The recipe for a great band is both highly mysterious and delicate. If one, even seemingly insignificant ingredient is changed, the end result can be disastrous. Gone. Forever. Fortunately, the (mostly) original Damned was back in full swing last night at Revolution Live, including Rat Scabies. That’s right, THE Rat Scabies, on drums!
The set began with long-esteemed anthems like “Love Song,” “History of the World,” “Machine Gun Etiquette” and “Wait for the Blackout.” If the audience had any reservations about the vitality of these older gents, those were quickly dispelled. Punk rock is alive and well during the AARP years!
Singer Dave Vanian looked and sang like the high-end crooner he is. His dolce voice is an interesting juxtaposition with the aggressive, biting music, and works so very well.
Guitarist Captain Sensible coaxed his Gibson SG seamlessly from melodic lines to power chords to tasteful technical lead passages. It would have been nice to have recently deceased original member Brian James on guitar, but Captain Sensible proves he’s much more than a punk figurehead icon. He is brilliant.
Bass player Paul Grey is not an original member, but he’s been with the band since 1980. There’s a reason for that. He looks like he belongs and the wonderful tone of his Rickenbacker does not spoil the stew in any way.
After the energetic, up-tempo start, they snuck in some later-album songs. Then, with the assistance of the keyboardist traveling with them, Monty Oxymoron, they slowed the pace with “I Just Can’t be Happy Today,” and classic Damned covers “Eloise” and “Alone Again.” With everybody in the crowded hall now completely locked in and thirsting for more, the set culminated with “Ignite“ and “Neat, Neat, Neat.” The first encore was “New Rose,” which featured the wonderful recklessness of Rat Scabies’ drumming, and the second encore was “White Rabbit,” followed by “Smash it Up, Parts One and Two.” Talk about finishing strong and leaving the audience wanting more.
I hardly think I’m alone when I say this show was meaningful. When I was a young punk and heard the song “Smash it Up,” I did. Imagine the disappointment when through the years I saw different incarnations of The Damned that weren’t up to snuff. After last night’s masterful performance of the very first punk band (they pre-date Sex Pistols), all is right, and I want to smash it up again. Long live the The Damned!
