This
is the third time I've seen the band at the Liquid Room and each time
they seem to get better. Brighton had been the gig of the tour for
me until this one, but this was even more enjoyable. The Liquid Room
is a great venue, just the right size, with a good clear sound and
always a decent bunch of punters.
Gigs here always seem to have an early start so that they can finish
in time for the disco afterwards. This one was no exception and when
I mooched in at 7.30, Wreckless Eric was already into his set.
Eric went down well although he did a rather short set due to time
constraints with Whole Wide World (and another couple of songs) dropped,
thus depriving Edinburgh of the delights of Captain on drums.
Eric also dealt with a heckler in no uncertain terms - quite a brave
thing to do I thought when it's just you and a guitar up on stage.
The Damned came on at 8.30 (told you it was an early start) and kicked
off with Nasty. As usual the crowd here were very enthusiastic
- so much so that I was very nearly knocked flying at least twice
by some mad pogoers at the front (who included our very own R Browndog
Esq.). I won't run through them all, but the customary songs from
this tour's setlist were there, all played with freshness and drive
and all highly enjoyable. Highlight of the night for me was during
Smash It Up when just about everyone standing round me seemed
to leap into the air at the same time in a most exhilarating fashion.
God knows how many times they've played Smash It Up live but
you've have it was the first time here - surely a band can't get any
tighter than this. Everyone (on and off stage) seemed to be having
a high old time of it.
After Second Time Around, Captain revealed that its riff was
nicked from Gary Glitter's (boo!) Rock & Roll Part I
(DV thought it was from Part II). "Hope his lawyer's not in here
tonight - mind you he's got some pretty heavy legal bills coming up".
This prompted Pinch to say "They're not having Christmas decorations
in Thailand this year - they're just hanging glitter".
Love Song drew the main part of the set to a thunderous close
- and Captain was soon back on stage. "Dave's round the back
opening a bottle of Champagne - shall I do Happy Talk?" seemingly
unaware that Dave was, in fact, standing right behind him. Captain
turned round "Oh hello Dave" he said feigning nonchalance.
"You'll do it anyway" replied DV "just get
on with it and stop yabbering". Captain then launched into
a punked up version of the aforesaid song which I have to say sounded
rather good. DV did the backing vocals (sometimes I think he does
them a bit reluctantly not here - he gave them his all, including
some sound effects).
The came Ignite and History of the World. During HOTW
, Dave chucked in a section of Abba's Mama Mia which
fitted in alarmingly well. The show closed with a rendition of New
Rose that very nearly took the roof off. That was that - just
before 10 and the show over. DV led the way off stage with a quick
burst of Wish Me Luck As You Wave Me Goodbye (earlier he'd
a passable "Didn't He Do Well"a la Bruce Forsyth
in response to some grand guitar work from Captain - DV is clearly
a man of many talents)
Earlier Captain had said that because of the early finishing time,
the band had vowed never to play the Liquid Room again, but because
of the great reception they get here, they'd decided to play there
again. Quite right too.
Froggy
PS As I scribbled this out on the train on the way home, I remembered
that I've forgotten to do a review of the Brighton show (well I'd
roughed it out during yet another boring meeting at work but I've
lost the notes so there's no hope of a full write up now) - suffice
it to say that it was a another cracking gig with Pinch giving a "Where's
Rat Scabies" heckler admirably short shrift and doing some thumpingly
great drum work in Smash It Up by way of response, including a mini
solo at the end prompting Dave to enquire "Have you finished"?
The
Fife Damned Disciples have been to see the Damned here for years now
and they didn't disappoint.
Shahoorsir!
A blistering and very polished set filled with some tasty gems to
keep the assembled throng very happy indeed.
Highlights for me include 'Alone again or', 'Little miss
disaster' and a pogotastic version of 'Ignite'.
Thanks
again Captain, Dave, Monty, Pinch and Stu for a superb evening.
Haste
ye back.
MUNGO
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Thanks
to Froggy for the above photos!
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Thanks
to Mungo for the above photos!
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