Good crowd here - extremely good natured. They certainly enjoyed Wreckless
Eric's set (so did I), although I'm not sure who was the more bemused
by the experience - them or Eric.
Eric was running a little behind time and Scott was quietly setting
up things as he played - The Damned arriving to start off with Nasty
shortly after Eric's departure, kicking off another rollicking set
which went down very well with crowd. Then Disco Man. A lot
has happened since I saw the show and I'm buggered if I can remember
the set list properly (no change there then). Eloise made a
reappearance (replacing Absinthe) - a feature of this tour
seems to be changing the songs each night. No bad thing either - I
know opinions differ about Eloise but it is a bit of a crowd
pleaser and it went down very well here.
Other songs included in any old order Neat Neat Neat, Noise
Noise Noise (complete with Dave and Captain doing the "Isn't
nice in here ending"), Would You Be So Hot, Smash
It Up (mid set again), Second Time Around, a magnificent
version of Curtain Call, then Love Song, Little Miss
Disaster and Perfect Sunday (which is about Dave's childhood
apparently "Must have a been a pretty strange one"
the Captain told us). There was also a rather good Melody Lee
with Captain giving Monty "one more chance to get the intro
right or we'll sack you and get that bloke in from The Stranglers
instead". DV helped by holding one of the footlights and
pointing it at Monty. Mr. Oxymoron then proceeded to do the intro
in the style of a "Club Pianist" with Pinch thumping out
in a similar style on his kit. Captain did the lyrics in the style
of someone from Opportunity Knocks, and then with a couple of clicks
on Pinch's sticks it was off into the real thing.
Talking of Curtain Call surely if any other band than The Damned
had done it, the music press would have hailed it as the masterpiece
it is. There was minor scuffle in the crowd at one point "No
rough-housing, please" asked DV "Yeah careful, we're
pensioners" countered Captain. Captain was evidently looking
forward to his aftershow DJ spot. So much so, he got the name of the
venue he was appearing at later on wrong . "You want to read
your own leaflet, mate" advised the ever helpful Pinch.
I've never seen him do it but Captain broke a string during one number
prompting a quick guitar change. "Have you just broken that
string?" asked Dave. Captain came over all innocent - "No
it was him" and pointed at Stu.
First of the encores, History of the World was introduced by
Captain ranting on about what Billy Graham would say about there being
no dinosaurs in the Bible, until Pinch helpfully pointed out that
Graham is dead. Undeterred Captain ploughed on, with the rest of the
band looking on in an amused fashion. "Help me out of this
hole you bastards" he requested of the rest of the band as
he realised he was on rather thin ice.
Ignite was next with New Rose the final number of the
evening. DV really got into things here and throwing himself around
the stage in some style.
There must have been more songs than this but as usual I can't remember.
I've really excelled myself here - have I dreamt it or was Thirteenth
Floor Vendetta played too?
Yet another Damned fine show (or fine Damned show) came to a close
and it was out in the heaving streets of Temple Bar for me.
Froggy
Many
appologies for the tardiness of this review. I was awaiting the development
of my few pictures Id taken of the band but because of all my excitement
I ended up with blurred images and pictures of the backs of peoples
heads.
I was delighted about the Damned coming to town. They used to drink
in my mum and dad's boozer all those years ago in Camden and Her Royal
Highness aka Mother considered them to be 'lovely, down-to-earth boys'.
I had never seen them at a live performance but New Rose is one
of my earliest memories and since then Ive been a huge fan.
Anyway, onto the gig. Unfortunately I missed Wreckless Eric.
Having read Frogg's reviews he appeared to put on a jolly good show.
I agree the crowd were generally good natured during the main event.
There was a heady mix of hecklers, audience participation, a beer thrower,
a sole crowd surfer, moshers and pogoers. The most disturbing part of
the night was when I looked up at the balcony of people and they appeared
to be motionless for the entire show. At one point I was convinced they
were manniquins robbed from Cleary's shop window and placed on the balcony
to make the band think they had pulled in a good crowd.
I was nervous that a lot of new stuff would be performed (stuff Id never
heard - apologies) but I was thrilled with Nasty, Disco Man,
Neat Neat Neat, the remarkable Curtain Call, Love Song,
Street of Dreams, Ignite, Smash It Up and New
Rose. I dont critique bands performances, Im just delighted they
made it to Dublin and hope they come back again next year, when I might
actually make it to the aftershow party and get to buy a round of drinks
as a token of thanks.
All in all I had an absolute ball and am still recovering from 'Damned
Withdrawl Symptoms'
Hope the merchandise section of the website is open soon. Want all the
merch I can get my hands on!
Best wishes
Tara James
Formerly at The Devonshire Arms, Camden: 1974 - 1988
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Photos:
Froggy
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