Gig Review

The Damned
Viv Albertine
Birmingham, Academy
10th November 2011


The Damned                Viv Albertine
      
Photo Of Viv Albertine © Copyright Robert Lawrence
This is an angry one woman show, Viv Albertine, and it wears thin after about 1 minute, I think its unintentionally funny, the lyrics are juvenile at best, basic and sounds like something she wrote on the back of a bar mat or is pretty good at making it up on spot, I just can't stress enough right now just how bad it is. It's awful just fucking awful, I'm not sure why she's got a guitar, playing the same chord over again on most songs, the crowd clap out of courtesy or that another son is over, I seriously doubt any one is interested in Billy Bragg in a frock. This has to be the dullest act I've seen all year and possibly ever. The only plus I can think of is that she has the balls to get up there and just produce half an hour of utter shit, but even that is not enough to counter any of the bad points about this set which is the whole thing, a total waste of half an hour that I'm not going to get back!

Photo Of The Damned © Copyright Robert LawrenceFirst up what the hell is captain sensible wearing, he looks like big bird, but yes I understand the irony of the name. The Damned open their set with neat neat neat, it's a classic opening riff, I'll be honest I've never listened to the damned before, and I have to say I like what I hear, but I don't think I will be buying any of their albums any time soon, a best of maybe. The guitar work is pretty awesome from big bird captain sensible, have to say he's got a mighty sound and some tasty riffs, and knows how to rip a decent solo. The vocals are a bit on the plain side if I'm honest there not bad just plain, and very punk. Their playing songs from two of their albums tonight, Damned, Damned, Damned and The Black Album ( it’s a pop at The Beatles white album), neither album I've really Photo Of The Damned © Copyright Robert Lawrenceheard of it, but the songs on them are still raw for older albums but they do sound rather polished, it's all very controlled anarchy, I'm betting it was much better back in the day in some dingy club coming out of a few amps and the front man right in your face, sweating on you with the drums blasting away at your ear drums! There's an intermission after the Damned, Damned, Damned has finished allowing people to go to the bar and the band being given a rest. They come back and play the black album it's a more mature sound for the 80s punk and just as polished. I have to say these two albums are enjoyable as a live set, its full of energy, played really tightly and well, and a chance to hear some of the less known and played songs, that might be better live than there album counterparts. Over all it's an enjoyable night to say the least quite fun watching some of the crowd dancing along to the set.

Viv Albertine 0/5
The Damned 4/5

Review By Robert Lawrence

 The Damned


Dave Vanian
Captain Sensible
Monty Oxy Moron
Pinch
Stu West

 Viv Albertine


Viv Albertine

 Band Related Links
The Damned MySpace
Viv Albertine MySpace
 Review Score Code
- Top Cheese
- Brilliant
- Pretty damn good
- Ok I guess
- What Was That?