TAKE Knaresborough, a quaint market town, a tourist haven for old folk seeking peace and quiet and a nice cup of tea, perhaps down by the gentle River Nidd.

Now take The Damned, chronologically Britain's second-ever punk band and the first to release a punk album.

It's a crazy combination, but one which was thrown together at Monteys Rock Caf, the new venue that opened only recently with the idea of waking up the sleepy town with live music.

It's first major act - playing Saturday and last night - was pretty notable, for its un-Knaresboroughness as much as anything else.

Captain Sensible (dressed as a pink ballerina) and Dave Vanian, two original members still hellbound, were supposed to be joined by ex-Sister of Mercy Patricia Morrison, Monty Oxy Moron and Pinch (though the low stage meant you couldn't tell if it was really them) and, although it naturally didn't have the same impact as 1970s spiky mayhem, it briefly gave Knaresborough a glimpse of anarchy, albeit a nostalgic, slightly flabby one.

Former Mohicans - now with bald spots and day jobs - turned back the clock as old classics and a few new tracks turned the market square into a thrash-noisy London joint.

Well, at least until the comforts of home called time for the 40-somethings with kids and mortgages. On that note, the long delays and 11pm start, which tested patience, was inappropriate and indeed saw the audience diminish. And that was the Saturday.

Still, the threats to walk off-stage because of apparent minor bother near the front proved the middle-aged moshers still had the energy.

It was Captain Sensible's birthday, by the way, and while this merely highlighted the fact time moves on, it was at least a celebration of an ageing timelessness. Maybe Knaresborough was apt after all.

Updated: 11:41 Monday, April 26, 2004