The Damned conjures evil spirits at the Gothic Theater

The Damned, riding a wave of success from a new album more than 40 years into the band's career, brought its energetic live show to Denver on Oct. 25.

The band was back in town for the second time in a year and half, playing the "appropriately named" Gothic Theater. Although the Damned are known for putting on great concerts, there was a new energy in the band less than a week before Halloween.

In 2017, bearded singer Dave Vanian's arm was in a sling, and guitarist Captain Sensible would soon be relegated to sitting on a toilet "throne" onstage after suffering an injury of his own. (The Damned at Summit Music Hall in Denver) This time, Vanian prowled the stage and hit every note, even inadvertently breaking his mic stand in two at one point. Sensible was his usual wisecracking self, singing only one song solo (there would be no "Happy Talk") but lending his able backing vocals to most of the rest.

Captain Sensible. All photos by Christopher Windle.

That one song was "Silly Kids Games," one in a series of "Black Album" tracks the band broke out. Perhaps the recent presence of "Black Album"-era bassist Paul Gray inspired the band to revisit the album. (Though Gray isn't on tour with the band in the U.S., the spot is open for him, with longtime road crew member John Priestly looking genuinely thrilled to be filling the role currently.)

The Damned played six tracks off "Black," including the smash "Wait for the Blackout," "Dr. Jekyll & Mr. Hyde," and "History of the World, Part 1."

And oh, that new album. The band played three tracks from "Evil Spirits," produced by Tony Visconti thanks to a Pledge Music campaign. The band picked those tracks wisely, with "Standing on the Edge of Tomorrow," "We're So Nice," and "Devil in Disguise" fitting in nearly seamlessly with the older material. The latter track was especially well-received, the churning pit in the crowd none the wiser that the song wasn't one of those old hits.

Unlike most bands' live shows, there isn't a clear break in which to talk, grab a drink, or visit the restroom during a Damned concert. The crowd was held rapt by the opus "Curtain Call," which opened the first encore, before going bonkers as the band launched into one of its liveliest tracks, "Ignite."

For the second encore, the Damned once again showed its range, playing the goth gem "Street of Dreams" followed by the punk anthem "Smash It Up."

But the best part of the show was watching a band truly having a great time onstage.

The Damned always defy expectations: helping create one genre of music, then another. Releasing an album 42 years after its first and 10 years after its last and then having it promptly hit the U.K. top 10.

A Damned show is always great, but the band is really on fire at the moment. Catch the Damned on tour if you can; you won't regret it.