Rewind Review: The Damned – The Captain’s Birthday Party Live at the Roundhouse (2016)

Recorded live November 27, 1977, The Damned‘s The Captain’s Birthday Party Live at the Roundhouse is, like other Damned records, mired with some weird history.

First, this album is often known and titled as Not the Captain’s Birthday Party. The band did play a show at the Roundhouse on April 23, 1977 – a day later after (then bassist, now guitarist) Captain Sensible‘s birthday. However, this show wasn’t recorded until seven months later at the same venue. Their label at the time, Stiff Records, thought this album was the April 1977 show and thus released it as The Captain’s Birthday Party. Later, in 1986, the album was re-released by Demon Records as Not the Captain’s Birthday Party. Are we all clear?

Another interesting bit of Damned history with this album is that it’s a recording of a rare lineup of the band with the Captain on bass and perpetual lead singer Dave Vanian, but with two guitarists – Brian James and the newly acquired Robert “Lu” (short for “lunatic”) Edmunds – and a new drummer – Jon Moss (who would later go onto worldwide fame drumming for Culture Club), as the legendary original drummer, Rat Scabies, had quit the band two weeks earlier.

The album is just eight tracks, but they’re eight tracks of raw power thrown at an enthusiastic crowd. Opening with “You Take My Money,” the guitar roars and feedback are immediately apparent, and Moss is holding his own with just two weeks of practice with three guys who were already punk legends just a couple years into their careers. “Creep (You Can’t Fool Me)” gets a great response from the crowd. “Fan Club” is rough, with Edmunds and Moss still figuring out some of the band’s mechanics, but that energy just brings more growl to it.

“This one’s for Rat Scabies,” Vanian announces before they start “Problem Child.” The whole band is energized for this one, and you can tell Moss wanted to slay it. “So Messed Up” is a full-blown sprint that must have sent the crowd into a panic. “New Rose,” their first hit (and, by most accounts, the first punk single) transforms from a grungy rocker into a wild mix of feedback, crashing drums, and bass rumbles that only settle for a moment before they rip into a blistering cover of The Stooges “Feel Alright.” They end with “Born to Kill,” barely leaving you any time to process what the hell just happened.

It’s a wild ride, not unlike one of those carnival rides that takes you up high, spins you around, and then drops you at a frightening rate.

Keep your mind open.

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WSND set list: Deep Dive of The Damned

Thanks to all who listened to my Deep Dive of The Damned on WSND. It was a blast. Here’s the set list:

  1. The Damned – New Rose
  2. Pretenders – The Phone Call
  3. The Sex Pistols – Anarchy in the U.K.
  4. Nick Lowe – Born a Woman
  5. The Damned – Neat Neat Neat
  6. Pink Floyd – Wish You Were Here
  7. The Damned – Problem Child
  8. The Damned – Stretcher Case Baby
  9. Culture Club – Church of the Poison Mind
  10. Motörhead – Stay Clean
  11. The Damned – Smash It Up
  12. The Damned – Machine Gun Etiquette
  13. The Clash – London Calling
  14. Eddie and the Hot Rods – Do Anything You Wanna Do
  15. The Damned – Wait for the Blackout
  16. The Damned – Disco Man
  17. The Damned – Generals
  18. The Damned – Fun Factory
  19. Captain Sensible – Happy Talk
  20. Naz Nomad and The Nightmares – Action Woman
  21. The Damned – Nasty
  22. The Damned – Is It a Dream
  23. David Vanian and the Phantom Chords – Frenzy
  24. The Damned – I Just Can’t Be Happy Today (live)
  25. The Damned – Shut It
  26. The Damned – Standing on the Edge of Tomorrow (live)

Next week is a Deep Dive of Tony Bennett. Don’t miss it!

Keep your mind open.

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Rewind Review: The Damned – Final Damnation (1989)

Recorded live at London’s Town & Country Club on June 13, 1988, Final Damnation is a time capsule of The Damned‘s reunion concert. All of the original members of the band are here: Dan Vanian on vocals, Rat Scabies on drums, Captain Sensible on bass and guitar, and Brian James on guitar. They also bring in Bryan Merrick on bass and Roman Jugg on keyboards for songs on which those guys played on Damned albums featuring them. The band had just been dropped by their label before cutting this record, and the unhinged chaos of that moment in the band’s timeline can be felt and heard.

Starting with “See Her Tonite,” the band barely has time to say hello before launching into furious punk riffs. “We’re not doin’ it for the money!” Captain Sensible yells to the crowd afterwards. The crowd replies with, “Oh, yes you are!” and soon Sensible is chugging out the always thrilling bass line of “Neat Neat Neat” and the crowd is going bonkers. “Born to Kill” hits like a metal rockabilly.

I’m not sure if Sensible or Scabies is playing hardest on “I Fall,” as they’re both going nuts throughout it (Scabies has the slight edge, I think.). “Fan Club” has a great swagger to it, and a great solo from James, too. “Fish” is a fast fan-favorite. Their cover of The Beatles’ “Help” is almost unrecognizable as it hits like repeated punches to the face. “New Rose,” of course, gets the crowd into a frenzy, and their cover of The Stooges‘ “I Feel Alright” is stunning.

The “second half” of the album / show starts with their classic tune “I Just Can’t Be Happy Today” – a song that’s still resonant decades later. “Wait for the Blackout” has Sensible wailing on his guitar for the back of the room. Jugg’s opening piano chords on “Melody Lee” are like a fake jab before the hard cross of the guitars and drums.
“Noise, Noise, Noise” is as raucous as you hope it will be, as is “Love Song” – in which it sounds like Scabies destroys his kit.

The opening chords and beats of “Smash It Up” give you some time to catch your breath before you want to join the band in smashing everything in sight, and they end the show with two snarky covers – “Looking at You” by MC5 and The Rolling Stones‘ “The Last Time.”

Thankfully, this wouldn’t be the last time The Damned played a show or even released an album, but Final Damnation is a great recording of a great show. There’s also a DVD of the entire performance out there (which can also be found on YouTube) to help capture the madness.

Keep your mind open.

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The Damned set to release “Black Is the Night: The Definitive Anthology” on All Saints’ Day this year.

The greatest surviving British punk band, The Damned, are set to release their most comprehensive collection of songs yet, with a new greatest hits collection, Black Is the Night, via BMG on November 1st. Pre-order the album here.

[Taken from the album’s liner notes]: Black Is the Night is the first truly comprehensive Damned anthology, spanning their entire career. These tracks have been specifically chosen by the band themselves and every track and every Damned album tells a different story. They are a band that never repeats themselves, with every record charting new territory and breaking new ground.          

Designer Phil Smee was chosen to create the gothic artwork. Smee has worked with the band numerous times throughout their long-lasting career, as well as creating legendary designs for Motörhead, Elton John and Madness, amongst many others. Smee commented: “I loved working with the band back in the 80’s and I like to think we came up with some iconic designs. Certainly, I see the many Damned logos I came up with still used on t-shirts to this day. I’ve not cut corners with this new album, even setting all the sleeve copy by hand, which took me back to ‘The Black Album’ which I hand-lettered with a shaky pen. The Damned are a totally unique band, I’ve always loved everything they’ve done. I still get excited about every design project that comes along, but I was particularly pleased to be asked to work on The Damned’s Black Is the Night album.”

The band play Madison Square Garden with Misfits and Rancid on October 19th.

TRACKLISTING:  1. Love Song  2. Wait For The Blackout 3. Generals  4. I Just Can’t Be Happy Today 5. Bad Time For Bonzo 6. Democracy? 7. White Rabbit 8. Anti-Pope 9. Ignite 10. Melody Lee 11. Smash It Up Pt 1 & 2 12. New Rose 13. Machine Gun Etiquette 14. Neat Neat Neat 15. Stretcher Case Baby (produced by Shel Talmy) 16. Sick Of Being Sick (produced by Shel Talmy)  17. Born To Kill 18. Rabid (Over You) 19. Problem Child 20. 1 Of The 2 21. So Messed Up 22. Disco Man  23. Fan Club  24. Suicide  25. Eloise 26. Plan 9 Channel 7 27. Grimly Fiendish 28. The Shadow Of Love 29. The History Of The World (Part 1) 30. Dr Jekyll and Mr Hyde 31. Streets Of Dreams 32. Curtain Call 33. Alone Again Or 34. Lively Arts 35. Standing On The Edge Of Tomorrow 36. Stranger On The Town Fun Factory (previously deleted feat. Robert Fripp) 38. Under The Floor Again 39. Black Is The Night (new song)  

Follow The Damned at: www.officialdamned.com twitter.com/@damnedtwits

Keep your mind open.

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The Damned – Evil Spirits

Let’s face it, not all punk rock ages well.  This isn’t the case with the Damned, however (and most classic punk bands, actually.).  Their newest album, Evil Spirits, is a fine return for them with tracks written by multiple members of the band.

Starting with the slightly creepy “Standing on the Edge of Tomorrow,” lead singer David Vanian (whose voice only seems to have improved with age) pleads with “this dystopian generation” to fix things for future generations before it’s too late for them.  Guitarist Captain Sensible‘s riffs blend into the sound of passing fighter jets by the end of it.  “Devil in Disguise” has a bass heavy groove and barely disguised lyrics (again, masterfully sung by Vanian) about current political leaders (i.e., “Don’t understate the state we’re in.  Don’t misconstrue my sideways grin, ‘cos you’re the one that let me in.” / “As you build your walls and empires fall, it seems the truth doesn’t matter anymore.”).  “We’re So Nice,” written by the Captain, is a punk anthem with a slick beat by Pinch and lyrics about being careful not to fall into complacency.

In case you were doubting the Damned have opinions on the current political landscape, look no further than “Look Left.”  It’s almost a gothic ballad as Vanian sings, “Subterfuge and fantasy played only to ignite.  While everybody’s looking left, what the hell is happening right?”  Keyboardist Monty Oxymoron‘s work on the track is subtle but crucial.  “Evil Spirits” is the kind of song Kaiser Chiefs want to write on that crushing rock album in the back of their heads.  Capt. Sensible shreds on it and his lyrics convey a bit of “Meet the old boss, same as the new boss” aesthetic.  Oxymoron also gets to go wonderfully bonkers by the end of it.

It’s easy to forget that the Damned started as a goth-punk band, but “Shadow Evocation” will remind you of their roots.  Vanian sings about ghosts, lurking in the night, and the devil chasing him towards death.  Capt. Sensible dives into the realm of conspiracy theory with “Sonar Deceit” as Vanian sings Sensible’s lyrics about sea fish swimming into fresh water rivers, whales dying on shores, dolphins going mad, and submarines doing nefarious things.  “Procrastination” encourages all of us to achieve our dreams while we still have time (“I’d like to see the pyramids at this time of the year, but never quite get round to it and end up staying here.”).

“The Daily Liar” is a plea for truth in news and for someone, anyone to cut through the “smoke and mirrors” of the 24-hour news cycle.  “I’m drowning in a raging sea of words,” Vanian sings.  Aren’t we all?  The closer, “I Don’t Care,” is a great companion to “The Daily Liar,” as Vanian admits all the white noise of mass media and political mudslinging has left him apathetic about all of it.  It starts with sad piano by Oxymoron and almost fades out before the whole band rushes in to shake you awake.

It’s a good return from these legends, who are still fiery live as well.  It’s a wake-up call, and a welcome one.

Keep your mind open.

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The Damned unveil secrets of each track on upcoming album – “Evil Spirits”

THE DAMNED SHARE TRACK BY TRACK INFO FOR NEW ‘EVIL SPIRITS’ ALBUM
OUT FRIDAY APRIL 13TH ON SEARCH AND DESTROY / SPINEFARM RECORDS
PRE-ORDER ALBUM HERE
ANNOUNCE SELECT NORTHWEST DATES IN JULY AFTER BURGER BOOGALOO
US TOUR THIS FALL (DETAILS FORTHCOMING)
Following a hugely successful UK tour which saw British punk legends The Damned rev up 2018 by playing to thousands of rabid fans, including two back-to-back sold-out London shows, the band returned last month with a double A-side single culled from their forthcoming ‘Evil Spirits’ album, released April 13th via Search And Destroy/Spinefarm Records. The single featured the tracks ‘Look Left’ and Devil In Disguise,, two songs that perfectly represent the album’s many shifting moods and styles.
Recorded by legendary producer Tony Visconti, ‘Evil Spirits’ is the result of a frantic, high-energy burst of creativity at Atomic Sound studios in Brooklyn in October of 2017, with ‘Black Album’ and ‘Strawberries’-era bassist Paul Gray back in the fold.
Select shows in the Northwest have just been added, following their headline slot at Burger Boogaloo in Oakland July 1st.  A US tour will be announced at a later date (details forthcoming).
‘EVIL SPIRITS’- TRACK BY TRACK:
‘Standing On The Edge Of Tomorrow’ (watch video)
Up-to-the-minute garage psychedelia that gallops like Scott Walker’s ‘The Seventh Seal’, amid ominous ‘dies irae’ chorale and mucho post-millennial frustration. Vanian: “An optimistic song even though it is about a dark subject. In a world obsessed by ‘self’, this is a cry for humanity to recognize its humanity, before it’s too late. There is a strong influence of Joe Meek here: ‘Telstar’ was a glorious song about the opportunities of the future. I’d like to think that ‘SOTEOT’ reflects a similar sentiment.”
‘The Devil In Disguise’ (listen)
Another energetic garage-punk monster, replete with Monty Oxy Moron’s era-specific Farfisa organ. Pinch: “People gravitate towards blaming individuals rather than the systems they are part of. Figureheads are only puppets. It’s the puppet masters we should be concerned about. The enemy of our enemy is our friend, apparently.”
‘We’re So Nice’
“Where there’s dispute you’ll find us there…” Sensible’s broadside against Anglo-American imperialist meddling around the world bops along gleefully on a Motown beat amid a deluge of melodic excellence. Sensible: “With all that we know about the Iraq war, and its consequences, does anyone still think we were the ‘heroes’?”
‘Look Left’ (listen)
Sugar coated mind grenade, addressing post-millennial society’s “media-induced coma” Vanian: “The weird thing about Pinch is, he listens to the most obnoxious music a lot of the time – all the real hardcore punk stuff – and he a very loud drummer, too, but then he goes and writes this great big show tune – like a massive ensemble cast coming on to sing at the end of the play!” Pinch: “While everybody’s looking left, what the hell is happening right? Tough subject matter is easier to digest when coated in honey rather than vinegar and the message in this song is so important, I couldn’t risk it being a throw away aggro punk tune that was immediately overlooked. I see it more as a love song to the human race. The future is here, and until you awaken your mind, I’ll wait for you.”
‘Evil Spirits’
Fantastically searching, in the best sense ‘progressive’, rocker, with vague echoes of The Who’s ‘Magic Bus’ and The Rolling Stones’ ‘Can’t You Hear Me Knocking’, and some commensurately exploratory soloing from Sensible. An urgently free-spirited riposte to today’s political stasis. Sensible: “Whoever you vote for, nothing changes. Labour or Tory, two cheeks of same bum.” Vanian: “The Who are never far away from The Damned’s sound. We’ve had some big noses in this band, too. I suppose there are some parallels between us, because they were a high-energy band, too, but then Pete started writing his rock-opera stuff, stretching out, looking for different ways of writing. Queen did the same sort of thing as well – we’re one of those bands whose music can cover different genres of music, within one song.”
‘Shadow Evocation’
Quintessential Vanianism, about espousing the night and finding a better way forward than “chasing ghosts of the past”. Features acrobatic backing vocals from American singer-songwriter Kristeen Young. Vanian: ”Kristeen has a remarkable vocal range reminiscent of Yma Sumac [1950’s Peruvian-American soprano]. Her singing at the end of the song was originally played on a Theramin but once Kristeen sang the part, there was no need for the instrument anymore.”
‘Sonar Deceit’
Another garage-psych belter, propelled by a jaunty His Latest Flame-style bassline. “What makes a fish desert the sea?” ponders the Captain in this hard-hitting critique of whales and dolphins being driven insane by bombardment by deafening sonar.
Sensible: “What could it possibly be that drives whales and dolphins to prostrate themselves on beaches around the world?”
‘Procrastination’
Noel Coward-esque study of creative deferral, with more mid-’60s Farfisa from Mr Oxy Moron. Sensible: “One of Monty’s, this one. A bit of self-analysis here: what could be the reason that this band’s last album was recorded back in 2008? It’s good to be able to laugh at yourself – well, at least I think he’s talking about himself there… Isn’t he? Or is it me? Blimey!”
‘Daily Liar’
Co-written by Sensible (tune) and Vanian (lyric), another anger-fuelled barnstormer, with a Kinksian introductory fanfare, a driving beat, and a stirring melodic ascent. All together now: say “no, no, no…no-no” to media misinformation! Sensible: “For his own selfish reasons, Trump started a discussion about ‘fake news’, but it’s one that some might say has been long overdue. Not a pinch of salt required – you need a whole cellar of the stuff these days.”
‘I Don’t Care’
Punk heedlessness rebooted as a triptych of political disaffection, spanning moody piano balladry, Who-y explosiveness, and nocturnal jazz
Vanian: “This should have been a short song, perhaps only a minute long, written on a rainy afternoon in my study. Demoing the song, I almost forgot that there were two more sections, turning it into a three-part epic in about the same amount of minutes, which seems longer because of the differing moods.”
Evil Spirits is available on digital download via Spotify and i-Tunes, on CD and 180g vinyl available to pre-order HERE
        
Photos: Dod Morrison
LIVE SHOWS:
EUROPE:
May 17 – Frankfurt – Batschkapp
May 19 – Lausanne – Les Docks
May 20 – Milan – Magnolia
May 22 – Munich – Strom
May 23 – Berlin – SO36
May 25 – Hamburg – Fabrik
May 26 – Oberhausen – Turbinenhalle
May 27 – Amsterdam – Melkweg Oude Zaal
May 29 – Paris – Petit Bain
UK:
June 16 – Birmingham – Genting Arena *
June 17 – Manchester – Arena *
June 19 – Glasgow – The SSE Hydro *
June 20 – London – The SSE Arena, Wembley *

US:
July 1 – Oakland – Burger Boogaloo Festival

July 5 – Vancouver –  Commodore Ballroom (on sale 4/6 10am PST)
July 6 – Portland – Crystal Ballroom (on sale 4/6 10am PST)
July 7 – Seattle – Showbox at the Market (on sale 4/6 10am PST)
UK:
August 22 – Southampton – 02 Guildhall
August 23 – Holmfirth – Holmfirth Picture House
August 24 – Warrington – Warrington Parr Hall
August 25  – Belfast – Belsonic Festival (main support to Stiff Little Fingers)
* supporting the Hollywood Vampires
hard-charging ethos accented by smooth hi-fi production and a stylistic debt to pop’s pre-rock era.”Stereogum
The Damned have become, if possible, more eccentric and outrageous as they grow older.”  – The Independent
“The King’s people have drunk from the Fountain of Youth. This truly is a band at the top of its game. Long Live The Damned”
– Louder Than War
The Damned are:
David Vanian – Vocals
Captain Sensible – Guitar
Monty Oxy Moron – Keyboard
Pinch – Drums
Paul Gray – Bass
Keep your mind open.
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The Damned’s Paul Gray rejoins the band in time to record their new album.

BRITISH PUNK ROYALTY THE DAMNED REVEAL
UPCOMING ALBUM DETAILS AND MORE
TONY VISCONTI SET TO PRODUCE NEW DAMNED ALBUM SET FOR RELEASE 2018 
FORMER BASSIST PAUL GRAY REJOINS BAND 
 
Photos: Dod Morrison
As reported in early spring, legendary punk band The Damned signed a new label deal with Search & Destroy and announced plans for their 11th studio album. Now the band is pleased to announce that preparations are underway.
The band’s raw, primal and macabre energy will see its match in the studio this October in Brooklyn, NY with famed Producer Tony Visconti who for over five decades has produced some of the world’s most influential artists and their greatest albums (David Bowie, T.Rex, Morrisey, U2, The Stranglers, Iggy Pop and Thin Lizzy). On Engineer duties is four time Grammy-winning Producer /Engineer/Mixer Kevin Kline, who has also worked with Bowie and has spent the last several decades compiling an impressive list of credentials featuring premiere pop artists Peter Gabriel, Elvis
Costello, Burt Bacharach, Bryan Ferry and Brandon Flowers.
The New York Observer proclaimed, “The Damned are a band of infinite depth and a wide variety of pleasures… high-quality blurs of melodic punk, Beach Boys-ish flowery psych-pop, chiming, bittersweet post-punk, Moody Blues-ish bombastmopherics, spiraling goth and soaring faux soul, all brilliantly executed…”
It’s rather fitting that the band who in 1976 launched an alchemic, heady new British rock sound collaborates with one of the most important and influential producers in the history of rock.  “We want to do the unexpected,” noting that the new album will offer some of the old and a lot of the new. “We’ve never been predictable and well, neither has Tony. There will be a measure of experimentation and we know he’ll do his best to artistically challenge us. He’s been at the top of our producer list since we first started thinking about recording the album, dream come true he’s on board!” The as-yet-unnamed new album will be their first new album for nearly ten years and is the follow up to, ‘So, Who’s Paranoid?’ which came out in 2008.
This news also comes with a change in The Damned’s line up. The Damned  announce the bitter sweet news of the departure of bassist Stu West. “We had a great time with Stu on this long journey. We have infinite respect for him and are forever grateful for his contributions to The Damned. As a result of this mutual understanding, we respect his decision, support him wholeheartedly and wish him the best of luck and success.”
Furthermore, The Damned reveal that once again they will reunite with their former bass player Paul Gray (Eddie and the Hot Rods/Johnny Thunders (New York Dolls, Rob Tyner (MC5)/UFO), who was an essential part of the Damned during the 80s and who played bass on previous Damned albums “The Black Album” and “Strawberries”. Gray will be joining the Damned in the studio this fall.
A dizzying mix of dedication, creativity and stubborn will continues to fuel Dave Vanian, Captain Sensible, Monty Oxymoron, and Pinch.  While The Damned’s 40 year journey has been challenging, rewarding and shocking at best, they continue to reign as Punk’s original connoisseurs and feel very positive about what lies ahead in the future.  That evidence will be heard on their new album and in venues worldwide as the blitz continues on their Evil Spirits Tour set to rock intimate venues through out the UK this January.
The Damned ‘Evil Spirits’ 2018 UK Tour Dates:
26 January Newcastle O2 Academy
27 January Dundee Caird Hall
28 January Glasgow O2 Academy
30 January Leeds O2 Academy Leeds
31 January Manchester Academy 1
1 February Birmingham O2 Academy
3 February Leicester O2 Academy
4 February Nottingham Rock City
6 February Folkestone Leas Cliff Hall
7 February Southend Cliffs Pavilion
9 February Cardiff Great Hall
10 February Bristol O2 Academy Bristol
11 February Bournemouth O2 Academy
13 February Southampton O2 Guildhall
14 February Bexhill De La Warr Pavilion
17 February London O2 Forum
About The Damned:
Formed in 1976, The Damned really need no introduction…  As well as releasing the first ever British punk single and album, they also broke further new ground as the first UK punk act to tour America. The Damned still receive their dues in the US, where they are often cited as a major influence on many future rock acts, including bastions of the nascent US hardcore scene such as Black Flag and Bad Brains plus heavy metal heavyweights such as Green Day, The Offspring and Guns ’N’ Roses. The band recently celebrated four decades together with a deluxe reissues package and a world tour.
About Search and Destroy:
Raw Power Management oversee a roster of internationally successful acts which include: Bring Me The Horizon, At The Drive In, While She Sleeps, Of Mice and Men, Don Broco, Mallory Knox, and others.  The company’s record label Search and Destroy is home to, among others, Bullet For My Valentine & Atreyu.  Search and Destroy is a joint venture with Spinefarm Records / Universal.
Follow The Damned:

The Damned announce UK winter tour dates.

British punk legends the Damned have announced winter tour dates for the United Kingdom.  They put on a great live show, and catching them in their homeland would be outstanding.  Tickets are on sale now for the Evil Spirits tour, so don’t wait to snag some if you’re in the UK or planning a trip there this winter.

Keep your mind open.

Live – The Damned and Bleached – Chicago, IL – April 23, 2017

Spoils of moshing: A Damned 40th anniversary U.S. tour poster, a signed Bleached t-shirt, and a broken watch band.

I’ve wanted to see the Damned for a long while and was bummed that I missed them when they played Chicago’s Riot Fest a couple years ago.  Lo and behold, they came to the U.S. again for a 40th anniversary tour, and this time I was able to catch them with Bleached opening for them.  That’s a win-win.

Bleached killing it.

I saw Bleached in October of last year in Cleveland.  They put on a good show, so I figured they’d be solid again.  I did not know that they would be even better in just six months’ time.  It was quickly evident (within two songs when they were absolutely gunning on “Trying to Lose Myself Again” from Welcome the Worms) that Bleached has seriously upped their game in just half a year.  They powered through many cuts off their excellent new EP Can You Deal? and even one I hadn’t heard before (“Electric Chair”).  I was gobsmacked by the end of their set.  I caught up with sisters Jennifer and Jessie Clavin at their merch table between the first and second encores of the Damned.  I told them their set was a home run and how much they’d improved since Cleveland.

“Being on this tour has been really good for us,” Jennifer Clavin told me.  “Playing in front of a lot of people who don’t know us has really made us work on our stage presence.”

“It’s only been six months!” Jessie Clavin said.

“I know,” I said.  “That’s what make it more impressive.”

Speaking of impressive, the Damned were just that.

“We’re back from the mists of time,” said lead guitarist Captain Sensible, “to save the world from shitty music like Mumford and Sons!”

The band tore into literal floor-shaking classics like “Generals,” “Disco Man,” and “I Just Can’t Be Happy Today” before a mosh pit finally broke out during “Love Song.”  The first of two beers went flying through the air during this.  For the record, I’ve been in some wild, fun crowds at the House of Blues.  I’ve never seen cups of beer, hats, shoes, and jackets thrown into the air during a show there until I saw the Damned play there.

The Damned performing “Disco Man.”

I stayed in the pit for “Love Song” and “Street of Dreams.”  The Damned continued a great set (and Captain Sensible kept decrying Mumford and Sons – as well as Kurt Vile, whom he called a “pillock,” Duran Duran, KISS, and Billy Idol) that included such fine tracks as “Eloise,” “Wait for the Blackout,” and “The History of the World (Part 1).”

Of course, the crowd (and I) went berserk during “Neat Neat Neat” and “New Rose.”  Moshing to those punk classics was a dream come true for me.  Truth to tell, I wasn’t sure I’d ever hear “Neat Neat Neat” live, so being in the middle of a friendly mosh pit ten feet from David Vanian as he sung it was great.

The Damned taking us back to 1977.

As I mentioned earlier, they played two encores.  The first included “Jet Boy Jet Girl,” sung by the Captain, “Noise Noise Noise,” and “Smash It Up.”  The last track especially showed off keyboardist Monty Oxymoron’s skill.  The second encore included “Nasty” (the first Damned song I ever heard thanks to them performing it on The Young Ones) and “Antipope.”  A guy near me had been yelling for “Antipope” for the last third of the show, so I was happy for him (and all of us) that they played it.  He went bananas.

It was a fun show.  They haven’t lost anything.  Sensible is still a great guitarist and Vanian (“the Vincent Price of rock,” as Capt. Sensible called him) still commands a stage like few can.  The Damned are touring extensively throughout the U.S. before they head to Europe.  Catch them if you’re near you.

By the way, here’s the list of things I found on the floor during and after the mosh pit: A button labeled “GW,” a spiked bracelet (belonging to a guy in a Misfits jacket behind me), a nickel, an opened (but thankfully unused) condom, a peacock keychain and attached house key (belonging to a young woman I found after the final encore), a hat (owner unknown), and a sweater (owner unknown).  A guy next to me in the pit found a cell phone.  I don’t know if he ever found the owner.

Keep your mind open.

The Damned’s North American tour starts April 6th.

THE DAMNED
40TH ANNIVERSARY NORTH AMERICAN TOUR BEGINS APRIL 6TH IN LOS ANGELES!

CHECK LOCAL TICKETING FOR EXCLUSIVE VIP PACKAGES FOR SHOWS
(INCLUDING LIMITED EDITION 7″ PICTURE DISC OF ‘NEW ROSE’)
NEW ALBUM IN THE WORKS – FOR MORE INFO & PRE-ORDER LINK VISIT: PLEDGEMUSIC
‘DAMNED DAMNED DAMNED’ 40TH ANNIVERSARY DELUXE EDITION OUT NOW VIA BMG

Photo: Dod Morrison

Formed in 1976, The Damned really need no introduction… As well as releasing the first ever British punk single and album, they also broke further new ground as the first UK punk act to tour America. Cited as one of the most influential punk groups of all time, they also contributed vastly to the gothic rock genre and influenced an entire generation of future hardcore punk bands such as Black Flag and Bad Brains, with their fast paced energetic playing style and attitude, as well as heavyweights such as Green Day and Guns ’N’ Roses (the latter acknowledged the debt when they covered “New Rose” on their 1993 album, ‘The Spaghetti Incident’). Along with the Sex Pistols and The Clash, the Damned helped spearhead the punk movement in the UK and they continue to wave the flag for originality, stick two fingers up to mediocrity and celebrate a DIY punk ethos in the face of plastic entertainment and scripted reality, four decades and ten albums later (and still on the road).
The band’s hugely influential classic debut single, New Rose‘, celebrated its 40th anniversary last November with a limited edition 7” release via BMG. Featuring original artwork, picture disc and exclusive fold out poster, it’s a must have collectable release of one of the most influential records of all time. Their classic debut long-player, ‘Damned Damned Damned(the very first British punk album), was originally released by Stiff Records on February 18th 1977 and, to celebrate the 40th anniversary of the band’s dramatic breakthrough, BMG also released a very special Art Of The Album: Deluxe Edition of that incredible debut album on February 17th, almost exactly 40 years to the day since its original issue.
David Vanian, Captain Sensible, Monty Oxymoron, Andrew ‘Pinch’ Pinching, and Stu West headed into the studio this winter to start work on a brand new album, their first since 2008’s ‘So, Who’s Paranoid?‘ A pre-order link for the CD, colored vinyl, as well as exclusive merch (and experiences) is available at PledgeMusic.  Stay tuned for more info.
Currently on an extensive world tour, which includes a two month North American run beginning April 6th in Los Angeles, they will also play a series of UK festivals this summer (check the band’s website for details).
See The Damned live – it will be a night out that you will remember for a very long time…
NORTH AMERICAN SHOWS:
April 6 – Los Angeles, CA – Belasco Theater <<<
April 7 – San Diego, CA – House Of Blues ***
April 8 – Anaheim, CA – House Of Blues ***
April 9 – Las Vegas, NV – House Of Blues ***
April 11 – San Francisco, CA – The Fillmore ***
April 12 – Sacramento, CA – Ace Of Spades ***
April 14 – Portland, OR – Crystal Ballroom ***
April 15 – Vancouver, BC – The Commodore ***
April 16 – Seattle, WA – The Showbox ***
April 18 – Salt Lake City, U – The Depot ***
April 19 – Denver, CO – Summit Music Hall ***
April 21 – St. Louis, MO – Delmar Hall ***
April 22 – Minneapolis, MN – Fine Line ***
April 23 – Chicago, IL – House Of Blues ***
April 24 – Louisville, KY – Mercury Ballroom ***
April 26 – Indianapolis, IN – Deluxe at Old National Ctr. ***
April 27 – Cincinnati, OH – Bogart’s ***
April 28 – Cleveland, OH – House Of Blues ***
April 29 – Detroit, MI – St. Andrews Hall ^^^
April 30 – Toronto, ON – Phoenix Theatre ^^^
May 2 – Montreal, QC – Club Soda ^^^
May 4 – Boston, MA – Paradise Rock Club ^^^
May 5 – Brooklyn, NY – Warsaw ^^^ SOLD OUT
May 6 – Asbury Park, NJ – Stone Pony ^^^
May 7 – Philadelphia, PA – TLA ^^^
May 9 – Baltimore, MD – Sound Stage ^^^
May 11 – Atlanta, GA – Masquerade/Heaven ^^^
May 12 – Lake Buena Vista, FL – House Of Blues ^^^
May 13 – St, Petersburg, FL – State Theater ^^^
May 14 – Fort Lauderdale, FL – Revolution ^^^
May 16 – New Orleans, LA – House Of Blues ^^^
May 17 – Houston, TX – House Of Blues ^^^
May 18 – Dallas, TX – House Of Blues ^^^
May 19 – Austin, TX – Mohawk Outdoors ^^^
May 21– Phoenix, AZ – Marquee Theater ^^^

<<< w/ Alice Bag & The Sissy Bears

*** w/ Bleached
^^^ w/ The BellRays

…a rage of rude bamalama and embedded pop-song smarts that, with time and sense, now sounds as consistent and fundamental as the Clash and Sex Pistols hymnals.” Rolling Stone
The Damned are a band of infinite depth and a wide variety of pleasures. Their catalog includes high-quality blurs of melodic punk, Beach Boys-ish flowery psych-pop, chiming, bittersweet post-punk, Moody Blues-ish bombastmopherics, spiraling goth and soaring faux soul, all brilliantly executed…With their predilection for both massive power and chaos and highly developed and subtle songwriting, they continue to be an effective and dramatic touring act, to this day.”  New York Observer
“The show was anything but a by the numbers nostalgia fest….The Damned delivered a performance that would leave many bands half their age in jealous awe.” Concert Addicts
“The Damned are 40 this year and still punk as fuck. Or goth as fuck. Or something in between that was never quiet the Ramones or Bauhaus, but Dave Vanian dressed like a vampire and Captain Sensible wore gonzo plaid. Something for every counterculture.” Diabolique Magazine
“For a band in their 40th year, The Damned surprisingly still have more energy than many groups half their age. Founding members singer Dave Vanian and guitarist Captain Sensible are all over the stage, moving almost constantly as they work their way through one song after another.” Chunky Glasses
“…across two sets, the band — which still features vampiric vocalist Dave Vanian and guitarist Captain Sensible — worked their way backwards, more or less, through their entire catalogue, delivering most of their best-loved songs along the way. Vanian’s voice is still in top form, and Captain Sensible provided the riffs and comic relief. Fantastic show.” Brooklyn Vegan