| Dresden Dolls Halloween Boston- written by Heidi |
 |  |  |  |  |  |  |
 |  |  |  |  |  |  |
| x5 |
All photos by Heidi |
There are plenty of places on Halloween that are
filled with freaks, geeks, and even normal people
in some pretty interesting costumes. But if you
want a real set of fascinating characters, try
Avalon Boston when the Dresden Dolls are
playing—and their fans dress up all the time, not
just on Halloween.
The show had several opening acts, ranging from
a ‘horror burlesque’ act in which a sexy Little
Red Riding Hood courted and killed a seductive
Wolf to the reappearance of a local high school’s
zombie-like dance act. The musical performers
included the Denver, Colorado quartet
DeVotchKa, dressed in skull face paint and
mariachi band costumes for the occasion.
filled with freaks, geeks, and even normal people
in some pretty interesting costumes. But if you
want a real set of fascinating characters, try
Avalon Boston when the Dresden Dolls are
playing—and their fans dress up all the time, not
just on Halloween.
The show had several opening acts, ranging from
a ‘horror burlesque’ act in which a sexy Little
Red Riding Hood courted and killed a seductive
Wolf to the reappearance of a local high school’s
zombie-like dance act. The musical performers
included the Denver, Colorado quartet
DeVotchKa, dressed in skull face paint and
mariachi band costumes for the occasion.
DeVotchKa have an interesting mix of indie rock, jazz, mariachi and Eastern European folk, and for someone that never heard
them before, I confess that I was quite a skeptic when their set began. There were a few moments that were easy to jam to and
even sing along to, and for the Dolls fans in the crowd that knew them, it seemed they were rocking. The energy tended to drag
towards the end of their set, as the night deepened and the crowd grew undeniably anxious to see their headliner.
The Dresden Dolls took the stage to great laud from the audience, and opened with Science Fiction Double Feature from the
Rocky Horror Picture Show, with a member of DeVotchKa on trumpet. The set progressed through Missed Me and Gravity,
with one of the show’s hosts dancing in two long pieces of cloth suspended from the ceiling of the Avalon, highlighting the
Dolls’ sense of spectacle, during the latter piece. Watching Brian Viglione ravaging the drums with a graceful contortionist
weaving herself in and around the fabric was both a beautiful juxtaposition and a Perfect Fit (pun intended: when they played the
song, half a dozen brides moved through the crowd and on the stage). The set went on, with Mrs. O and a new song, My
Alcoholic Friends, the popular Coin Operated Boy and a cover of I Love Rock and Roll.
The set was engaging, keeping the energy up even through the slower songs, even though Brian managed to swallow a splinter
from his drumsticks during Good Day, pausing the show momentarily while he gulped water and coughed. They closed the set
with Half Jack and the crowd-pleaser Girl Anachronism, to riotous applause and high anticipation of an encore.
It was no disappointment: the Dolls reappeared, dressed as the Detroit, Michigan-based band The White Stripes. Lead Singer and
pianist Amanda Palmer may not be able to pass as singer/pianist Jack White (the eyebrows give it away), but she and Brian
(dressed as Meg White) did a fantastic job covering My Doorbell and Sex Changes with their signature dramatic Dolls flair.
The show closed with yet another spectacle—many people of the opening acts and most of the present Brigaders (the Dresden
Dolls’ performance team) crowded the stage and the entire company performed The Flesh Failures (or, Let the Sunshine In)
from the popular musical Hair.
In the end, the rich combination of catchy, passionate music, street performance spectacle, and delightful charisma makes the
Dresden Dolls a show never to miss.
Dresden Dolls Website—http://www.dresdendolls.com/
DeVotchKa Website—http://www.devotchka.net/
Thanks to Flashback8 on the Dresden Dolls message board, theshadowbox.net, for the detailed setlist.
them before, I confess that I was quite a skeptic when their set began. There were a few moments that were easy to jam to and
even sing along to, and for the Dolls fans in the crowd that knew them, it seemed they were rocking. The energy tended to drag
towards the end of their set, as the night deepened and the crowd grew undeniably anxious to see their headliner.
The Dresden Dolls took the stage to great laud from the audience, and opened with Science Fiction Double Feature from the
Rocky Horror Picture Show, with a member of DeVotchKa on trumpet. The set progressed through Missed Me and Gravity,
with one of the show’s hosts dancing in two long pieces of cloth suspended from the ceiling of the Avalon, highlighting the
Dolls’ sense of spectacle, during the latter piece. Watching Brian Viglione ravaging the drums with a graceful contortionist
weaving herself in and around the fabric was both a beautiful juxtaposition and a Perfect Fit (pun intended: when they played the
song, half a dozen brides moved through the crowd and on the stage). The set went on, with Mrs. O and a new song, My
Alcoholic Friends, the popular Coin Operated Boy and a cover of I Love Rock and Roll.
The set was engaging, keeping the energy up even through the slower songs, even though Brian managed to swallow a splinter
from his drumsticks during Good Day, pausing the show momentarily while he gulped water and coughed. They closed the set
with Half Jack and the crowd-pleaser Girl Anachronism, to riotous applause and high anticipation of an encore.
It was no disappointment: the Dolls reappeared, dressed as the Detroit, Michigan-based band The White Stripes. Lead Singer and
pianist Amanda Palmer may not be able to pass as singer/pianist Jack White (the eyebrows give it away), but she and Brian
(dressed as Meg White) did a fantastic job covering My Doorbell and Sex Changes with their signature dramatic Dolls flair.
The show closed with yet another spectacle—many people of the opening acts and most of the present Brigaders (the Dresden
Dolls’ performance team) crowded the stage and the entire company performed The Flesh Failures (or, Let the Sunshine In)
from the popular musical Hair.
In the end, the rich combination of catchy, passionate music, street performance spectacle, and delightful charisma makes the
Dresden Dolls a show never to miss.
Dresden Dolls Website—http://www.dresdendolls.com/
DeVotchKa Website—http://www.devotchka.net/
Thanks to Flashback8 on the Dresden Dolls message board, theshadowbox.net, for the detailed setlist.