|
Fangbase
- Reviews
|
Cheese and Grain - Frome
20th November 2001
Oh yes. I had been waiting for this gig for a long time it seems, but at last, November the 20th was here and my buddy and me were stood in the Cheese & Grain just finishing off our drinks when The Damned took to the stage.
Awesome, they ripped into Democracy and the crowd burst into life. I couldn't decide whether to stay back and watch what was going on on stage, or just pile in. (Youthfull!!) exuberance took over and I piled in. Next up, New Rose and at that stage my mate and I decided to get right to the front. I love being right up at the barrier infront, but the big downside is the sound is usually shite there, and that my dear chums was a big big downer coz I couldn't tune in to the Cap's blinding guitar playing.
Without going through a blow by blow account of each song the set list was as follows -
DEMOCRACY
NEW ROSE
SONG.COM
SO HOT
BLACKOUT
AMEN
13TH FLOOR
PLAN 9
ABSINTHE
ELOISE
NEVERLAND
THRILL KILL
NEAT NEAT NEAT
- encore -
DISCO MAN
SHE
LOVE SONG
SMASH IT UP
It was a really well balanced set I thought with every song going down a storm
with us punters. Being upfront I couldn't hear Cap's comments :( always a
highlight. Wot I do remember though (not in any specific order).There was
a lot of beer flying around and a full pint end up over Patricia's bass and
she was not happy. She grabbed a mike and basically told the areshole who
threw it to get up on stage and she'd have his balls!! Way to go woman!! DV
did give her a nice little kiss after that. Some nut just behind me insisted
on yelling for "Vanian, do Looking at You" between every number.
Holy shite matey, couldn't you see the numerous set lists stuck around the
stage (one now proudly in my possesion). Guy to my right was skinning up and
smoking and offered DV a toke, which he graciously declined. Captain and Monty
did a musical interlude before the start of the encore based around the Cap
in his wig, thong and tutu warbling away to Happy Talk. I seem to recall comments
about a certain individual being the fattest veggie around!!
Finally after they had left the stage Cap remained, so he decided to pull his thong down at the rear, bend over (spotty arse there me old mate) and wash his crack with a bottle of water, vigorously flicking the makeshift shower over us poor buggers at the front!
Anyway. We lurked around after and met up with them all (got me autographs, wahay!). This was the first time I have ever met with any of the band, and they were all so very gracious with their time and just plain, Damned nice! My buddy was a Damned virgin before this gig, with me giving him a crash course before, and he was totaly blown over by how good they were. He was flapping his gums with the Cap for a good 10-15 mins. The Damned played the tightest, most solid gig I have ever seen in all my years. I truly think that musically they are a force to be reckoned with, with the most accomplished line up ever.
Simply - Thanks for the night.
Master Therion (AKA Mark Lewis)
Another...
A surreal setting, a cow-shed that served cream teas with wicker swans hanging from the ceiling in the middle of nowhere, it was like a scene from the Wicker Man. I almost expected the locals to turn on me and offer me up as a sacrifise to the bird god. But they didn't.
Anyway,
the support act (Far Cue) were entertaining, you can tell when an act
is going well if the most of the audience are willing to shout "Hello
Mrs Edwards" in response to a request from the vocalist/drummer (NB
Mrs Edwards is a local resident trying to get the venue closed down because
of the noise). They were actually very tight weaving unusual cover versions
in amongst their own songs with plenty of banter ("This one's for
Mrs Edwards singalong with the chorus if you want, its called 'Bollocks!'").
Left
the stage to cheers, a triumphant show.
Chatted to Captain after the support act he seemed relaxed and looking forward to it, so relaxed in fact that they were late taking the stage.
But take the stage they did. Quick Vanian costume check: White streak gone, purple shirt, well cut mid length jacket, black trousers tight in all the alledgedly) correct places, black suede cuban healed pointy boots, shades green tinted and black gloves. Damn!
As they arrived the bouncers casually wandered across the front of the stage "Its Phil Collins ladies and gentlemen.." The audience seemed tentative to start, being relatively subdued during Democracy, the opener. However New Rose soon woke them up, leaving no doubt that the audience would be responsive but my worry was, were they after a greatest hits setlist?
My worries were misplaced, Song.com and WYBSH followed in quick succession and the energy level was maintained. Wait for the Blackout went down a storm and once Amen got going (the bass seemed a bit lost in the sound effects backing track) it was hectic. Always a welcome addition, 13th floor Vendetta teetered on the edge of not quite working, again due to the sound balance, but Vanian managed to carry it off. Next, a couple of old songs which have been rejuvenated live for this tour - Plan 9 Channel 7 and Eloise - both sounding spot on. I had always suspected that Eloise couldn't be done to my satisfaction live, I was wrong. Heading to the finale Thrill Kill (good guitar) Neverland (good banter) and Neat Neat Neat (good grief can this song get any better?) The encore started with Tutu (and thong) clad Sensiblegiving us a solo medley starting with Happy Talk, finishing as ever with the Snooker Song. Then Disco Man, She (for Jed this time - Cap), Love Song and Smash It Up to finish.
Hung
around afterwards and met everybody, helped a bit with the packing up. Saw
the amazing Black Album cover gravestone replica. Chatted with Captain about
Rat's unusual songwriting technique (usually he'd sent me shit things on
tape and I do something completely different and say I incorporated his idea
but one day he came to the studio with an LP tucked under his arm and said
' I've got this idea, track 5 '... played it and said 'We should use that..'
What a con! Mind you we did rip it off and turn it into Discoman..)
Chatted to a knackered Pinch and Pat about the complete lack of support Nitro are giving them, did you know the marketing support Nitro gave them for their North American tour consisted of about 500 flyers...that's it! Pat organised this tour. Dexter Holland needs to get his ass kicked, or kick some ass of the people in Nitro. He's wearing The Damned like a trophy! Doesn't he realise this could be his retirement plan, or is that not punk enough for him?
Anyway as I drove through the Somerset roads (I think the alphabet in Somerset must go from B-Z because I couldn't find a decent A road anywhere) I pondered, it taken me 18 years to meet the band and you know what?
It was worth it.
Dickie Dunn