The Damned’s classic ’80s lineup played Hammerstein Ballroom w/ The Dictators & Lenny Kaye (pics, setlist, video)
The Damned are currently on tour with their classic ’80s lineup — frontman Dave Vanian and guitarist Captain Sensible (who’d led the punk vets for a while) plus original drummer Rat Scabies and bassist Paul Gray — that gave us The Black Album and Strawberries and that hit NYC on Friday night at Hammerstein Ballroom. It was the first time that lineup had played the US in 35 years, and making it even more special, The Damned focused on the music from that era of the group, so apart from two songs from the band’s new album Darkadelic, they didn’t play anything newer than 1985’s Phantasmagoria, making it a true hitfest, especially for those who like the gothy stuff.
I’ve seen The Damned play a bunch of times over the last 25 years, but never with Rat in the band, and I have to say what a difference it makes. He’s one of the all-time great drummers of the era (ok, ever, any genre) and songs like “Smash it Up” and “Wait for the Blackout” just hit different with him behind the kit. He even got a drum solo during the encore which led straight into a ripping version of “New Rose.” What a treat, and wouldn’t it be great if they came back for another tour.
The Hammerstein show was dubbed “The Black Strawberry Ball,” and featured a fun undercard: NYC protopunk greats The Dictators (led by guitarist Ross the Boss and featuring Blue Öyster Cult’s Albert Bouchard on drums); and Lenny Kaye, who with his band (including fellow Patti Smith Group member Tony Shanahan, plus James Mastro, Dennis Diken, and Glen Burtnik) played some of the most famous songs from Nuggets, the ’60s garage comp that he curated and was a huge influence on punk. Fun evening all around.
Check out photos from the whole night by P Squared, plus video and setlist for The Damned, below.
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SETLIST: The Damned @ Hammerstein Ballroom 5/31/2024
Ignite
Wait for the Blackout
The History of the World (Part 1)
Melody Lee
Generals
Stranger on the Town
Plan 9 Channel 7
Dr. Jekyll and Mr. Hyde
Beware of the Clown
Eloise
Life Goes On
The Invisible Man
Shadow of Love
Noise Noise Noise
Love Song
Machine Gun Etiquette
I Just Can’t Be Happy Today
Neat Neat Neat
Smash It Up
Encore:
Curtain Call
New Rose
Encore 2:
Looking at You
