Hello, this is a recorded message, if you receive this please seek the information enclosed within – Digest this information and disseminate to the masses… It is for their own salvation – The future depends on it! Over..
Blimey, so there I was with Two-Pint Pete, on a sunny Saturday in December as it were, en-route for Eastbourne for recuperation, cleansing and restoration…
After taking in fluids at a local hostelry, we retired back to our sea front lodgings for sustenance… Suitably sustained, we returned to said hostelry before finally ending up at our destination. The charming Winter Gardens in Eastbourne. Set a stone’s throw from the shores of sunny East Sussex.
We ventured inside, Pete said hello to the Captain, then we queued for drinks, said hello to a few familiar faces, by which time it was time, as it were, for the main attraction…
The Damned took to the stage, said their How do?’s to the assembled Ladies and Gentlemen before ripping us into an absolute corker of a show of classic Damned material.
As ever, Mr Vanian had the whole of the stage covered – with the energy of 3 men a third his age… Closely matched for stage stalking by Messrs. Sensible and Grey. Monty seemed a little more contained as far as stage vibes go but his playing and BVs were spot on.
What of Mr Scabies? I hear you ask… Well, it’s been a quite a while for me since I had the pleasure. And what a joyous pleasure it was too. I try not to mention the G word in every review but here it’s appropriate… Rat’s picking up the Damned sticks, has for me, being here now in Eastbourne Winter Gardens (or I was there at the time and it was indeed now at the time – EiTC), an almost magical Gestalt effect on the band, while the sum of the whole is, of course greater, it is even greater for his constituent part.
There was a glorious sense of controlled chaos throughout tonight’s show. The extended improvisational passages felt dreamlike, edgy and genuine.
For an oddly shaped venue, which Mr Vanian likened to being at a gig inside the Hindenberg (spot on he was too), The sound had a clarity which served the detail of these finely crafted gems well. From Paul’s Melodic low frequency ramblings and Monty’s masterful keys, via Rat’s demon drum delivery and Captain’s controlled mid/high-frequency madness to Dave’s amazing vocal delivery and stage presence.
Like all good things, all too soon, it passed. Dave’s parting thoughts of gratitude were Thank you you’ve made five old men even older…. My riposte is Thank you, you made this old man rather chipper…
After two marvellous encores, Captain serenaded us out with that song! Yeah, you know the one, that’s right!
Verdict: Damn fine!
Over…
Words and images: EiTC
Bonus:
Great write up mate – see you in August 25!? A possible Rebellion – ?
Hey fella, glad you got to see them in Notts – catch up with you in 25…