Rock veterans The Damned take over Rock City…
I was really excited to see The Nightingales tonight. Now revitalised and reformed, they were a fixture in the 80s on their own Vindaloo Record Label which spawned legends such as We’ve Got a Fuzzbox and We’re Gonna Use it, and Ted Chippington. If you’re unfamiliar with the band, I recommend you check out King Rocker, Michael Cumming and Stewart Lee’s brilliantly funny and moving film about singer Robert Lloyd’s life.
They stormed onto stage and as usual, played a relentless set. Song after song, blending into one another. Hailing from the post punk era, Robert has seen a thing or two with his distinctive voice and delivery. He is the epitome of the anti-narcissist, frequently turning his back to the audience.
Tonight, drummer Fliss was given prime position, centre stage – she’s such a force of energy, and she smashed it. Birmingham’s finest were on great form tonight, stopping only two or three times between songs, as is their custom.
There was a massive cheer for The Damned when they came on. “I was on Top of The Pops”, announced Captain Sensible in his trademark beret, his top adorned with badges, the largest announcing “Don’t blame me. I voted Loony.”
Dave Vanian, dressed in black with an amazing hat, entered the stage and launched into Street of Dreams followed by Invisible Man, which he bore an uncanny resemblance to tonight, his skin hardly visible.
The band has moved on far from their punk roots, at times hitting a rockabilly beat and others pure rock and roll. However, they had not forgotten themselves and reminded people there was still time to “smash it up”. They have so much energy, I don’t think they stood still for one moment.
They played new songs from the forthcoming album out later this month alongside crowd pleasers such as Neat Neat Neat, ending the night with the encore of New Rose for which the mosh pit erupted. Vanian took over the keyboards from Monty Oxymoron, the fastest keyboard player I’ve ever seen, who then danced manically in a brilliant finale.
At the end, Sensible announced that they loved Rock City, and you could see why. It was great for them to be back.
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