(House of Blues, Orlando FL) On Monday 12 May, House of Blues, Orlando hosted legendary punk band The Damned. The London-based band, formed in 1976, consisted of three of the four original members: Dave Vanian on vocals, Captain Sensible on guitar, & Rat Scabies on drums. Paul Gray and Monty Oxymoron rounded out the band on bass and keyboards, respectively. Both Gray and Oxymoron are part of the current lineup. The sole founding member not featured in last night’s gig was guitarist Brian James.
The Damned were the first punk band to produce an album and release a single (Damned Damned Damned ; New Rose). In addition, they were also the first U.K. punk band to tour the US, even predating the infamous Sex Pistols.
The Damned have gone through many lineup changes in their 49 years as well as changes in their signature sound, starting with the raw energy of riveting punk to delving into more gothic and psychedelic sounds complete with synthesizers. Regardless of the band’s forays into new genres, the results have always been embraced by their fans.
Last night’s show was a burst of brilliant white-hot energy in which the band gave fans a taste of not only their classics but a tour de force of the band’s song making throughout its nearly five decades of innovation. From the high octane start to the gig with early hits, such as New Rose and Wait for the Blackout, to the more goth-inspired sounds of songs like Grimly Fiendish and Curtain Call. The Damned’s set list covered it all, interspersing classic hits like punk anthem Neat Neat Neat , the furious Ignite, to material from their 2023 release Darkadelic. Much to this writer’s surprise, the band even played a brilliant version of their 1986 cover of Love’s Alone Again or…
Orlando’s show was part of the band’s South and North American tour and will be heading to Tampa. The two-hour performance, much like their vast catalog of music , was full of the band’s signature insistent energy that showed no signs of relenting anytime soon. Please check these guys out, even if you’re not familiar with their sound. You won’t be disappointed.
(California-based band the BellRays opened for this particular show, and served as the perfect opener to The Damned with their high-energy performance and engaging stage prescence.)
Write-Up: Joseph Guinigundo
Photos: Bailey Guinigundo
The Damned were the first punk band to produce an album and release a single (Damned Damned Damned ; New Rose). In addition, they were also the first U.K. punk band to tour the US, even predating the infamous Sex Pistols.
The Damned have gone through many lineup changes in their 49 years as well as changes in their signature sound, starting with the raw energy of riveting punk to delving into more gothic and psychedelic sounds complete with synthesizers. Regardless of the band’s forays into new genres, the results have always been embraced by their fans.
Last night’s show was a burst of brilliant white-hot energy in which the band gave fans a taste of not only their classics but a tour de force of the band’s song making throughout its nearly five decades of innovation. From the high octane start to the gig with early hits, such as New Rose and Wait for the Blackout, to the more goth-inspired sounds of songs like Grimly Fiendish and Curtain Call. The Damned’s set list covered it all, interspersing classic hits like punk anthem Neat Neat Neat , the furious Ignite, to material from their 2023 release Darkadelic. Much to this writer’s surprise, the band even played a brilliant version of their 1986 cover of Love’s Alone Again or…
Orlando’s show was part of the band’s South and North American tour and will be heading to Tampa. The two-hour performance, much like their vast catalog of music , was full of the band’s signature insistent energy that showed no signs of relenting anytime soon. Please check these guys out, even if you’re not familiar with their sound. You won’t be disappointed.
(California-based band the BellRays opened for this particular show, and served as the perfect opener to The Damned with their high-energy performance and engaging stage prescence.)
Write-Up: Joseph Guinigundo
Photos: Bailey Guinigundo
The Bellrays:
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