Photos and Review by Raven Divito
@rockinshots

The Damned’s May 31, 2025 performance at Sacramento’s Ace of Spades was more than just a concert, it was a full-circle moment in punk history. Wrapping up their 2025 North American tour, the show celebrated both the band’s enduring legacy and the long-awaited reunion of their classic lineup: Dave Vanian, Captain Sensible, Rat Scabies, and Paul Gray—joined by longtime keyboardist Monty Oxymoron. For fans of the band’s groundbreaking late ’70s and early ’80s output, this wasn’t just nostalgia, it was vindication.

From the first notes of “Love Song,” The Damned made their mission clear: no filler, just punk fire. They tore through tracks from their iconic albums Machine Gun Etiquette, The Black Album, and Strawberries—with crowd favorites like “Neat Neat Neat,” “New Rose,” and “Wait for the Blackout,” igniting pure chaos and joy in equal measure.

The band dug deep into their catalog with rarely heard live cuts like “Lively Arts” and “Dr. Jekyll and Mr. Hyde,” while newer material from Darkadelic (2023), including the standout, of “The Invisible Man,” which proved The Damned still have sharp teeth and something to say. That album’s success (Top 10 in the UK) added weight to these performances, and the crowd responded with as much enthusiasm as they did to the classics.

The chemistry between Vanian’s ice-cool charisma and Sensible’s wild humor reminded the crowd just why this lineup defined a generation of UK punk.

The night’s surprises didn’t stop there. Covers were peppered throughout the set, from the much-loved “Eloise” to a haunting take on Love’s “Alone Again Or.” But the wildest left turn came during the second encore: a euphoric, unexpected version of Jefferson Airplane’s “White Rabbit” that had jaws dropping and fists pumping.

The climax came with “Smash It Up,” a fitting finale. Sensible and Gray stretched out the psychedelic intro, teasing the audience before Scabies launched into the iconic beat. A small but spirited mosh pit erupted, and the crowd roared the chorus in unison—“Oh oh smash it up, smash it up!”—as Vanian led the charge with his signature theatrical flair.

The lighting, effects, and energy made this a show for the ages, but it was the authenticity of the four original punks, back onstage together, that turned this night into a landmark. For long-time fans, it was a dream fulfilled. For newer converts, it was an initiation. Either way, The Damned proved they’re not just punk legends, that they’re still a force to be reckoned with.

For the latest tour updates and news, visit The Damned Official website at www.officialdamned.com