GIG REVIEW: The Hollywood Vampires @ Scarborough Open Air, with The Damned
Last Saturday saw a plethora of people in denim and leather, chains and eyeliner, and… multiple Jack Sparrows?
This only meant one thing, The Hollywood Vampires had landed in Scarborough, and this sold-out night was one to not be missed.
Opening the evening were The Damned, storming the stage with a demanding presence. Almost as if something to prove, which is wild, considering they’ve literally been around since the 70s! Dave Vanian looked every bit the almost vampiric frontman, gliding across the stage with an icy elegance.
Captain Sensible on the other hand, hopped about like chaos wrapped in charm (and a Where’s Waldo looking outfit). Swinging from Street of Dreams to Love Song to The History of the World, the levels between performers and crowd were vibrant. This set was fast, loud and glorious.
The shift from cozy coastal venue to eon-lit underworld was a profound, fluid transition, with the gates of a land of rock n roll swinging wide open for all. Shafts of bruised purple and infernal red light flooded the open air theatre, the crowd surging as if pulled by a supernatural force.
Alice Cooper commanded the night with razor sharp magnetism, stalking the stage with puppeteer precision as they kicked into I Want My Now, followed by Raise the Dead and My Drunk Dead Friends. Every move from every member on the stage felt both orchestrated and completely natural, upscaling the event from just a concert to rock n roll theatre.
Johnny Depp’s presence was quieter, more introspective, especially at the start. Playing with a blues-soaked sensitivity, bringing a level of depth (pun not intended) to the show. The intoxicating and brooding slur of Venus in Furs is heavy, sludgy and fuzzed out, capturing an almost psychedelic fragment of the night.
The nostalgia soaked chords of You Can’t Put Your Arms Around A Memory start and it’s Joe Perry’s turn to step to the microphone, which is then shortly followed by Aerosmith’s Livin’ On The Edge. What I did not expect after this was a cover of Baba O’Riley by The Who! Now normally I would be hesitant to hear others cover this song, but I personally really enjoyed it!
An incredible highlight of the evening was their rendition of David Bowie’s Heroes, with Depp again taking the lead. His voice carried a smoky fragility, wavering in places but never losing its sincerity, making the performance even more of an eternal moment. Perry’s shimmering guitar notes balance beautifully, and Cooper simply takes a step back, allowing Depp to take the spotlight and fully immerse himself in the song.
After a roaring round of applause, we kick back into Highway to Hell, followed by Walk This Way and a wonderful mix of School’s Out/Another Brick In The Wall. The energy from both the stage and crowd is relentless, non stop bouncing and voices echoing throughout the seaside town.
I did enter this concert with trepidation: was it simply too good to be true? Now I can swiftly answer this question was a simple statement: Yes, It was Good, and It’s true! The Hollywood Vampires are a wonderful life experience, with multiple expressions throughout. They balance giving an all-out show and reminiscing their fallen friends with respect and ease. So come back to the North East, we’ll be waiting!
Review and photography by Neve Saltmarsh.