The Damned Review
Last night, The Damned brought a spectacular performance to the Sydney Opera House. The legendary British punk rockers brought their unique mix of punk, rock and gothic attitude to the Sydney Opera House, and it was one of those shows that reminded everyone why The Damned have been around for so long.
From the moment the band walked onto the stage, there was a real feeling of excitement around the room, and The Damned performed in a venue that was as iconic as the band. The crowd was ready, and The Damned didn’t take long to give everyone exactly what they had come for, Enthusiam and chaos.
As the opening notes of "Street of Dreams, Wake the Dead and The History of the World (Part 1)" rang in, the crowd came alive, and everyone was singing along, dancing and enjoying every second. The band sounded tight and loud, while Captain Sensible guitars cut through the room. Paul Grey's bass lines and Rat Scabies drums beats kept everything moving, with the upbeat tempo and energetic performance.
The Damned made the songs feel as fresh as the day they wrote them, as the set kicked into "Stranger on the Town , Alone Again Or and Shadow of Love" The band had the crowd singing along loudly with emotion and enthusiasm, while the band showed exactly how much energy they still have after all these years. The guitars were a huge part of the night, as they bounced off the walls, and they switched between the classic punk attack and the darker, heavier moments that have become such an important part of The Damned's style. The bass kept everything driving forward, while the drums gave the songs that big, powerful punch.
Then came "I Just Can't Be Happy Today and Dr Jekyll and Mr Hyde", and once again the crowd was right there with them. It was impossible not to get caught up in the atmosphere. There were smiles everywhere, people dancing in their seats, and dancing next to the stage, and fans singing every word back to the band. Dave Vanian's vocals were a highlight of the night, and he jumped down to the crowd to dance with the fans.
Dave Vanian brought character and attitude as he brought his raw, gritty punk edge, and shifted between sneering aggression, melodic vocals and darker tones. The performance felt rebellious, and the vocals cut through the guitars while still carrying the energy and attitude that define The Damned’s sound.
The audience got louder as the set went into "Is It a Dream and Eloise", and as you looked around the Opera House, you could see the different generations of fans that had come together for the show. Dave picked up the LED par cans and lit up the crowd, with a massive smile on his face.
The band showed their sense of humour and personality throughout the night, which made the performance feel relaxed and genuine. The band were having fun on stage, and that made it even easier for the crowd to enjoy themselves.
As the set continued with "Making Time and Love Song", the energy popped, and the combination of punk attitude, rock 'n' roll energy and the darker side of their sound worked perfectly inside the Opera House.
By the time "Machine Gun Etiquette and Neat Neat Neat" came around, the crowd was completely into it. The singing got louder, the energy got bigger, and The Damned continued to deliver with the confidence of a band that knows exactly who they are.
The band finished the night with "Smash It Up (Part 1) and Smash It Up (Part 2)" and The Damned left the audience wanting more. The combination of the incredible venue, the passionate crowd and a legendary band made this a very memorable night.
The Damned didn't need to prove anything. They have already written their place in punk rock history. They simply got on stage, played their songs and gave the Sydney crowd a night to remember.
The Damned proved that punk rock doesn't have an expiry date. The night at the Sydney Opera House was loud, energetic, fun and full of attitude. If you’re a fan, you already know why you should see them. And if you’re not yet a fan, after a night like this, you might just become one.