The Observatory OC in Santa Ana on May 28th rocked in full force on this night as Damned fans filled every nook and cranny. The band’s music, which seemed to come from the heavens (or hell if you prefer), flooded our ears.

Captain Sensible is the least sensible of the lot, which always brings laughter and joy, while Dave Vanian sings like the vampiest vampire. As usual, Paul Gray shines on bass in perfect step, and having Rat back solidifies their historic status and kills it on drums while Monty Oxy Moron makes up the soul of the band.

This reincarnation of The Damned has aged better than most and blew away the crowd, young and old like me.

T.V. Smith of The Adverts brought us back to the old days of punk. It felt nostalgic and, at the same time, new. I hadn’t seen this band in decades, and I still felt the originality and passion for a scene that wasn’t fully recognized or developed. These guys have been around for years but still go at it with a fever pitch that heats up the overcrowded, spiky-haired, skull-wearing, gothentric, dingy room.

These guys have proved Punk Is Not Dead. It’s different, maybe even more acceptable, but it’s definitely NOT dead.