Entertainment For Lively Minds
The Damned
Posted by Mondo on 15 November 2011 - 1:45pm.
When:
12th November 2011
Where:
The Roundhouse, London
Comments:
In 1981, I had my first Damned live experience, joining a spit 'n' spikes swell at The Lyceum for the band’s 5th birthday. Three decades on and we’re at the Roundhouse for their 35th anniversary to hear two albums marking the bi-polar extremities of the back catalogue. In a 30 minute blitz The Damned whip-crack through their debut album - the sonic boom of punk's atoms being ripped apart. A costume change later and it’s back to 1980 for the widescreen genius of the Black album. Where H P Lovecraft and Satanic Majesties era Stones inform the shadow and sunshine rolling playlist of pop nuggets, pysch rock and the 17 minute prog-punk epic that is Curtain Call. I've been to multiple Damned gigs since ‘81, but have never seen them as playful or powerful as they are tonight. By the ask-what-song-you-want encore, Vanian‘s graveyard cool gives way to giggling and grinning at the Captain, now, beret-free and wearing the widest of smiles. A power house performance at The Roundhouse
The Audience:
Pint slingers,topless moshers, gruesome twosomes and greying ne'er do wells
Food & Drink:
A pint in the pub over the road (Joe's)
It Made Me Think...:
Sensible is punk's greatest guitarist, a solo virtuoso and a grandmaster of melodies. Vanian can switch between croon and boom on a blink. Both possess a keen ear for a catchy tune have scripted the broadest songbook of any punk band.
I was there too
Great review of a fantastic gig. We had a really good night. The Damned remain an underrated band.
Thanks H
They're well overdue some retrospective credit - for me and I've seen them plenty of times, this gig highlighted how fast and how far they progressed between 76 and 80, from Damned, Damned, Damned's over-revved garage punk to Black Album's dark psych (spelt correctly this time) pop.
And given that after Brian James bolted, the Black Album was only their second outing as a songwriting collective - what a fistful of quality compositions they came up with. A self produced double album including the multi-dimensional, wig-out of Curtain Call. Incredible