The Damned with added Rat Stay Overview

The Damned
Stone Valley Pageant South
25 Might 2024

When the favored drummer of The Damned’s Darkadelic album cycle, Will Taylor, made the shock announcement that his tenure was over final 12 months, there was no query in lots of followers’ minds as to what would come subsequent.

My God, it was taking place: after rejoining the opposite unique members for a triumphant reunion tour in 2022, Rat bleedin’ Scabies was going to affix the present Damned!

We’d dreamed of it, we’d begged for it – a few of us had in all probability prayed for it, particularly after beloved bass maestro Paul Grey returned through the making of earlier album, Evil Spirits. The thought of reconvening the core line-up that had made many followers’ two favorite masterworks – 1980’s The Black Album and 1982’s Strawberries, after so a few years and a good quantity of mud-slinging, grew to become a form of holy grail on the band’s boards, albeit one which few of their followers thought we’d ever see.

So when an announcement made it actual, and the primary UK look was confirmed as Stone Valley Pageant South, north east of London, there was no query for me once more. No query that I’d find yourself standing in a cold Hertfordshire subject at 9.40pm, having skipped the remainder of the day’s line-up and flogged our tickets for the acclaimed (if controversial) alt-indie fest native to us, Vast Awake.

For the final 11 years I’ve seen The Damned at each affordable alternative, in areas from Holmfirth to Bilbao, however in some way – I realise now – by no means at a competition and due to this fact by no means open air. Having not been good with crowds since Covid this was the primary time I’d been again wherever close to my once-traditional place Down The Entrance, so I had multiple motive to really feel nervy as their Dr Who Theme intro music started to ring out.
Though I’d seen a good smattering of Damned T-shirts as we crossed the smallish subject to the stage, I’d guess the overwhelming majority of the gang have been extra common punk/alt followers or native competition goers. However there was an enormous roar of approval as drum hero Mr Scabies took his seat, sporting, I’m positive, the identical sleeveless shirt we noticed accompanied by a ginger mullet a long time in the past. Now additionally sporting a pair of specs and an expression of nice focus, Rat led his previous friends and seasoned keyboardist Monty Oxymoron into 1982’s rousing Ignite, and by no means have been the phrases ‘Twilight comes and the temper’s full’ extra apt. What follows is an impressionistic account of a present I hadn’t realised I’d really feel moved to overview..!

A key focal point for me got here early within the set: these reside variations of songs like Ignite, that followers have develop into so accustomed to? With the central breakdown, to nearly nothing, earlier than Dave Vanian’s explosive vocal relaunches frenzied instrumentation (see additionally Neat Neat Neat)? Nicely, Rat doesn’t know these – and this Damned’s set is as all of the extra dynamic for it. I additionally puzzled for some time whether or not the tempo he was setting was a bit slower than we’ve been used to, although any such ideas disappeared across the time pink noses have been donned for Watch out for the Clown – apparently, a latest track that Rat will simply have realized. I believe what I used to be truly noticing was Rat’s instinctive, and due to this fact unfamiliar, enjoying: for years I’ve heard Will, and to some extent his predecessor Pinch, recreate the drum patterns Rat recorded approach again when – and so have the remainder of the band. If there have been a few moments of uncertainty on this efficiency I’m assured that they arose from this disparity, and Rat’s everlasting lack of predictability.

As ever, Dave was in superb voice – although a part of his booming baritone was misplaced within the outside setting. He was additionally in superb fettle, lithe as ever in a glittery black and bronze shirt and, to those eyes, attempting out a brand new aspect parting… I gained’t have a phrase stated towards Paul Grey’s enjoying, which as at all times was delivered with easy cool, however once more I believe the sound let him down a bit, with the bass a bit loud and soiled even for him. Each points improved I believe because the set continued, by such underrated classics as Historical past of The World, Dr Jekyll and Mr Hyde and, a private favorite, Stranger On The City. Paul’s personal Generals, and freak-out fave Melody Lee, stood out for his or her unimaginable vitality on this first part.

From ‘…Clown’ onwards, the efficiency reached one other stage for me. Did I think about it or did Eloise have extra Eighties sheen within the presence of Rat? I even thought we’d get Dave’s excessive notes once more, which he’s nonetheless completely able to reaching, however sadly there was only a nod to the refrain’s unique melody in the direction of the tip. Fan Membership, in fact, labored brilliantly – Rat having performed its mum or dad first-album each with its author, Brian James, and your entire unique line-up throughout his exile from the present band. I used to be intrigued to listen to what he’d do with Darkadelic’s barely barking lead single The Invisible Man, however within the occasion he performed it just about like Will, which might be the respectful factor to do. With irresistible guitar-bending from Captain it efficiently launched a piece of untamed Noise Noise Noise, which additionally whipped up the gang with Love Tune into Machine Gun Etiquette (solely barely fluffed), Ne Ne Ne and Smash It Up.

Returning to the stage, the line-up we by no means thought we’d see solely had time to ship the inevitable however much-loved New Rose, earlier than lining up collectively stage-front in a approach I haven’t seen since their fortieth anniversary on the Albert Corridor. However they’ve loads to be happy with once more in 2024; constructing bridges that means as a lot at this stage as breaking down limitations did practically 50 years in the past.

Phrases and photograph by Jo Nightingale