Live music review: London punk legends The Damned sold-out Radio East

May 21, 2025 Case Cockrell 116 Views live music, punk rock, Radio East, Review, rock n roll, T.V. Smith Dave Vanian, The Adverts, The Damned

Punk rock is an ageless art form. Whether you’re 16 or pushing 70, the act of rebellion is best vented through a massive concussion of rock and roll. For London legends The Damned, a decades-long existence without a disbandment is an utmost rarity in the books. On Saturday night in the southeast industrial area of Austin at Radio/East, a sold-out crowd was treated to a history lesson over 50 years in the making. When entering the new Austin music hotspot for the evening, fans were greeted with the return of the venue’s mainstage. Supposedly, the large stand was sidelined given some permitting issues, but the party was back on for the onslaught about to commence.

T.V. Smith’s The Adverts took the reins first, a spinoff of the short-lived but worthwhile 70s UK outfit The Adverts. Taking the entirety of their 1978 debut Crossing the Red Sea with The Adverts as the bulk of their opening set, founding member and frontman T.V. Smith further proved his status as a British first waver whose influence isn’t to be understated. After emerging onstage, Smith announced his whopping 69 years of age, a statement that did not play a factor in his bombastic energy throughout the performance.

The Adverts Radio East Troy Gonzales

Each song led into the other, delivering on a promise of not stopping for small talk between each cut. Smith’s “Make Adverts Great Again” back patch played into his rebellious streak, a nice touch. The crack musicians that joined him took his impeccable legacy with precision, paving the way for the fellow headlining legends from their British homeland.

The Damned’s 9 p.m. slot proved punctual as the two hour onrush kicked off without delay, ready to unleash an array of tunes from throughout their prolific catalog. Leading man Dave Vanian and guitarist Captain Sensible come packed with their brand of ferocity, with keyboardist Monty Oxymoron rounding out the trio as the constant serving members of the group. Bassist Paul Gray and drummer Rat Scabies are also credited as part of the humble beginnings, rejoining the ensemble after absences that lasted over two decades before reuniting in their current era. Nonetheless, the Londoners shred like they never missed a beat.

Vanian came armed with his signature shades and an old-school, Elvis microphone, appearing animated as ever with outspoken stage banter that showed thoughtful engagement with an audience that felt right at home in the activist-charged Austin. The setlist pulled from a variety of directions, dominated by classics from The Black Album, Damned Damned Damned, and Machine Gun Etiquette, while also leaving room for a double dip into 2023 record Darkadelic. Rather than remain a greatest hits vehicle, the quintet remains a creative force that keeps the songs coming five decades years into their frantic tenure. Regardless of not being from the States, the bill recognized their affinity for the live music capital, showing appreciation of the Central Texas city and its rich musical roots.

After closing with generational fan-favorite “Neat Neat Neat,” the esteemed punk leaders returned for not one, but two encores. Entries in the vein of the double punch “Smash It Up Pts 1 & 2” and a cover of Jefferson Airplane’s “White Rabbit” appeared, while also slamming out a couple more classic tracks that came in the form of “Curtain Call” and “New Rose.” An astronomical exhibition of the gig’s last hurrah, fans were left satisfied with a show about anything but nostalgia for a time gone by. The Damned are still at it, and the creative streak is going strong to the present day.