May 30, 2025 | The UC Theatre Taube Family Music Hall
by Dave Golden
Revisiting the origins of the ’77 UK punk scene, The Damned and TV Smith’s The Adverts brought decades of history and raw energy to The UC Theatre. These bands go back a long way – The Adverts’ third-ever gig was supporting The Damned in February 1977.
Opening the night, TV Smith delivered a tight, that leaned heavily on The Adverts’ late ’70s catalog. Songs like “Television’s Over” and “New Church” hit with urgency, but it was the punch of “Gary Gilmore’s Eyes” and the defiant “Great British Mistake” that reminded the crowd why Smith remains a crucial voice in punk’s legacy.
The Damned launched into their set with immediate intensity, seamlessly blending deep cuts, newer material, and punk classics into a whirlwind performance that was both theatrical and chaotic in the best way. Still led by Dave Vanian and Captain Sensible, the band delivered recent tracks like “Beware of the Clown” and “The Invisible Man” with as much punch as longtime favorites such as “Fan Club” and the explosive “Ignite.” Vanian prowled the stage with gothic charisma, while Sensible’s snarling guitar work and irreverent humor gave the set an edge that felt both timeless and freshly unhinged. The night closed with a series of encores, they kicked off with “New Rose,” still one of punk’s most timeless anthems, followed by a cover of Jefferson Airplane’s “White Rabbit.” The Damned wrapped it all up with a final surge of energy in “Smash It Up.”
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