Fangbase - Reviews

Masquerade, Atlanta

25th October 2001

Here are some thoughts from last night's Damned show, which was my first time to see them.

One should capture that show and put it in a museum under the label "Punk Rock." I've never heard a better example of it. One of the crew after the show said it was one of the best shows of the tour. The crowd alternated between lively and berserk throughout the set.

My personal high point came during "Love Song", when Vanian poked the microphone in my face and let me sing "here's a love song." What a thrill!

Captain and Vanian were both great showmen, dancing around all night, telling jokes, especially about the downstairs disco at that night's venue, the Masquerade. We could hear the annoying drumbeats in-between Damned songs, and in the pause in the middle of one song, Eloise perhaps, Vanian grimaced then grinned because the disco beat was screwing up the pause's drama.

Vanian's vocals, by the way, in Eloise were some of the best I've heard come out of somebody's throat.

I must also say that Atlanta has a ridiculous amount of beautiful girls. Sensible himself commented on this, too.

I just regret that I didn't get to use the cheesy line I thought of and tell one of them that I didn't know the Atlanta Falcons cheerleaders liked Punk rock. It's probably for the best that I didn't say that one.

One girl particulary melted my heart--the girl up front with the bandana and the Roy Lichtenstein-comic panel shirt, with the face so soft that every time I was lucky enough to glance at her my eyes felt like my head does when I hit the pillow after a hard days work.

After the show, I asked Sensible why he disliked Paul Weller so much, and got a surprisingly serious answer.

Sensible said that while he has made some great music, Weller has no sense of irony, is too full of himself, and thinks of himself as a sex god.

He then said that perhaps he should be a little like Weller and take himself more seriously (maybe referring to the pink tutu and wig he was wearing), and that Weller should be a little bit more like him and take himself less seriously.

I just walked up to him and began talking to him, and he was cool and friendly. I'd hate to think that Weller wouldn't be so approachable.

Later, when I went over to have a word with Vanian, I was pleasantly surprised when he enthusiastically greeted me as "the pogoing New Waver."

I can't truthfully say anymore that I don't care what people think of me because I got a huge thrill out of being recognized by him. From the few moments I spoke with him, Vanian seemed like a genuinely interesting person, a good guy to have a deep conversation with was my impression. Monty was a friendly bloke, too.

I don't recall the order, but here are the songs that I do remember.

Song.com
Wait for the Blackout
13th Floor Vendetta
Amen
Love Song
Plan 9 Channel 7
Neat Neat Neat
Smash it Up
Absinthe
Would You be So Hot...?
Eloise
Happy Talk
Neverland
She
Disco Man

Tim