Isn't
it great when everything clicks?
When you get a night when the venue is great, the sound is good, the
atmosphere is bubbly and the band's on top form. And when the band
in question is The Damned, there's simply nothing to beat it.
Such was the scene at Gloucester Guildhall, where a cracking night
was had by all.
The opening salvo of Wait For The Blackout and New Rose
ensured that the mosh pit was lively from the word go, and there were
smiles all round when the band noticed two girls at the front with
"We love Monty" banners. The manic keyboard maestro
looked a little flustered at this point!
As the set progressed there were some very nice surprises in store.
A new song - Perfect Sunday - went down well, and then Alone
Again Or was played in tribute to the recently departed Arthur
Lee, with Captain saying: "How can there be a God who takes
Arthur Lee and Syd Barrett but leaves Cliff Richard and Phil Collins?"
Mysterious ways, and all that.
Black Album classics Dr Jekyll & Mr Hyde and 13th Floor
Vendetta were well received, but for me the real treat of the
gig was hearing Generals played for the first time since, I
think, the Strawberries tour, and then the wonderful Rabid
being played - brilliantly. It was the first time I'd heard the song
played live and it really made my night. Cheers fellas!
To add to the feelgood factor, Dave even read out a marriage proposal
from someone in the crowd. The proposal was accepted, and the band
wished the couple well, although Captain ominously added that the
dreaded Curse of the Damned may well strike them!
As I left the venue, I heard many comments from people saying what
a brilliant night they'd had. And I have to say that in 25 years of
watching The Damned, this was up there in my top five gigs. An absolute
blinder.
Set list:
Wait For The Blackout
New Rose
Absinthe
History of the World Part 1
Perfect Sunday
Democracy
Neat Neat Neat
Alone Again Or
Dr Jekyll and Mr Hyde
Eloise
Little Miss Disaster
13th Floor Vendetta
Plan 9 Channel 7
Generals
Jet Boy Jet Girl
Love Song
Smash It Up (parts 1 and 2)
Curtain Call
Rabid
I Feel Alright
Grant Macabre