Fangbase - Reviews

Worthing Pavillion, Worthing

Wednesday 30th April 2003

The Worthing Pavillion hosted my second Damned gig and though still caught up in the excitement of it I would say that this one was even better than Guildford last December - and right on my door step this time too.

The night started off well enough as Captain was lurking in the ticket office/main entrance and he duly signed my Damned Damned Damned cd and had a brief chat about some of his solo songs. Having sunk a few bevvies in the crowded bar I made my way to the front of the stage as The Last Cry packed away there gear. Captain took to the stage in his now familiar kilt and an anti-McDonalds T-Shirt (I had wondered earlier if he would ever consider getting a Veggie Burger from there - I guess that answers that!) David looked lean, mean and the definition of style - my word if there were two men I could ever want to look like it would be Elvis 68 or Vanian 2003! This was the closest I'd ever gotten to Patricia and she looked stunning, I even managed to draw a lovely smile from her. Pinch is a class drummer and I think makes the current Damned better than Rat would. Monty is a great addition, not only for his keyboard skills but also for that bit extra entertainment he brings to the live spectacle.

I really got into the mayhem a lot more this time and as a consequence my memory of the set list order is a little hazy, still here goes:

DISCO MAN: I was expecting Street of Dreams to start like the last tour but what a great live song this is - a faultless performance.

BORN TO KILL: This was a nice surprise and went down well. Mixing up the DDD songs is a good idea - I'd love to see Fish or So Messed Up done next.

AMEN: Superb lead guitar by Captain - and the 'don't stand there looking sheepish' line is a great moment.

I JUST CAN'T BE HAPPY TODAY: Always good to hear this one and Monty on fine form.

13th FLOOR VENDETTA: Was surprised to see this kept on from the last tour - grateful for a bit of a rest but still prefer this on the cd player than live... would love to hear Therapy instead. Still a fine performance though.

SEE HER TONITE: Another pleasent surprise inclusion from DDD - this song really kicks ass!

SONG.COM: Has become a real favourite of mine from GD - especially when Monty's keyboards rock out towards the end. If only this had been a single?!

STREET OF DREAMS: One of my favourite MCA-era songs, and one of my fave all-time Damned songs - a great live moment when Pinch's drumming kick-starts the song proper and of course the great chant-a-long bit.

IGNITE: Was disapointed not to hear this at Guildford so was especially grateful they played it tonight - another all-time Damned favourite with a sing-a-long chant that works great live.

DEMOCRACY?: A popular song with the other teenagers (you know, the ones who caused all the trouble at the end) and a definite Damned classic.

NEAT NEAT NEAT: I must get a copy of that Doors song they now play in the middle section of NeatX3 as I would enjoy it a bit more - the familiar parts were great though with the front of the stage erupting.

encore:

WOULD YOU BE SO HOT?: I heard Pat and the boys working through this one during the sound check. Definitley a great song from GD but I would prefer one of the faster-paced songs like Neverland or W. to take it's place on the set list - despite Captain's phenomenal solo!

HISTORY OF THE WORLD PART 1: Having heard on the message board that this was the new addition to the set I was hoping they would play it tonight - and it was a tight, strong performance that went down really well.

NEW ROSE: I can understand the band wishing to drop this from the set after 25 years of it but this was the first time I'd ever seen it live and wow - blistering performance which the crowd loved. You can drop it now if you wish, I've seen it once, but if you can trudge it out for another 10 years please do!

ELOISE: Sounds so much better live than on the original single, I don't know if it should be one of the definates on the set list (What about Curtain Call, Limit Club, Stranger On The Town, Plan 9 Channel 7?!) but is still worth a regular airing.

SMASH IT UP: The teenagers at the front (Ok so I'm one aswell, but the ones I'm talking about had half my mental age!) were screaming for this from the off which seemed to rankle Monty a little who told them to shove it on a jukebox at home and put it on repeat! Personally, I think it's one of 4 songs (New Rose, NeatX3 and Love Song the others) that should always be blasted out at a Damned gig, but I'm still new to all this! In the end The Damned gladly started Part 1 following a warm tribute to Marc Bolan by the Captain and half way through Part 1 the retards were bored and shouting 'come on, get on with it!'. Monty announced the beggining of Part 2 before the place erupted with excitement again.

The tension and aggro that had been building for a good 40 minutes between a family who had been rugularly caught up in the OTT, but generally good humored moshing unfortunately took a turn for the worse at some point during Smash It Up. It bypassed me until the song was over as I was too busy pogoing - and even managed to shaked Dave's gloved hand! One of the idiots had walloped a bloke who was only standing up for his wife and as the two squared up several people lept in to stop it - making the situation look like a mass brawl. The blokes wife and daughters got caught up in the fight and Dave gave one of the teenage aggressors a right pasting for hitting women - he seemed really pissed off with it all as did the rest of the band who duly walked off angrily with Patricia giving a particularly strong kiss-off. We'd had a 5 song encore but I got the impression we were gonna be treated to one more at least (Love Song?). A sorry end to what was otherwise a brilliant night.

The Damned are getting better, and better as a live act. With good promotion behind the DvD and maybe some new material I think they will finally get widespread recoginition for their talents at long last. They seemed to really enjoy playing and the audience reaction they were recieiving - I just hope that the small group of young idiots hasn't put them off coming round these parts again. The way David and the others dealt with it head on was a credit to them. I don't know if I'll be able to get to Camden, but last night's performance definatley made me want more and I can't wait for a later tour!

Joh Bridge (Frozen Joh Ballet Boxer)

Another...

Three things to say about this one really: the bar shut at ten o'clock, the acoustics were crap, and the gig was sabotaged by six or so mindless idiots who went purely to pick a fight with anyone they could...

...I saw some poor sod get set upon by three of these scum bags, he was knocked to the floor and they punched and kicked him. I think the venue operators should be sued for the lack of staff laid on, surely it's their duty to protect the audience?

The Damned as usual were spot on, even if you did hear every song twice as it echoed of off the walls. Why didn't The Damned play at Brighton? Decent venue with late night bar (Concorde 2), and a peace loving audience! A question for the Captain so I'm told.

Bacca