CONCERT REVIEW
Dresden Dolls
Thurs., Jan. 10, Tampa Theatre, Tampa
The Dresden Dolls made their Bay area debut last night before a packed Tampa Theatre, delivering a spectacle of classic cabaret and glam-rock that enthralled from start to finish. There truly weren’t any dull moments throughout the show — a feat rarely achieved by even the most acclaimed touring bands. The Boston duo successfully wooed the young, lively (predominantly gay and lesbian) audience with dramatically performed originals largely focused on the savagery and absurdity of love. The 90-minute set was peppered with judiciously chosen covers and charming asides regarding such things as the grandeur of the historic venue wherein the concert took place.
Singer/keyboardist Amanda Palmer and drummer Brian Viglione took the stage at 9:30 sharp. Both musicians wore matching black military caps and trench coats reminiscent of the Weimar Republic. The show opened with an appropriately bombastic rendition of “In the Flesh?†The first track off Pink Floyd’s The Wall, it includes the line “Are there any queers in the theatre tonight?†Palmer delivered it with a triumphant smile and the audience cheered wildly. This set the tone for an evening that amounted to a joyous celebration of diversity underscored by the numerous concertgoers donning top hats and flowing dresses that recalled German fashion of the 1920s.
