Type and hit ENTER

Commonly used tags...

Brighton Festival Brighton Fringe Brighton Pride British Sea Power Cinecity Lewes Psychedelic Festival Locally Sourced Lost & Found Love Supreme Festival Mutations Festival Nick Cave Poets Vs MCs Politics Rag'n'Bone Man Record Store Day Save Our Venues Six Of The Best Source Virgins Streets Of Brighton Street Source Tattoos The Great Escape Tru Thoughts Unsung Heroes
  • Home
  • News
  • Previews
  • Reviews
  • Features
  • Food
  • Tickets
  • Contact
  • Contribute
  • Advertise
  • Home
  • News
  • Previews
  • Reviews
  • Features
  • Food
  • Tickets
  • Contact
    • Contact
    • Contribute
    • Advertise
Reviews

The Damned Review

Nov 27, 2016
-
Posted by Steve Clements

It seems incredible that we are here to celebrate the 40th anniversary of punk rock but as a seemingly ageless Captain Sensible bounces on to decry the ironic intro of rock dinosaurs Emerson Lake & Palmer’s ‘Fanfare For The Common Man’ before launching into the still-exciting ‘Neat Neat Neat’ it’s clear that this is far from being a going-through-the-motions revivalist show. Dave Vanian stalks the stage, spinning on his heels and by their third song there’s a drunk bloke with his shirt off bouncing off the statues at the front.

‘Born To Kill’ sees keyboard wizard Monty Oxymoron getting over-excited as the Captain shows off his guitar skills before a brooding ‘Feel The Pain begins’ with a cackling Vanian’s spoken introduction that escalates to an electric finish.

The only problem with bands playing classic album sets is that you always know what’s coming next, yet when Dave Vanian asks “Is she really going out with him?” the hairs on the back of your neck tingle and as soon as the tribal drums kick off we found ourselves jumping around to the timeless ‘New Rose’. Monty runs to the centre of the stage bouncing around like an uncoiled spring, genuinely propelled by the song’s unbridled power.

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=rTfyUqVqX-0

The album ends with The Stooges’ ‘I Feel Alright’ followed by a seaside organ snippet of the absent ‘Stab Your Back’ courtesy of Monty. ‘Eloise’ sees Vanian in full crooner mode, working the crowd before falling to his knees as the tight band supplied an anthemic backing.

Local trumpeter Chris Corr joined the party to enhance the very pre-Britpop sounding ‘Grimly Fiendish’ and a stomping ‘Stranger On The Town’ that saw the crowd getting a second wind. Their 80s period continued with their version of Love’s ‘Alone Again Or’ that saw their goth fans dancing with their arms waving along to the mariachi trumpet.

Drummer Pinch and bass player Stu may take a backseat to the original members’ showboating but they underpin the whole set to complete what is possibly their strongest line up since the original four piece formation.

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=mwMgZQbIvFU

The lulling psychedelic noodlings of ‘Smash It Up’ drew us in with a slow build-up that suddenly ignited into one of the night’s high-points as beer flew and the mosh pit multiplied. The night ends with everyone singing along to ‘Noise Noise Noise’, and with the band showing no sign of calling it a day it’s likely that, all being well, they’ll be around for some Golden Jubilee shows.

Brighton Dome Concert Hall, Thursday 24th November 2016
Words by Steve Clements
Photos by Gili Dailes

Nov 27, 2016
Email
Steve Clements
Steve has been a SOURCE contributor since Summer 2010. Favourite quote - "There's no such thing as a sold out gig".
← PREVIOUS POST
Brighton Theatre To Close
NEXT POST →
The Answer Review
Mailing List

Recent Posts
  • Leon Bridges Review
    Jun 28, 2022

    The Texas based soul singer brought his hits to Brighton but also introduced a future star with his opening act.

  • Waitress Preview
    Jun 27, 2022

    Star of the show Chelsea Halfpenny talks us through the pop-infused pie-baking musical's time on the road ahead of its visit to the Theatre Royal.

  • Morrissey, Friday 14th October
    Jun 27, 2022

    Morrissey is back in Brighton with a new, as yet, unreleased album and a bulging back catalogue to round off a 9 day UK tour.

  • Difficult Art And Music’s 1st Birthday
    Jun 22, 2022

    Local label Difficult Art And Music soon celebrates a year of putting out short-run releases of sound art, academic curiosities and "stuff you need to untangle".

  • Fraulein - Hope and Ruin - Hidden Herd - Brighton Source - Time for Heroes Photography - Ashley Laurence
    Fräulein Review
    Jun 19, 2022

    Topping a four-act bill at the Hope and Ruin, two-piece Fräulein blow us away with their intoxicating blend of edgy melodies, incisive lyrics and driving rhythms.

  • The three members of the band Noisy
    Noisy Review
    Jun 8, 2022

    Worthing three-piece Noisy are back on tour, and we’re there to confirm that the band’s brand of euphoric beats is utterly moshtastic!

  • Hold Me Until The Bus Comes
    Jun 8, 2022

    In a series of paintings of trees, Brighton artist, Tony Felstead, explores the reassuringly constant role that trees play in our ever-changing city.

  • JED4_Brighton-Source_by-Mike-Tudor
    Jed Interview
    May 27, 2022

    We spoke to rapper Jed about running nights for new Brighton artists, making music and how the local hip hop scene managed to survive through lockdown.

Website developed in Brighton by Infobo
Copyright © Brighton Source 2009-2021
The Damned Review - Brighton Source