Brighton's best...
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The Damned...
review Sunday, the day of rest. Wot a sensible chap God was. But this week I was feeling a little wreckless so I started out on the arduous journey toward Concorde 2.Brrrr! Winter draws on. (D'you remember in the '70's when the N.M.E. writers decided, en masse, to use the first half of any article to explain how they were feeling and described their route to the subject in question, yard by yard? Bloody annoying, wasn't it!) "This is our last song, thankyou!" Traditional Metal stance, shaved heads, crop-sleeve Tees (black), leather (black), and tatoos, lots of them - apart from the rhythm guitarist who had a long-sleeved, hoop-stripe shirt that looked like a tatoo, from a distance. That was The Weirdos. Very proficient from the little I heard, but it's a hard name to live up to! Whereas... Who's that shuffling on Who's that shuffling on chewing a matchstick with a pair of micced-up bongoes? Why, it's that local hero (if Newhaven counts as local). His parents did move in around the corner from me though - and every Christmas Eve, Wreckless Frank and Wreckless Dorothy would pop in for a sherry or two. Guess who it is yet? Having set up his own gear (he always was a careful boy) he shuffled off and moments later, shuffled back on... and the lights went out! Requests for our hero to go away were quelled by a bamboozlement of words and wit inviting said hecklers to visit parts of their own anatomy. Wreckless Eric was here, and the excellent Joe Meek nearly won them over. Unfortunately, the continuous cat-calls marred several tunes including Continuity Girl, and the normally, wonderfully shambolic Eric teetered on the edge, informing the offending element that, "to be a Punk doesn't nescessitate you to be of lesser intelligence". He launched into Don't Wanna Be Local with feeling. A new song listing various vinyl recordings and their ownership at the end of a long-time relationship gave Wreckless even more scope to vent his embittered spleen. "I'm going to end now and do a version of my first record." Around The World!, offered a new disciple. "I'm sure that's a nice song too", says Eric, "but it's not one of mine." A surprise appearance by Captain Sensible on drums was given the biggest cheer so far, and a spirited rendition of Whole Wide World ensured that allswellthatendswell! Why does it take so long for road crews to make changeovers, especially when the back-line is already set? Blackout, smoke, lights up, silly music, dancing roadie profers guitar, on prances man in red beret, be-badgered leather jacket, wraparound shades... it's Captain Sensible (more cheers) and, what's this? Marlon Brando? No, it's Dave Vanian - so we've got the best bits of The Damned. "Hello... where are we?" asks the Captain, "Oh yeah! Brighton, I live 'ere!" (not another one!) "...This is a Nasty One!" And they're off, as only they can, off. Three back-to-back numbers later, "Let's see who's here (houselights) ...oh no, I owe him money!" This is our new single, Little Miss Disaster... Not bad, which is more than can be said for Eloise. Someone should've gone to rehearsals. Mr.Vanian spends most of his time darting to and fro with his mic held firmly in front of his face... those old Rezlos hide a multitude! Never mind, cover versions are supposed to be different but perhaps not as different as Loves' Alone Again Or. Sorry Captain, it was one of my favourites too! Still, the rest was FAB, Noise, Noise, Noise, Smash It Up, they were nearly all there including The Damned's phsycadelic opus, Curtain Call, featuring Monty Moron and his mammoth organ! Throw in a verbal disection of Gary Bushall who, apparently, single handedly killed punk, "Even arseholes can like music", and a splendid time was had by all... perhaps with the exception of my excellent photographer who found it virtually impossible to move through the dense crowd who refused to give way for anyone (Bad Manners aren't here until Dec.19th!). Having battled my way out, I got into the car, switched on the radio to hear The Ramones I Wanna Be Sedated. How apt! about Concorde 2
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...leave a yum! on a photo of someone you've taken a shine to to let them know you care! How to Yum!
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Sea Spray
