Fangbase - Reviews

Butlins Alternative Music Festival, Minehead, Somerset

Friday 30th March 2001 - Sunday 1st April 2001

We arrived on Friday at about 5.30pm. After checking in and settling into our chalet, we headed for the Skyline Pavilion, to meet up with a couple of other members of the Fangbase. On arriving there, we were lucky enough to bump into Captain, his girlfriend Louisa, and Pinch. (Captain was wearing a cute pair of blonde plaits, which suited his hair perfectly!)

Later we bumped into Pinch again in the Centre Stage venue, where the Damned were due to do their gig the following night - he commented that this was the strangest Damned gig he had ever done! He was right - Butlins, with all these punks milling around, gave the whole situation a sort of unreal feeling (surreal in fact!)

Saturday night, at the Centre Stage: This is quite a large venue. We turned up really early so that we could grab a good place at the front for when the Damned came on. '999' were on immediately before. They were quite good and the place was pretty full already. There was a short interval between each band, so when 999 finished, we thought we would rush off to the loo and get back in time to take up the spot we had picked out for ourselves. But, by time we got back (we didn't take very long), the place was even more full, and 'our spot' was taken! (We had wanted to be at the barrier, right in the centre.) We ended up at the barrier, at the far right-hand side.

As the time grew close to curtain-up, you could feel the excitement building. While we waited, the intro. to 13th Floor Vendetta was being played. People began to get restless; then at last the Damned came on!!!

As well as the old familiar and much loved songs, they also did a few of the new songs from the new album. (Including Democracy, Song.Com and one of my particular new favorites, Thrill Kill.) The new songs are all absolutely brilliant, and if the rest of the songs on the new album are as good, I think this will turn out to be another classic Damned album!! (Captain announced that the album will be released on August 21st!)

During the gig, a handful of brainless cretins started throwing beer glasses and jeering. At one point, Captain had to 'remind' Butlins' so called security staff, to do their job and stop these idiots. He also urged the crowd to do their bit and give these prats a dig! (The glass-throwing prats I mean, not the security staff!)

However, a number of glasses made it onto the stage before security started doing their bit. This seemed to to give Vanian some pleasure - he went around stomping on, and smashing the glasses, with an evil laugh as he did so! We were cringing because Captain later decided to go bare-footed!

Despite this bit of bother, the Damned played an excellent gig and it didn't spoil true fans enjoyment too much. Everyone we spoke to afterwards agreed how good they were!!!! This line-up has really gelled, and all seem to be enjoying what they are doing. At the end, even Captain's girlfriend joined in by dancing on stage! We left thevenue happy but sad that it was over. Can't wait for next time!!

Submitted By Moaner Lisa and Ma Moaner.

Another one for Butlins:

Warning, in no way must this be assumed to be anything like what really happened, because far too much alcohol was consumed for any pretence at accurate reporting.

Friday:
Pick up Mugwort and Paul from Solihul, drive to Minehead, find chalet, crack a can of beer and go out to find out what’s going on…..
Found Monty in the chippy, and after chips and a pint we were found by Mona Lisa and her mum. Shortly after, Captain, Louise and Pinch wandered along. Had a good chat with them, Cap told us Dr.Feelgood had just blown an amplifier up, so they weren’t playing. We decided to have another pint or six and go to see the U.K. Subs. Charlie and the Subs were in good form, and I have to comment that the P.A. system is good, unlike so many other venues I was quite impressed with the sound quality.

After the Subs played we went back to Pinch’s chalet for more beer. Pinch treated us to a listen of the recordings so far…. BRILLIANT!. We got back to our chalet about 3 or 4 am……

Saturday:
Wake up, go shopping, have breakfast, wonder why we’re here and what else we can do until 13:30 when T.V.Smith (The Adverts) plays. Oh we're on holiday, no more driving to do for today, so have a drink.….. T.V.Smith was awestrikingly bloody amazing, on his own with a semi-acoustic guitar knocking out a request show for all us ageing Adverts fans, and doing his new stuff too, well worth a listen you lot!
Next we went to watch the Brian James Gang, and Brian was bashing it out like a good ‘un. Superb set, including Neat Neat Neat etc. All the favourites, and a lot of stuff I haven’t heard before. Must get up to date with his new stuff. Captain, Louise and Dave were watching too, and they were well impressed.
More alcohol…….
More U.K.Subs!……. things start to get a bit hazy here, don’t ask me exactly what they played, but I enjoyed it. Jumped around a lot, and shouted myself hoarse.

Paul was busy making a total wuss of himself by sleeping and although he said he’d be awake for the Damned he wasn’t! Alcohol got the better of Paul’s forward planning. Hellione managed to find us and say hello.
So it was finally time for the Damned to play! Outstanding, superb, the dogs bollocks, my list of superlatives is unworthy of the band. Don’t ask me the set list, I can’t remember, I was enjoying myself too much. I found our friend Kenny in the mosh pit, or he found me, as he had the advantage of knowing that somebody called Rancid Tom would be there, with name tag attached. Kenny was needless to say as pissed as we were, due to it being his stag night celebrations. What better way to celebrate? Brian James’ guitarist was also present in the mosh, jumping about like a madman along with everyone else. The rest of the crowd were obviously enjoying the new numbers as much as the classics, so as usual, a good time was being had by all. I persuaded one person not to throw a plastic glass at the stage, even though he pleaded that "It’s only plastic, and it’s empty!", but at least he listened to reason, and put it back on the floor where he found it. I hope he remembers what I said next time he may be tempted to perform this brainless action. If you’re reading, thanks, but think about it! All too soon it’s over, and we staggered off to buy a T shirt, congratulate the band and thank them for another thoroughly enjoyably noisy evening.

Sunday:
Highlights of Sunday were waking up sober enough to start my motorbike and go out for a bit of a sightseeing run along the coast and over the Exmoor roads, which certainly cleared my brain. There is nothing like cold air in the face at 90mph to wake you up.
Wasn’t too impressed with what I saw of the mid afternoon sets but I won’t mention no names…
The evening line up was another treat starting with T.V.Smith again, who did a different set to Saturday, as he had his backing band with him ( a midi computer type thing) so that he could play some of the more "complicated" (his words) stuff. Blew the crowd away again.

Next up were Eddie and the Hot Rods, but I do confess to going to have a listen to what Steve Diggle was up to before going in to see the Hot Rods. I really wish I hadn’t bothered, as to me it sounded totally crap, but then again, my personal opinion. Back to the Hot Rods, who were very lively, playing a good tight professional sound. Shouldn’t have wasted time looking in on Mr Diggle, but nobody’s perfect!
Next mistake of the evening was going for a listen to Glenn Matlock. The less said the better, so, although I absolutely cannot stand Edward Tudor Pole I found myself watching Tenpole Tudor. Hmmm. Make no mistake I cannot knock them for what they were doing, the rest of the crowd enjoyed it thoroughly, but I could only say it was the lesser of two evils! I am allowed to have an opinion am I not? One good thing about Tenpole Tudor was that we met up with a couple of Damned message board visitors who we didn’t know were going, said "Hi", and persuaded them to join us for a final can or two of beer to round off the evening. "Hi" again to Mandy and her husband, I admit to being too drunk to remember your name! Sorry, but that’s the sort of weekend it was. When’s the next Damned gig??? Anybody need a lift?… hang on I think I’ve said that before……
Cheers everyone, you should’ve been there!
RANCiDTOM

 

Submitted by RANCiDTOM