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That's OK that you haven't heard of The Damned. You're only 12 and your version of Punk is that snappy new Green Day album. But if you are still reading because you are interested, I'll give you props. Real punk will put hair on your chest, and that is just on the girls.
Last Halloween, Bilf and I headed down to The Blank Club in San Jose. This used to be Fuel 44 and was the most bitchin bar in downtown SJC. Now that it is The Blank Club, they book a ton of cool bands like Agent Orange, Fishbone, Faction, and of course, The Damned. We arrived early to grab a seat at the bar and start the evening off right with a few beers and some genral chit chat. Now, I don't have pics of Bilf, which is good for anyone reading this blog, but Bilf is about 5'-8", 220, and bald. He and I both grew up in the LA/OC scene in the early '80s and despite growing into old farts, still really like the old music. Anyway, we were posted up on some bar stools and out of nowhere, 3 thrashed chicks with full tat sleeves started boob rushing all over us to get a drink from the bartender. Definately a good start to the evening. Free, welcomed, cheap feels from thrashed hot chicks. What could be better? I think maybe the girls were part of the Suicide Girls burlesque show and were probably just thanking Bilf for all the money he dropped beating off to their website.
The opening band was OK. They tried. The lead singer had the requisite cool guy shades and stood there like Jim Morrison. I'm sure he saw the movie and figured he'd be original by copying something done for the last 40 years. At least it gave us time to catch up and make shitty comments about the band - a must for the opening "talent".
Then The Damned came on. Holy shit. Holy fuck. Holy Damned. Dave Vanian was no longer totally Goth, but still wore the tux and white gloves, but now sported an age appropriate mustache. Captain Sensible came out with his red guitar. Monty Oxy Moron was on keyboards with Stu West filling in for Patricia Morrison (Sisters of Mercy) on bass, and Pinch still on drums. Sure, the names mean nothing to you, but the first two need to be etched on Mt. Rushmore. Needless to say, they fucking killed it! A lot of earlier stuff came out like Smash It Up, Parts 1 & 2 (covered by The Offspring for you losers), the ultimate old song Plan 9, Channel 7, Neat Neat Neat, Eloise, and Grimly Fiendish, mixed in with newer songs like Domocracy and Little Miss Disaster. I think I am getting a boner just thinking about it. Yep, it moved.
So, as a reward for reading this far, here are some choice tracks. And don't look them up on Youtube, their videos suck, but the music is all that matters.
