As a Dresden
Dolls fan I have seen my interest wain with Amanda Palmer's output offering
diminishing returns. Having seen Amanda 3 time as a solo artist I have
seen her audience grown and become more extremely fanatical. I playfully
refer to this group or movement of people as The Cult of Amanda Palmer.
Unfortunately do to this unrelenting adoration the edge has left Amanda’s
performances and recorded output. This was one of the best thing about
the Dresden Dolls the contrast between the Heavy and Light the Piano and
Drums. So I was not planning on seeing Amanda live again unless it was
with the Dolls. To my surprise shows were booked in Australia during this
current reconvening. So tickets were booked and I started to hope that
what I had liked about the Dresden Dolls would still be there.
We arrived at the
Enmore Theatre after some fantastic Turkish at The Sultan Table to catch
the last few moments of The Jane Austen Argument. Didn’t really
see anything to suggest an Argument more a poncing.
Amanda was the MC for
the night and introduced The Bedroom Philosopher to much squealing from
members of her fold. Comedy songs are tough at the best of times and it
takes a really talented person to really pull it off. Unfortunately The
Bedroom Philosopher just isn’t. You know the feeling when you see a
performer trying anything to save their set and failing miserably? That
was the feeling I had for the whole of The Bedroom Philosopher's
performance. Even his hipster baiting single Northcote (So Hungover)
couldn’t save the set. I’m hoping it was just an off night.
The squealing started
as soon as the band struck the first chord of T-Rex’s Cosmic Dancer.
When Brian joined Amanda in Sex Changes what had been missing in that
song for years was there. Brian is a seriously talent player and is
really the driving force behind this band. I was blown away by his playing
in 2006 and nothing has changed.
As a performance the
show felt good and I had a good time but I wasn’t fully convinced.
Something about it seemed quite hollow maybe it was the elation at which note
was applauded or the terrible cover of (You Gotta) Fight for Your Right (To
Party!). That being said there were times when songs really work (Sex
Changes, Missed Me, Modern Moonlight, Bad Habit and an
amazing extended Half Jack) and times when they seem to be going through
the motions (Night Reconnaissance, The Mouse and the Model , Astronaut
& Girl Anachronism). Clocking in at nearly 2 hours this kind
of variation made for a bitter sweet feeling of what if? The set was
rounded out with a number of covers. Opener Cosmic Dancer was a
really nice surprise taking the originals opening verses feel through the whole
song. The aforementioned (You Gotta) Fight for Your Right (To Party!)
which would have be better left as a funny idea. Nick Cave The Mercy
Seat which for me really didn’t work and couldn’t translate the originals
tension and manic energy. Mein Herr was nice and Black Sabbaths War
Pigs was a great closer to the set. A little rough around the edges
but you can swing it with that song.
Dresden Dolls it was
great to have you back and we have good memories but we probably won’t miss you
as much time.
The Dresden Dolls
Setlist:
Cosmic Dancer
Sex Changes
Gravity
Missed Me
Night Reconnaissance
Modern Moonlight
Mrs. O
The Mouse and the
Model
Ultima Esperanza
Bad Habit
Mandy Goes to Med
School
(You Gotta) Fight for
Your Right (To Party!)
Coin-Operated Boy
Astronaut (A Short
History of Nearly Nothing)
Delilah
The Mercy Seat
Half Jack
Girl Anachronism
Encore:
Mein Herr
War Pigs
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