Fangbase - Reviews

Axix, Boston, MA

19th October 2001

 

Nothing like finishing up your honeymoon by seeing the best band in the world, the fabulous Damned!

We battled jet lag and obnoxious French airplane people to get back to Boston in time, and were not at all sorry to have left sunny Italy with this waiting for us.

The band were playing an early show at Axis, all ages which is unusual for Lansdowne Street (where they keep all of the we-don't-give-a-crap-about-the-music clubs). We arrived as the second band started - the Swingin Udders - and we could see evidence of the first band - the Briefs - by the people with underwear on their heads (some of which ended up in the Captain's mouth, the perv). The Swingin Udders sounded good - their last song was hysterical - but I'd hate to be a band opening for the Damned.

Finally the Damned took the stage, and what a beginning! Their energy was fantastic, the new songs blended in well with the older ones, and I have never heard Dave's voice sound better. There was a good amount of between songs banter to keep everyone going.

Shortly after the set began the Captain warned us that everyone would be thrown out right after the last song so they could turn it into a disco - while he was talking about how much disco sucked, Dave was singing "he said Captain, I said wot" and we all had a good laugh - Captains very fetching when he blushes!

I hadn't looked at any of the set lists, so I was very happy to hear 13th Floor Vendetta and Eloise included with the older songs - it's great the way they rotate them in, maybe someday we'll hear A Nice Cup of Tea. As for the new songs, Democracy was really fast and catchy, and Thrill Kill sounded fantastic live - sometimes vinyl doesn't do justice to Dave's voice. It's great that Patricia, Pinch and Monty finally have some material to play that they helped create, and hats off to them for doing so well with the older stuff!

The oncore, featuring The Captain's pink tutu and Disco Man, was just as energetic as the first few songs.

As always, I was sorry to see the end draw nigh, but hopefully they'll be back around before too long.

- Shaerie Mead