The Dresden Dolls 'Live At The Roundhouse' DVD

Today saw the release of a significant contribution to modern culture, the new DVD from The Dresden Dolls, 'Live At The Roundhouse'. Amanda and Brian as I remember them from their two nights at the Roundhouse in November last year, surrounded by performance artists of various calibres and with Margaret Cho and her false penis acting as MC for the event.

I watched it all the way through, glorying in the memories it evoked and reminders of Amanda's false start on 'Backstabber' and Brian breaking a cymbal, Amanda saying she liked London Pride beer, the duo hammering each other's pregnant bumps during 'Mandy Goes To Med School' and Lene Lovich joining the Dolls to sing 'Delilah' with some excellent vocal warbles just like in the olden days. There's also a 'making of the show' documentary that highlights some of the main performance artists that were dotted around the Roundhouse and on the main stage. Of these, I think my favourites were Zen Zen Zo from Australia and their weird dance moves. What can I say? It's jolly good stuff indeed.

Two sequences stand out for me, although every song has its own element of greatness. The first is the encore of 'Mein Herr', with Amanda in full black underwear mode as Bitch Queen giving Brian wedgies and him on his knees at her feet, lucky boy. The second is the magnificence of 'Sing', one of my favourite Dresdens songs, with the sparklers lighting up and held high by the front section of the audience (including me).

It's a great record of the shows and of the Dresdens as they were at the end of the exciting year of 2006 that saw the release of their second studio album and a world tour. They won't be like that again, they've already moved on with Amanda working on her solo album with Ben Folds and Brian holding drum surgeries and playing with Humanwine and others. And they're currently on tour with Cyndi Lauper, Debbie Harry, Erasure and others on the 'True Colors' tour across America. winning new admirers and fans. But I'll remember them at the Roundhouse and tuck away some fond memories for a rainy day.

I'll also respond to the rallying cry that PUNK CABARET IS FREEDOM!