I
regularly check the dates-page, so a few months ago was I thrilled to see that
The Damned would be playing in Germany. I live in Belgium and it would be a long
drive, so I planned a one-week holiday by motorcycle to go to the Gräfenhainichen-
and the Würzburg-gigs and, since I would be in the area, visits to Berlin
and Dresden and some other parts of former East-Germany. It would be a rather
expensive affair, though, with the prices of fuel being what they are at the moment
(my motorbike - a 1340cc Harley - is not really economic) and some hotel-costs,
since I refuse to go camping; I wouldn't want to show up at a Damned-gig all muddy
(in fact, 3 years ago I did, but at the Derbyshire-Custom-Bike-Show-gig that year,
everyone was muddy). Anyway, I was lucky, because a few weeks ago I saw that they
would be doing three gigs in The Netherlands too, so that would be a lot closer,
thus cheaper.
I
managed to show up late for the Zaandam gig; I had checked the website and it
stated that the event would start at 15.30 in the afternoon, so I had assumed
it was some kind of festival with The Damned playing in the early evening. When
I walked into the place after a more than two hour drive, I could just hear the
intro of Smash It Up, so I knew the show was nearly at the end. At first
the doorman wouldn't let me in but when I said I came all the way from Belgium,
I was admitted and I hurried down the stairs into a steaming place. It was a small
venue, but with an enthusiastic crowd and a band that was (as usual) giving the
best of themselves. Surprise: Dave had grown a Clark-Gable-mustache since I last
saw the band (last year in Germany); it suits him though. I knew that the show
would end after Smash It Up, but I was hoping that the encores were yet
to come, and yes: if I remember well, they did Jet Boy, Jet Girl,
Wait For The Blackout and Noise Noise Noise. It may be hard to believe
for people who don't know the live atmosphere at a Damned gig, but only these
few songs made it more than worthwhile to have made the more than 400 km. trip.
I planned to be less stupid the next day, for the Den Haag show. I took a considerable
time-margin, since it was a Monday and I had to pass Rotterdam at peak-hours.
I was in a traffic-jam for most of the time, but I arrived at the venue even before
the doors opened. Again it was a rather small place, so it had filled up nicely
by the time The Damned came on stage.
They kicked off with the indestructable
first three of Machine Gun Etiquette: Love Song, MGE (Second
time Around)
and I Just Can't Be Happy Today. It's been more than
a week since that gig and I have been to another one in between so I'm not sure
about the rest of the playlist or its order, but I'm sure that, amongst others,
New Rose, Neat Neat Neat, 1 Of The 2, Ignite, History
Of The World Part 1, Anti Pope and of course Smash It Up were
in it, with Wait For The Blackout, Stretcher Case and Noise Noise
Noise as encores. I had planned on going to the Bochum gig in Germany the
next day, but the lack of sleep of the last days took it's toll (I'm getting old)
and I was afraid of falling asleep on the drive back, so I decided to skip it,
knowing very well I would regret it afterwards; who knows when The Damned will
do a European tour again.
In
the mean time, my computer had been struck by lightning and died, so I hadn't
been able to check the dates-page of the Damned-site again, but luckily my new
computer arrived on Saturday the 21st; just in time to see another gig was added
last minute in Venlo on Monday the 23rd. I quickly made a reservation and I made
sure to be there in time. When I walked into the place, it was still empty, except
for the Captain sitting at the bar with someone of the organizing venue, I supposed.
As always when I meet someone of the band face to face, I was too shy to talk
to him so I only smiled stupidly. I always worry that my english isn't good enough,
or that I don't have anything interesting to say and I get that "we're-not-worthy"-feeling
when I meet someone I admire. I also saw Dave cross the place to go backstage
and, a few minutes later, Monty, so at least I knew they were there, which I wouldn't
have been sure of considering the very poor turn-up. Ok, it was a weekday, and
maybe they had to get up early in the morning, but I don't know what really serious
excuse the absent had. Anyway, they were wrong. They have missed yet another mindblowing
gig. Even for this small crowd the Damned gave it their best and that is the more
admirable knowing it was their 10th gig in as many days and in 4 different countries,
so they must have been tired. It only showed
in a few details: Pinch hadn't
spiked his hair and when the Captain took off his sunglasses at the end of the
show, his eyes were a little narrowed, but that could also be of being in the
spotlights for ten days in a row. Monty didn't jump up and down as moronicly as
ususal but I'm sure that the size of the stage was to blame for that. For me,
the small stage was an advantage; I could stand really close and at the end, I
could take the Captain's playlist (with his footprints on it!) as a souvenir and
it looked like this:
Love
song
2nd Time
Just Can't Be Happy
1 of the 2
I Fall
Neat x 3
History
Eloise
New
Rose
Anti Pope
She
Smash It Up
----------------------------
Blackout
Stretcher
Case
Noise Noise
However,
they didn't really stick to it, because, if I remember well, they skipped She
and did Jet Boy, Jet Girl instead, with the Captain doing all the vocals
while Dave walked through the audience. The Captain pulled that trick too, during
the intro of Smash It Up. He also did a quick rap of a part of Wot
and Happy Talk in between, when someone of the audience yelled "Happy
Talk". At the start of the encores they had added Melody Lee, with
Monty prolonging the intro because the rest of the band didn't show up right away.
At the real end, the Captain said a really touching goodbye, thanking us for showing
up.
I
was really grateful for having had the chance to see them again these two-and-a
-half times. I never get tired of it. Every year there are new surprises in the
show. I remember last year in Essen, Germany, I heard See Her Tonite for the first
time live and this year I was surprised with 1 of the 2 and Stetcher Case, the
only song of Music For Pleasure I ever saw live.
Again,
someone who has never been to a Damned gig can't understand how it's like and
I can't really describe it, so: if you get the chance to go see them, especially
you, Britons, who get this chance so much more often than we on the continent
do, don't hesitate, it will really be worth your while; I can't imagine anyone
being disappointed after seeing The Damned. I'm smashing in my own windows here,
because I hope to come see them at the end of July, beginning of August gigs in
the UK and since it is not always possible to make reservations from Belgium and
I also depend on the weather circumstances, I might find a "sold out"
sign if everyone takes my advice. I hope that in that case, my "I-come-all-the-way-from-Belgium"-plea
will still get me in.Thanks to the people of the Damned-website and the Fangbase
for providing the links to the venues, which saves me a lot of time and worries.
Greet
PS.
Long time ago I read a review from "Froggy", I understand he didn't
follow the band onto the continent, however, he was present at the USA tour two
years ago. Mysterious person!
Photo:
Thanks to Peter from Maastricht for the photo (above) of The Damned in Venlo!