February « 2010 « Digital Diversion

The tripple-whammy of Valentine’s day, a Sunday night and a holiday weekend couldn’t keep the crowds at bay from the Damned’s return to San Francisco. By the time the opening band, The Generators, hit the stage the room was already half-full with revelers mindful to get there early to get their game on before the Damned took the stage. Unlike many shows where the fans stake out a healthy distance between themselves and the opening acts, even the luchador mask and leather jock strap-clad Hewhocannotbenamed couldn’t chase away those who had already staked-out their spot at the front of the stage.

By the time the Damned took the stage, the room was packed with well-oiled 30, 40 and 50-somethings, some of whom even managed to connive their kids into joining them. First on stage was Captain Sensible sporting leopard print pants, a shiny blue shirt covered in stars and a black and white checked pair of sunglasses. In sharp contrast, and most certainly having consulted a different stylist, Dave Vanian strode on stage in true form dressed to the nines in tails, vest and cravat. The incongruence between these original members ended there as their experience as a band clearly came through in their performance which, after 30 plus years together, hasn’t seemed to diminish by one iota. I could feel that these guys enjoyed being on stage together and could see the unspoken way in which they vibed off each others’ antics.

Monty Moron was dressed and played the keyboards like a maniacal Mozart; hair and hands flapping through the air. If you saw someone like this on the street, you would give them a wide birth. On stage, however, it added more dimension to an already amazing performance. And I never thought I’d say this, but Captain Sensible absolutely shredded on the guitar. For a being grandfather (as he joked), he’s definitely got plenty of energy and passion, albeit self-deprecating, for the music at one point leaning over to the crowd in front of him and asking, “how’s it going so far?”

Full Screen

By the time the Damned launched into Neat Neat Neat, the crowd was in full-frenzy requiring that I give up trying to take pictures from the front of the stage and excuse myself to a safe (and stationary) position next to the bar where I found Bay Area punk icon, Jello Biafra, enjoying the set. The crowd gave as much as it took and from this part of the set on, kept up a fevered and fun mosh that was about dancing to the music instead of throwing elbows and dominating the floor. The Damned wrapped up their set with crowd-pleaser Smash It Up before saying their thanks and goodbyes. Seemingly not quite ready to go home, Captain Sensible stepped behind the keyboard and sang a few bars from “Day Dream Believer” before exiting the stage once and for all.

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