The Damned at Manchester Academy (Gig Review)
Kerry McGregor runs her own fanzine “Burnout” and has built up a solid following over the years, so we invited her to review
The Damned at Academy Two in Manchester along with talented photographer Nickie McGowan who has shot the likes of IAMX, Patrick Wolf and The Dresden Dolls.
Just over 31 years since they hit the charts with the first ever UK Punk Rock single, ‘New Rose’, the scene’s most enduring and versatile band, take to the road once more. Ever the pioneers, this year they’ve ditched the ‘tour support’ formula in favour of a burlesque troupe, aligning themselves more with their Goth/Rock following than the no-nonsense Punks of old. A risky (and risqué) decision maybe but when your loyal fans have remained through a lifetime of changes what’s one more gamble?
After the show has been opened by the single support band, Manchester’s ball of energy, The Vipers, and the dancing girls have twirled their nipple tassels, the band take to the stage accompanied by Abba’s ‘Thank You For The Music’ and launched into ‘Dozen Girls’. The line-up tonight will be familiar to anyone who’s seen the band in the last few years, with original members Dave Vanian and Captain Sensible assisted by Monty (Keyboards), Pinch (Drums) and newest addition Stu (Bass), who joined in 2004 after Patricia Morrison (ex-Sister of Mercy and Mrs Vanian) left to have her baby. The set list though is a mixed bag of styles with spiky Punk anthems like ‘Neat Neat Neat’, rubbing shoulders with epics like ‘History Of The World’, to the frustration of a handful of die-hard Punks in the crowd.
‘ANYBODY FOUND THROWING THINGS OR SPITTING WILL BE EJECTED FROM THE BUILDING’ threaten posters flanking the stage, but just a few songs in the first drinks are flung from the crowd prompting Monty to remind everyone that he’s playing behind a perspex screen to protect his keyboards from such missiles. On previous occasions, the band has walked off until the problem desists, but tonight they take it in good humour. There is a brief problem with the mic, after Vanian is soaked by another well-aimed pint but overall the gig is trouble-free and the crowd is rewarded with a few gems they haven’t heard live for a while, with ‘Dr. Jekyll and Mr. Hyde’ and ‘Shadow Of Love’ being particularly well-received. Other highlights include ‘Ignite’ and of course their biggest hit ‘Eloise’, a Goth Rock take on the 1960s Barry Ryan number.
As a regularly touring band, some of the Damned’s live shows may be more enjoyable than others but the one thing that is certain is that each will be different. The last time I saw them, at Blackpool’s Rebellion Festival in August, I was disappointed by their performance but this show seemed a real return to form and one of the best I’ve seen them play. The band seemed to enjoy the gig as much as the crowd, which was lively without being too rowdy, before the circus hit the road again.
Text by Kerry McGregor
www.myspace.com/burnoutfanzine
Photos by Nickie McGowan
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