usual none of that, as they opened the set with Ignite, a great opening number which got the crowd going right from the off. This was quickly followed by Disco Man a personal fave of mine. The sound was really good, as it does tend to be in these older venues. Sliping in at number three came the old classic, I Just Can't Be Happy Today. Which was quickly followed up by the first number from Grave Disorder, Song.Com. The welcomed opening notes of, Wait for the Blackout were next. Great to hear that for the first time during this tour. Next it was time for some Happy Clappy Religious dancing with Amen, from Grave Disorder (get yer copy now). During the song many of the audience came up to me for for a blessing which I duly dished out in a Father Ted style.

During the evening Captain was on good bantering form, at one point he said he didn't know anybody who knew where Widnes was, and that he and Pinch were trying to make anagrams of the name, they came up with Swine, minus the D.

So after Amen we were back again to the Black Album for 13th floor Vendetta. Which mellowed things down for a few minute, until we were right back at it with Democracy and then storming on back to the first Album with See Her Tonite, get Pogoing you Old Punkers. Another Grave Disorder song followed in the shape of She (not a fave but hey who am I to argue). Hot on the heals of this was the Irrepressible History of the World, undoubtedly the best live song from this year. Bringing up the rear as usual for this tour a song I've heard the Damned play at every live
performance Neat Neat Neat.

The end of the main set was followed by a brief pause, and plenty more shouting including the usual 'Sensible's a W*****' which had been a long time coming at this gig (not long enough) in my opinion. Seemed to take ages before they finally appeared, But then it wasn't.

The Damned it was our old mate Santa, or at least a blow up version, and with Captains voice, and Adolf Hitler's face Hummm, very strange! Looked like he'd been drinkin though cause Monty had to hold him up. Then Thing's got a bit hairy with both Monty and Captain abusing poor Santa. No wonder he had to be helped off the stage.

The Encores were heralded by Captain telling everybody this was the first Punk record released. With that Dave stepped up to say "Is She Really Going Out With Him". The place erupted as they fired into New Rose. There were bodies coming out of everywhere to get to the front. Beer glasses, small children and animals were being flung through the air, complete chaos. The madness continued as Love Song was the next number, my all time favourite. I was hanging on to the front barrier for grime death by this time. Things relented a bit as Monty played the opening bars of Elosie the 1986 number 2 Smash hit. Finally came the most popular Smash it Up precluded by the most excellently melodic Smash it Up part 1.

See you all next year
Saddamned....... (Nez)....... Wot ever