Guilt Free Pleasures: The Best New Year's Ever

On to part 2 of the Dresden Dolls fabulous New Year's Eve concert - the actual Dresden Dolls performance and the midnight celebration and whatnot. If you need to refresh yourself about the first half (or slightly more than half) of the concert, please read the previous post: "The Best New Year's Ever - part 1".

Percussionist Brian Viglione and pianist Amanda Palmer came on stage decked out in what looked to me like old-fashioned military garb or something similar, plus they had hats and masks. My friend who was with me at the show made a comment that at first you couldn't tell who was who, and he was right (they both have similar-length dark hair and that was really all you could see with the masks and that hats). You couldn't really from afar. But then they went to their respective corners - Amanda on keyboard and Brian on drums - and our questions were quickly resolved. The costumes, which must've been hot, came off rather quickly too and by the end of the second song Brian was shirtless, wearing just shorts and fishnets, and Amanda was wearing a dress (which eventually came off too, leaving just cabaret-reminiscent frilly underwear), a t-shirt, and awesome combat boots.

They played my favorite song (Girl Anachronism) as the 2nd song, which was almost kind of disappointing that they played it so early, but oh well. Other favorites of mine that they played: Coin-Operated Boy, Missed Me and Mandy Goes to Med School. It was really interesting because they didn't seem to follow a set list much. Every now and then they'd look at each other like "what should we play now?" They even played a song or two that they hadn't rehearsed. I certainly wouldn't have known they hadn't rehearsed it if they hadn't said so. They were so spectacular.

It was so entertaining to watch them because they are both total hams and their performances were very theatrical. Whenever Brian wasn't playing the drums (or even sometimes when he was) he would stand up and make very grand, dramatic gestures and faces. And Amanda is just so intense. She had some great dramatic gestures and faces too. Some highlights: when Meow Meow's pianist came out and did a duet with Amanda (they looked like they were having so much fun goofing around) and when Brian played guitar and drums at the same time (now that is skill). Also they played a song off of an album Amanda recorded (but has not yet released) with Ben Folds, which is pretty cool. They are definitely two of the most talented pianists I know of so their collaboration should be awesome.

At midnight (or 3 minutes after because they were running a few minutes behind schedule), the rest of everyone - meaning Meow Meow, the circus performer, The Luminescent Orchestrii, and a few miscellaneous crew people - came out and everyone counted down and there was confetti and it was all very grand. Then they all did a cover of The Beastie Boys' (You Gotta) Fight For Your Right (To Party) and We Are the Champions by Queen. Amanda and Meow Meow crowd-surfed during one of the songs, though I forget which one. Amanda landed right on my friend and I and the two people in front of us, which was startling but kind of awesome. Fortunately, my friend is a lot taller than me, so I couldn't/didn't have to really support much of her weight (I lack upper body strength... Plus I was holding my camera in one hand.)

After that, Amanda and Brian did more songs. They played until almost 1:30am. And for the grand finale, everyone came back out on stage, including random people who were working at the show and dressed up in costumes (like the painted hula hoop people) and they did a fun cover of Sweet Dreams (Are Made of This) by The Eurythmics. There were lots of hilarious antics going on between Meow Meow and Amanda - who were both now wearing big poofy dresses. The night ended with another favorite Dresden Dolls tune of mine (which they hadn't rehearsed as a whole group but pulled off well with improvisation): Sing, which was the perfect way to end the show because it's about singing no matter who tries to get in your way.

My favorite parts about The Dresden Dolls performance was when they interacted with each other. They were so far away from each other when they were at their piano and drums and even though they still kind of interacted from across the stage, there was just so much space between them. But sometimes Brian would play the guitar or Amanda would get out from behind the keyboard and their interactions were really fun. It's great to see that they're both multi-talented individuals (Amanda was playing drums during one song in which Brian was playing guitar). You can tell that they really loved what they were doing and really like each other. The same goes for everyone who performed that night. A lot of times you go to concerts and one act goes on and then the next and then the next, and they don

't really collaborate or ever cross paths on stage. Maybe one person from one band will guest on a song by another band. But at this concert, all of the different acts incorporated people from the other acts quite frequently. It was really great. They were like one big happy family. And I have to say Amanda and Brian were a lot less dark than I expected them to be. It was great to see them smile and goof around. I wasn't sure if they were going to be super angry-like the whole time or what as I'd never seen them perform before and all of their music is relatively dark. But it was so great how much fun they were having and that made the audience have fun.

There were only two things I didn't like about the concert: 1. They didn't play 4 of my favorite Dresden Dolls songs (The Jeep Song, Gravity, Shores of California, and My Alcoholic Friends) and the security at the place was irritating when we were all trying to pick up our coats from the coat check afterwards and it was chaos with no system and people everywhere. But overall, these two small factors really had no affect on my night. I left feeling like I definitely got my money's worth and wishing that Amanda and Brian could be my new best friends. Amanda kept calling it the "best new year's eve ever!" And I would have to agree with her.

And lots more pictures (of which I took over 200... I know, I am sick):