Fangbase - Reviews

V.K., Brussels

Saturday 3rd April 2004

 

When I came back home, my mouth was shut and my eyes were sparkling of beatitude. It was like... you know, if a kid was meeting Santa Claus (I know: "There ain't no Sanity Clause"). What seduced me when I discovered The Damned more than 25 years ago was that incredible cocktail of Energy & Fun. Could I say "Positive Power"? This time, it was an act of faith as it wasn't confirmed on officialdamned.com and as it was so close to the 1st April.

Anyway... It was a two-days festival called "Punk Generation Session's". On the first day, we got Nervous Chillin', Raxola, The Kids (a 77's belgian punk band so impressing Captain that the next day he dedicaced them "See Her Tonite") and Brian James's Gang who played LOTNC's "Livin' On Living" and some of Damned Damned Damned's classics such "I Feel Alright", "Fan Club", "Neat Neat Neat", "I Fall" and "New Rose" with Captain singing. We welcomed him a la "Wayne's World": "We're not worthy, we're not worthy..." (and we're still ain't). On the 2nd day: The Heartaches, Bad Lieutnants, Funeral Dress and -save the best for the end- The Damned.

It started just like in Bilston. Captain dressed like a caveman. We, the audience, changed the traditional "Sensible's a w..." into "Captain's a Flintstone". We got "Melody Lee" (with the same lovely quiet intro from Monty), "I Fall", "Plan 9 Channel 7", "Amen", "Fan Club"...

We weren't lucky enough to have "Beauty Of The Beast", "Nasty" nor "Anti Pope". For MichaÎl Jackson, they played "Neverland". From there, they played "History of the World" (with Dave explaining that Cpt. Caveman was from the Part.1) followed by "Neat Neat Neat", "Love Song" & "Looking At You".

For the encore, Captain played "Wot". From there, we had "Ignite". Then, DV had to use the line "Is she really going out with him?" three or four times before "New Rose" followed by what Captain introduced being a cover of Phil Collin's "In The Air Tonight" but was in fact "Smash It Up", the final song.

I let them rest 10 minutes before trying my chance to see them backstage. There, a thirsty Captain confessed me that once again they are without label: story of the Damned.

From Belgium

Phil The Shark