Liverpool Sound and Vision Rating * * * *
Darkness falls early as Winter’s grip takes hold, a kind of bleakness can be felt crawling through the souls of those who seek a musical thrill, who require the artistic fix and the bite of passion in which to ward off the tendrils of despair; darkness falls, we Wait for the Blackout, and then in a bright burst of light, a flash of coronal mass ejection, darkness is abated for a while, we look to the heavens for answers and find only one possible solution, that The Damned have found a way to light the sky and the way forward.
A set of Renaissance figures, an experienced bold beginning, still full of the theatrical glory that made their name as the original British Punk band, but now in later years, performing with what seems a greater energy, a sense of cheer and contentment in the modern era, a damned for the 21st Century, a damned that took Liverpool down the avenues of Evil Spirits and musical playthings and thrilled the Merseyside fans completely.
Having already made a grand entrance by appearing in full brief pose during the support acts set, the much-appreciated Johnny Moped, to present flowers and smile in the honour of a milestone birthday being reached, it was perhaps with no surprise that Captain Sensible took the opportunity to extend that enigmatic smile that he wears with pride, like a multi-faceted rainbow glimmering against the shroud of obscurity in which others tread with glee, and alongside the rest of the band proceeded to treat the local crowd to a night of the fast and the frenetic, the mysterious and the sincere.
With the ever-present Dave Vanian prowling the stage, never keeping still, always surveying the room and the multitude with the subtle passion of a panther, sleek and ready pounce on any moment that passed by and joined by the entertaining but never out of place Monty Oxymoron, Pinch on drums and the lively Paul Gray, The Damned stormed the night, took lit torches of desire and burned the monsters of apathy out of sight.
There are times when you just know you have come to the right gig on the tour, it could be said of any venue, but Liverpool’s audience always seems to give just a little more than most places, that extra reason in which bands love coming to the city by the River Mersey. It was an acceptance that struck home to the majority of the crowd, written indelibly across their faces as the music ravaged its way through their souls.
Across songs such as We’re So Nice, Born To Kill, Democracy?, the excellent Standing On The Edge of Tomorrow, Wait For The Blackout, Silly Kids Games, Devil In Disguise, I Don’t Care, Love Song and 1 of the 2, The Damned became a force, a weaving spinner of tales and wonderfully brutal sound to match, if ever there was a band that typified the theme and ideal of the craving for Noir, then The Damned at this point are it.
An evening of grace and power combined, a storm that brewed inside and quelled the rage that had been lashing at Liverpool’s door all day. Tremendous fun!
Ian D. Hall