THE DAMNED
O2 OXFORD
The O2 is rammed tonight and with good reason. Evergreen Punks The Damned are in back town, and after the smash, crash, and 1976 thump of the original Damned reformation, it’s down to the pre-pandemic line-up to do its thing. The band are promoting their distinctively more-ish new album ‘Darkadelic’, and tonight, we get it all. ‘Street Of Dreams’ and lead single ‘The Invisible Man’ is followed by a rare oldie in the form of a delicious ‘Wait For The Blackout’.
The new cuts keep coming, and no-ones complaining; most are just standing there transfixed and intently drinking in this majestic performance. ‘Bad Weather Girl’, ‘Western Promise’ and the Boris/Truss/Sunak/Tory bashing ‘Beware The Clown’ are all gobbled up. Dave Vanian’s rich, dark and devilish delivery echoes around the room as Messrs Sensible and Gray prowl, sneer, and stalk the small stage. Nostalgic joy and pogoing arrive with ‘Born To Kill’, ‘Love Song’ and ‘Second Time Around’ before ‘Neat Neat Neat’ sees the band depart. The encore of the duo ‘Eloise’ and ‘Smash It Up’ are followed by ‘Girl I’ll Stop At Nothing’ before a bouncing ‘New Rose’ rounds it all off perfectly. The Damned circa 2023 is playing new new new tunes, and it was all rather refreshingly wonderful.