The Dresden Dolls at the Troxy, London

Sometimes magic can happen. Amanda Palmer and Brian Viglione are the Dresden Dolls. I discovered the Dresden Dolls in 2005 shortly before i started this blog. I saw them play live twice in 2005 and twice in 2006 and that was the last time they played in the UK until 30 October at the Troxy when I saw them again. It's been a long 12 years without them but they were a delight to see again.

The queue to get in was huge and it seemed like everyone had turned up early to make sure they got in in good time. The strange thing was the absence of weirdos - where were the costumes and make-up? When I saw the stage it seemed so familiar - an empty stage apart from two risers, one with Brian's drums and one with Amanda's keyboards. And taped to the front of Amanda's keyboards were flowers, as is right and proper.

The first song was 'Girl Anachronism', a signature song from their first album, followed by 'Good Day', I was particularly pleased by 'Good Day' since it was the first Dolls song I heard them play at a free gig in the Clore Ballroom  in the Royal Festival Hall after they'd appeared in a revue show as part of Patti Smith's Meltdown festival in London in 2005. That's when I bought their first album and met Amanda for the first time when she signed the record.

They went on to play classics like 'Sex Changes', 'Backstabber'. 'Mrs O', 'Pirate Jenny', 'Mandy Goes To Med School' as well as a couple of new songs with the hint of a new record to come. I'll buy it! Towards the end of the set we also had 'Coin Operated Boy' - of course. It was great to see Amanda swigging from a bottle of beer again during 'Amsterdam' and the final encore was 'Sing' from 'Yes Virginia. I have fond memories of this song from the last night at their Roundhouse gigs in 2006 - you can catch that performance on the DVD and YouTube if you look.

Thank you for the benediction of the punk cabaret Amanda and Brian - don't leave it so long next time!

PS: photos nicked from the internet.

Amanda Palmer at The Roundhouse 2006

I took this photo of Amanda Palmer and Brian Viglione, aka The Dresden Dolls, at the Roundhouse on 4 November 2006. They were playing 'Mein Herr' from 'Cabaret' at the time and you can see the performance in the DVD of the show, 'Live at The Roundhouse'. I have the show poster framed in my hall with the legend, 'Fuck the Rock'n'Roll Circus, this is the Punk Cabaret' - the Rolling Stones' 'Rock and Roll Circus' was filmed at The Roundhouse in the '60s.

 
I mention this morsel of information for two reasons:

1. This is one of my favourite photos of Amanda that I took myself; and
2. Amanda returns to The Roundhouse tomorrow night for her first gig there since 2006 and I shall be there (obv). She won't be with Brian, but she'll be surrounded by the Grand Theft Orchestra and they make a fine noise.

I'd better charge up the battery for my camera...

The Dresden Dolls and the Mermaid Parade

Why am I never there when it happens? What do I mean? A reunion of The Dresden Dolls is what I mean! And here is a photo they've just posted on Facebook, a photo I've not seen before and I love it. It is passion and art, it is giving your all to the moment, it is  love.

They're getting together tonight in New York to do some songs in support of the Mermaid Parade in Coney Island. Brian Viglione is a special guest. The blurb says:

When Hurricane Sandy barreled its way through the Northeast in October 2012, it devastated many areas, including New York CIty's beloved Coney Island. The hurricane hit and destroyed a large portion of Coney Island, including the headquarters of Coney Island USA – a not-for-profit arts organization, which developed and produces the Coney Island Circus Sideshow and the annual Mermaid Parade. Because of the devastation caused by Hurricane Sandy, this year's Mermaid Parade may not be.

But Coney Island is scrappy and strong. Coney Island has faith that New Yorkers and beyond will refuse to let the Mermaid Parade wash into the sea.

One such supporter and friend is Amanda Palmer. Palmer is an advocate of the arts and a true supporter of the artistic expression and community that Coney Island has long fostered. Palmer volunteered to join forces with Lee Wong's Alt Variety Magazine to perform in this benefit performance in the name of charity.

All proceeds will go to hosting the Mermaid Parade and reconstruction efforts.

Join us for a night of revelry with Amanda Palmer, Mina Caputo, Abel Ferrara, Spanking Charlene, Beautiful Small Machines, the stars of the Coney Island Circus, special guest performances and celebrity appearances.

If I was in New York I'd be there. Much love to The Dresden Dolls.

Poly Styrene - Two Years On

Two years ago tonight Marianne Elliot Said - Poly Styrene - left us for a higher plane. Pop stars come and go but Poly's death was significant to me, personally. I never met her but she was an enormous influence on my younger self and I was delighted when she released her album, 'Generation Indigo', full of magnificent three minute pop songs, only for her to leave us a matter of weeks later. This is what I blogged when I heard the sad news. Strangely, I can still get upset when I think about her. Some artists touch you.

I was delighted to read a post from Brian Viglione on Facebook this evening announcing a tribute concert for Poly in aid of War Child in New York in June. Good on you Brian! He said:

X-ReSpects - Poly Styrene Tribute Concert! I'm proud to announce today which marks the 2 year passing of legendary vocalist, Poly Styrene of X-Ray Spex, a tribute concert charity event I've put together with David Siffert for JUNE 30th at the Webster Hall Studio! Our band is features:

Holly Brewer - ( The Folks Below, HUMANWINE) - Vocals
Amy Klein (Titus Andronicus) - Guitar
Hailey Wojcik (Wojcik) - Guitar
Aileen Brophy ( The Space Merchants ) - Bass
Carrie Anne Murphy (Bad Credit No Credit) - Saxophone
Brian Viglione (The Dresden Dolls) - Drums
Proceeds from this event will go to the War Child Foundation, a charity close to Poly's heart. War Child International is a family of independent humanitarian organizations which work together to help children and young people affected by armed conflict.
More official news and support bands TBA. Tickets will be $12-15 and it's a 16+ show. So help spread the word! 

Brian is half of the most wonderful Dresden Dolls with Amanda Fucking Palmer, purveyors of the punk cabaret. I can't help but think that Poly would approve. 

Much as I rejoiced at the idea of a tribute concert and wished I could be there on the night, a small part of me thought, 'so what are we doing?'. Last year there was a tribute album from America, 'Permanent Wave - Rebel On The Underground' and this year is the tribute concert in New York. What are we doing here in London? Two years on and nothing has happened it seems.

I can't help but make the comparison with the passing of Kirsty MacColl in 2000 (and if you don't know who she was then shame on you). Kirsty's fans arranged for a bench to be placed in Soho Square in 2002 in remembrance of her and of one of her songs and have got together on her birthday every year since then (I've been a few times). The event has got onto the TV news now and then. An anniversary concert two years ago has even been released on CD. 

That makes me feel guilty. What are we doing to keep Poly's memory and art alive?

Can it be that difficult to arrange a tribute concert? or get her previous albums remastered and re-released? I've no idea but maybe we should find out?

The Dresden Dolls at 'Stand Bravely Brothers', Meltdown 2005

The first time I saw Amanda Palmer was when The Dresden Dolls performed at Patti Smith's Meltdown festival on 23 June 2005. I've mentioned this before but I've now found a video of the evening on YouTube. Some of the Meltdown events were filmed but have never been released - I well remember Patti's performance of her first album, 'Horses', being filmed by Don Letts in the Royal Festival Hall and Patti jumping off the stage and running into the audience just a few feet away from me. 

The Dresden Dolls performed as part of the 'Stand Bravely Brothers' evening of songs as a homage to Bertold Brecht, Amanda banging away on her piano and Brian thumping his drums and zinging his cymbals. They played 'The Ballad Of The Soldiers Wife' in the first half and Amanda came on in the second half to sing another song but I can't remember what it was. The bill that night included Marc Almond, Martha Wainwright, The Tiger Lillies, the Finn Brothers, Sparks and, of course, Patti and others.

After the show there was a free gig by the Dresden Dolls in the open performance space in front of the bar at the Royal Festival Hall. It was crowded - there must've been a couple of hundred people sitting on the floor waiting for the Dolls to appear. I was curious - I liked Amanda's voice from the two songs I'd heard her sing in the Brecht homage and wanted to hear more. On they came on, settled down and opened with 'Good Day'. That was the first Dolls song I ever heard. They played a short set including 'Girl Anachronism' and 'Coin Operated Boy' and I remember Amanda swigging beer during 'Amsterdam'.

After the gig I headed to the merch stand to buy 'The Dresden Dolls' album on 8ft Records. Amanda was wandering round greeting people and she signed the record for me, adding an extra flourish under her name and giving me an arch look. That was the first time I met her and, even though I didn't get a hug that night, it sticks in my memory. 

I've seen Amanda play every time she's performed in London since then and met her afterwards most times. I've even met her coming out of a theatre on the Strand with Neil Gaiman when we just happened to be at the same performance of an Alan Cummings show. I shall meet her again in June when I attend her art show to celebrate her new album. I'm hopeful of an Amanda Hug that evening.Click the link on the right to get your ticket to the show.

Anyway, here's the video of 'Stand Bravely Brothers' I mentioned - scroll in to about 4:45 minutes to see the Dresden Dolls.  Leave it running and you'll also see Patti Smith raise her skirt to do a little dance to 'Mack The Knife'. Enjoy.

The Dresden Dolls & Richard O'Brien - 'Time Warp'

My punk cabaret raggamuffins of choice, The Dresden Dolls are touring down under at the moment and have done Oz and Tasmania and are now in New Zealand. Amanda Palmer was wandering round Auckland yesterday and popped into a juice bar for refreshment. A bloke noticed her eyebrows and asked her if she was going to see The Dresden Dolls that night. The bloke turned out to be Richard O'Brien who is opening his own show in Auckland. So he joined them on stage and here's the result - 'Time Warp'!



This made me smile and I couldn't help but grin when Brian channelled Little Nell for her lines in the song. Amanda doesn't know it but her job is to make me happy and she's doing it nicely. Magical things happen around her and she generously shares the magic. Thank you.