The Damned at Irving Plaza

Captain Sensible & Dave Vanian

Dave Vanian (David Lett) and Captain Sensible (Raymond Burns) left Masters of the Backside to form the Damned in 1976 in London, England. Shortly thereafter, the Damned debuted at the 100 Club supporting the Sex Pistols. The Damned became the first punk rock band from the United Kingdom to release a single, release an album, and tour the United States. A few years later, the Damned also became one of the first gothic rock bands, noted for Vanian's vampire-themed wardrobe, chalk-white makeup, baritone crooning, dark lyrics and spooky theatricality. The band split and reformed many times, with Vanian as the only constant member, although several other members, including Sensible, left and returned. The Damned presently consists of vocalist Vanian, guitarist Sensible, keyboardist Monty Oxymoron, bassist Paul Gray, and drummer Andy "Pinch" Pinching. Evil Spirits, the band's 11th album and first in 10 years, was released on April 13, 2018.

Fittingly, the Damned's concerts in New York City regularly fall just before Halloween. The goth-punk quintet stormed into Irving Plaza tonight with a fast-moving retrospective of four decades of material. The band performed three songs from the new album, with most of the set consisting of other songs originally recorded from 1977 to 1985. Vanian sang in fine voice, Sensible played rapid, stinging guitar leads while leaping around the stage, and Oxymoron thickened the sound with layers of keyboard rolls. Vanian and Sensible in particular demonstrated a playful camaraderie with each other and with the audience between songs, with Sensible frequently offering quick light-hearted banter with the fans. The high-energy set was palpitating for those in the audience who could keep up, and a locomotive blur for those attention wandered. The Damned played with the vigor and vitality that most younger bands could never achieve.

Visit the Damned at www.officialdamned.com.

Setlist:

1. Nasty
2. Born to Kill
3. Democracy?
4. Standing on the Edge of Tomorrow
5. Dr. Jekyll and Mr. Hyde
6. Wait for the Blackout
7. Lively Arts
8. Silly Kids Games
9. Devil in Disguise
10. Stranger on the Town
11. The History of the World (Part 1)
12. We’re So Nice
13. Eloise (Paul Ryan cover)
14. Love Song
15. 1 of the 2
16. New Rose
17. Neat Neat Neat

Encore:

1. Curtain Call
2. Ignite

Encore 2:

1. Street of Dreams
2. Smash It Up