Fangbase - Reviews

Transilvania, Milan, Italy

6th December 2001

I can start off by saying that I went to see the Damned performance because of my teen-age memory of them. I have to admit that I was first of all curious. I was only 16 when I started to listen the Damned music (among the others). Time elapsed, and now that I'm 31 I wanted to be there to find that particular feeling I couldn't have the chance to feel at that time.

The gig was supposed to start at 9; we arrived a few minutes before. I've never been at 'Transilvania Live', it was the first time; what I found was a "nice" place, not too big (as the stage too, actually) furnished in perfect theme with a part of the Damned "imagine" (if you can call it so).

There were not a lot of people attending the gig, most of them nostalgics as me of the good times gone. Some "younger" boys and girls, some "typically punk-dressed" ones, and the rest I saw people who, like me, were there too see the Damned play and listen to all the good old songs. The only difference was that now, maybe, we were all there to see them under another perspective: to listen their old and new songs, to see how they have changed or not, to find out if that original feeling was still in our hearts and our souls. (and it was! at least for me).

At the front of the stage, there was enough space to stand, so I approached it, waiting for the band to come out, meanwhile having a look around to see if some old friends of mine were maybe there too. (I found nobody! most of them are now married and with children, you know, how could have them been there ?!?).

Even if I appeared not in "tune" with the environment and the atmosphere of the place, I had the sensation to have caught a time-machine and jumped back of 16 years … I cannot hide that I was a lilttle bit excited at the idea that in a few minutes Dave and Captain Sensibile would have appeared on the stage… and so it was … in a while all happened so fast.

A strange music started and … oh, they were there! Oh, yes, it sounds silly for a not-so-young-anymore "girl" like me, but … it has been exciting!

They started with a song off the new album, which I don't know since I still have to buy it, but the first feeling has been for me to hear the sound of the "old-good Damned". Even a mix between "The Black Album" with something new added. That's my point of view.

Then it went on with a sudden, almost murmured "is she really goin' out with him …" Oh my! New Rose! I immediately had to change my place and ran to the side of the stage because of a pogo which was crushing me … (but every cloud has a silver lining ….I'll explain why later).

I don't remember what came after, surely another new song. I can remember it has been played also "Neat, Neat, Neat", "Wait For The Blackout" (good performance of it!), "Eloise" (I would have prefered "Dr. Jeckyl and Mr. Hide" instead ... but…), a great "Smash It Up" version, maybe "History Of The World"? - not so sure to remember it well (13th Floor Vendetta - Ed.), "Disco Man" (here when Dave said "kill the D.J., kill disco music" … hi,hi,hi, ….); I don't remember which it was, but there was another one where, during an-only-insrtumental part of the song Dave started to sing "oh, show me the way to the next wiskey bar …."; oh, Dave, I really liked that! It has been a strange sensation to hear you singing Jim ….

Having took a look at the new album on this site, I can now remember that they palyed "Thrill Kill", "She", maybe "Absinthe" (? - I remember that Captain Sensibile and Dave asked if here in Italy "Absinthe" is drunken or legally, and that they had some "grappa" the night before (I know that they played in Biella) - I avoid to mention here where Captain Sensibile told that "grappa" gone for him!!!.

But I now know that I will surely buy the new album! It seems to be good … maybe not the best one, but good.

Let me also add that I always found a strong, incredibly deep, and ……………… even sensual, yes! Feeling in Dave's voice. He's always a great performer on the stage. (and still an enchanting man! Sorry, but I have to tell it - under my feminine point of view …obviously!). He deserved more attention from the audience, which instead seemed to be more focused on the pogo, actually … the whole band should have been given more attention from the audience particularly for other aspects such as the lyrics, the whole performance, the sound (even if very badly managed by the mixer!), the music, the "dialogue" between the band and us; Captain Sensible tried to say something a couple of times, but I think he quit when he understood that very few people understood him.

Captain Sensibile is totally crazy as usual, but still great! (To be noted at the end of the performance …. when he wore a glove, pulled down his pants, threaded it into his …. let's call it "back" … and then threw it to the audience !) - Hope you washed your hands later, when you came down the stage and offered us some food! ….

Patricia is a good bass player, but unfortunately the sound was really bad, and the only instruments you could hear quite well were the Drums and some of the guitar. Keyboards seemed to be quite absent. Patricia gave all her efforts playing the bass, what a pity the sound was very clear.

Dave was singing loudly, and he put all his efforts into it on the stage, but the voice on the microphone could have been better managed; in that way a lot of the gig losts its potentiality.

It almost seemed to me that the main thing that night (for most of the audience but not for everybody, please don't blame me!) was the pogo and not the performance and the band itself. Maybe that's why they palyed only the "fast" songs but, under my personal point of view, other great good ones should have been played that night.

The whole sensation I had is like if the band was nearly, I don't know, like "deceived" of what they have found here in Milan … then I think there is not a good chance for us to see them playing here again in the future…

Ok, it also has to be taken into account that Italy has been the final part of their long tour around the world, (how could we blame them? - Oh … if only I could have the chance to see their last gig in London!), and maybe they have not found the same "warmth" here (can we call it that way?) as they felt in other countries …

Anyway, here's now my "sugary" note of that evening!

I'm sorry, I know that I'm too old for these things, and that it could sound silly for someone who will read it, but LET ME PLEASE leave SOMEWHERE a sign of what also happened to me that night! (don't blame me …. this is what getting older means ! ….)

Whilst Dave was singing, I noticed he was looking a couple of times in my direction, (I was at his left) even if he wore sunglasses so I wasn't able to look into his eyes … and I thought: "Oh. my! how could I be so lucky, he noticed me between a lot of nice "vampire-like-dressed-and-maked-up" girls?!

But then, whilst singing "Love Song", he came to the edge of the stage, sticking out right in my direction and he looked at me while singing that exact part of the song which says "…just for you, here's a love song …." ……….

Oh Dave! I could never forget all of this! It's silly isn't it?! I know….. but I'm glad you have noticed me, a common "girl" (maybe not so young anymore ….!), between a lot of nice ones attending the gig that night.

I only hold a piece of paper with your words on it (I'm sorry you were falling whilst writing it,- the door suddenly opened behind you!) but, even if you will NEVER read all this here, let me tell you "love to you too …. and Thanks for the night!" I will never forget all this …. hope you will remember me as well … sometimes…..

(oh,my! …. if only I could turn back time!).

Thanks for the night to the whole band, thanks to still being "The Damned", Thanks for giving me one of the most exciting evenings I haven't had for a long time.

Love
Laura

P.S. Now, if anybody has any picture of that gig at "Transilvania Live" could you send some? Here's my e-mail address: tatolulusan@libero.it
Thank you in advance.