It ended up being really good – lot’s of fun. (I should explain further...I've been to so many shows, and have lived & worked nothing but music now for so long, that I often dread going out these days unless it's something extremely special. So when I enjoy something like this I walk away pleasantly surprised which is nice. I just wish I had the energy to devote to going out like I used to. Also, taking pop/punk rock a little too seriously sometimes, I was just plain suspicious about these guys playing together...why? How? What's the deal? Sometimes I just need to let things be, and see what happens afterwards. I'm glad I did.)
Captain Sensible is a fucking hero. What a fun guy. If I were having a party he’d be the first person I’d invite. He plays with such obvious joy, and just really enjoys what he does. It's completely infectious. He also looks fantastic.
After Lach's set, we were hanging out in one of the dressing rooms waiting for the Dead Men to play...I was sitting by the door when some people started coming through the back door which they've been using recently since a lot of the acts don't seem to really use the dressing rooms much anymore. All of a sudden I see Slim Jim walking through, followed by Mike Peters & Kirk Brandon. They kept walking, right past the dressing room towards the stage. And then, all of a sudden, filling up our doorway, video camera in hand, with a huge grin on his face, was Captain Sensible. He was much taller than I expected, probably 6'2 or so...a big guy with just as big a smile. It took me a nano-second to realzie who it was and to say "hello Captain Sensible!" I must admit I was slightly star struck. I asked him if I could have my picture taken with him, and as I was moving to stand next to him, he got called to the stage and had to go. Bummer.
Anyway, the show was really good. After initally expecting to stay for 4 or 5 songs, I ended up staying for the whole thing.
The Damned songs they played (New Rose, Neat Neat Neat & Smash It Up, plus a Captain solo song) were great. It made me realize that most of the Damned's early stuff actually stands up better than most of their contemporaries – yes, the Clash & Pistols. The tunes actually swing…they could do lounge versions of those songs and they’d still be great.
Slim Jim Phantom is a much better drummer than I would’ve given him credit for, Kirk Brandon is still in good voice and it was nice to see him, and Mike Peters…well I was never a fan of the Alarm but he obviously runs the whole thing and has a good time with it.
Apparently, Glen Matlock from the Sex Pistols usually plays bass with the Dead Men, but couldn't make these US dates for some reason, so they got the Captain to fill in, and I'm glad they did. So were 25 percent of the crowd who were under age punk kids...boys & these adorable punk girls who I rightly guessed were there to see the Captain in action. Not being old enough to have ever seen any of the aforementioned bands in action, this was their one chance to perhaps catch these guys in action. They knew every single word to the Damned songs, and the Captain played to them for the whole set. (He'd make a great school teacher.)
I may add more to this later if I think of anything...in the meantime, check out the Dead Men Walking website for some photos from the LA show they had played the night before at the House of Blues. Apparently, the turn out in NYC was much better than in Anaheim...Way to go New York!
PIX ADDED 10/23/05
Me, Lach & Steve
