Fangbase - Reviews

Canes Bar & Grill, San Diego, CA

30th September 2001

As a veteran of over a dozen Damned shows, I would say that this years’ show at 'Canes' in San Diego was great but not the best I have seen from them. That distinction would fall to the very first time I saw the Damned back on June 5, 1983 at the Country Club in Reseda, California, when I was 27 years old.

They had released Strawberries and the Friday the 13th EP. Some of you may have been there. The line-up was Dave, Captain, Rat, Bryn (who had just joined) and Roman. Dave entered the stage with his hand on fire as they launched in to Ignite. I was in the mosh pit and saw blood splattered on banged heads. A truly memorable site. The songs that followed Ignite were Disco Man, Generals, I Just Can’t Be Happy Today, Stranger On The Town, Wait For The Blackout, Plan 9 Channel 7, Born To Kill, The Limit Club, Melody Lee, Love Song, Looking At You (with a drum solo), New Rose, Neat Neat Neat, Noise Noise Noise, Hippy Hippy Shake, I Feel Alright, Happy Talk (with Captain and Dave singing), I’m A Believer (the Neil Diamond song made popular by the Monkees that featured Roman on guitar), Wild Thing (Rat on guitar and vocals, Captain on drums and vocals), Love Song (again!!) and a reprise of the chorus from Stranger On The Town. At one point Captain stated that he hoped Ronald Reagan would make love to Margaret Thatcher and that they would produce a hamburger more tasty than the ones he’d had recently (obviously before he became a vegetarian)!!. The Damned were funny, rocking and an amazing live act that made me a fan for life.

I saw the impressive, gothic, Phantasmagoria show at the Santa Monica Civic in December of 1985. From 1988-1999 all the shows I saw were of the “greatest hits” variety. Those gigs were good but the band kept celebrating the past and with no new material they never gave a sense that they were a current band.

Last Halloween, the Damned played in San Diego, and teased us with 5 new songs (Democracy, Song.com, She, Absinthe, and Thrill Kill). At that show, hearing those songs live for the first time, I was not impressed. That has all changed with the release of Grave Disorder. I can honesty say that it’s a great album. The return of Captain and the addition of Pinch and Patricia has brought life back to the band. The new album gives them a chance to finally bury the “greatest hits” set list. After listening to the album and becoming familiar with the songs and their lyrics, I had a greater appreciation of their live renditions at this show.

At 'Canes' my wife and I were perched on the balcony (which is pretty close to the stage). It’s a great viewing spot to see the band and the moshers without the hassle of being boomed. Captain sported his leopard skin shirt and pants (until he changed into his pink tutu and wig for the encores) while Dave had a matching leopard skin shirt on. Patricia wore a black dress, Monty had a black t-shirt with a skull on it and Pinch looked nostalgic in a black Discharge t-shirt. Hearing most of Grave Disorder live was a delight to my ears. They played the same Grave Disorder set that they are touring the USA with but tonight they added W and most of Happy Talk (an acapella version by Captain just before Disco Man). Since Captain had mentioned in his tour diary that W wasn’t working out too well due to the troubles playing along with the drum samples it was a wonderful surprise to have them include it in San Diego. I know some of you dig that song a lot and it is certainly a favorite of my wife’s and mine. The live version sounded great with Captain’s wah-wah pedal getting a solid work out. It was certainly the highlight of the show for us.

Overall it was a celebration that the Damned have added another exciting album and chapter to their illustrious career. I can’t relive the excitement of that first 1983 show again but I can enjoy the Damned as a touring band with a current, kick-ass rock album. What more can you ask for? It was a great night. Good luck to them!!!

Kenzo