Made
it to just the one gig on this short tour - have to say that after
reading one or two of the opinions about the earlier shows I was a
little apprehensive. Smash It Up as the first song indeed - whatever
next. Needn't have worried - this was a blinder (and Smash It Up was
where is should be - at the end).
Quick
word about the support band The Priscillas. They were great
- quite possibly the best support act for The Damned I've seen (and
hand selected by the good Captain apparently). Made a refreshing change
to see a support that didn't make me wish I'd gone to have a root
canal filling instead. Very, very entertaining group of girls and,
most unusually, a girl drummer who knew how to play. She even used
Pinch's kit so he must trust her.
The
Damned turned in a very tight show - no major surprises (and no new
material - the closest we got to that was Alone Again Or and
I thought it was a pretty decent stab at it too despite reports elsewhere).
I think I must be in a minority but I really enjoy the "same
old" stuff and don't mind there being no new stuff at all. When
such a variety of good songs are played in such an excellent way who
cares.
The
set list was something like this - done my usual trick of not remembering
it with the added handicap of trying my hand at a bit of photography
too. I've pinched it off the MB courtesy of Frozen Joh Ballet Boxer:
Street
of Dreams, Second Time Around, I Just Can't Be Happy
Today, Neat Neat Neat, Democracy, Ignite,
History of The World, Anti Pope, Alone Again Or,
Absinthe, Plan 9 Channel 7, Magic Potion (hurray
- a fine performance of a fine song), Neverland, New Rose
and Eloise. Encores were Jet Boy Jet Girl, Looking
At You and Smash It Up.
Not
many bands can come up with such a varied setlist. Worth noting that
NNN was the standard 3 minute version with no extended middle
bit (all the better for it) and Jet Boy Jet Girl was all hands
on deck affair, with The Priscilla and SteveinWisc doing the
backing vocals.
As
usual plenty of banter (mostly involving the Captain - how unusual).
My faves were:
• Captain's Dalek impression (Monty doing the Dr Who theme to
Dave's approval) - a Dalek sounds just like Brian James in the studio
apparently "You will obey. You will do as I say".
• Captain's impression of Donovan's Hurdy Gurdy Man
crossed with Rat's style of performing (including a snatch of Burglar).
• Captain's discussion of what Gary Glitter, Jonathan
King, Michael Jackson and Rat Scabies could get
up to if they were exiled in outer space . You don't really want to
know what but it made Dave laugh. A show of hands just before Neverland
didn't exactly show many people thinking Mr Jackson is entirely guilt
free - Dave spotted one person.
• Captain's show of tuning his guitar, prompting Dave to say
"that's close enough" leading to a mock fight with
Scott the roadie when he tried to give him a properly tuned guitar.
(Captain proved his was in tune with a short burst of "Mull of
Kintyre".)
All in all yet another fine show - the place was packed too. I'm already
looking forward to the next proper tour.
Froggy
Thanks to Froggy for the photos on this
page.