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The Dresden Dolls Information
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'The Dresden Dolls' are a two-piece band from Boston that formed mid-2000, made up of singer/pianist Amanda Palmer and drummer/occasional guitarist and vocalist Brian Viglione. They describe their style as "Brechtian punk cabaret", and have exposed an underground Dark Cabaret movement that is quickly gaining momentum in 2005.
The band formed shortly after Brian Viglione witnessed Amanda Palmer performing a solo set at a Halloween party. They found a loyal cult following through the efforts of their dramatic live performances. During these performances the two band members wear make-up and clothing that combines a cabaret, goth, mime look. They encourage fans to become involved at their shows through , which is a loose group of performers, networked through the Internet, that range from performance artist to theatrical performers that participate at Dresden Dolls shows, encouraged by the band members themselves.
The name, according to Palmer, was "inspired by a combination of things", including the firebombing of Dresden, Germany; the porcelain dolls which were a hallmark of prewar Dresden industry; an early song of the same name by The Fall; and a reference to a V.C. Andrews novel, while evoking Weimar Germany and its cabaret culture. Additionally, she "liked the parallel between Dresden (destruction) and Dolls (innocence, delicacy), because it is very much in keeping with the dynamics of the music, which sometimes goes from a childlike whisper to a banshee scream within a few seconds."
They gained wider attention after a webcast performance at the 2002 Ig Nobel Prize ceremony in Cambridge, Massachusetts.
After a self-produced demo, their first release was the mostly live compilation A Is For Accident. This was followed in 2004 by a self-titled debut produced by Martin Bisi (Swans, Sonic Youth).
In March 2005, The Dresden Dolls supported Nine Inch Nails on tour.
In the 2005 WFNX/Boston Phoenix Best Music Poll The Dresden Dolls won Best Local Act and Best Local Album. Amanda Palmer also won Best Female Vocalist.
On June 5th, 2005, the Dresden Dolls hosted a free concert at the Paradise Rock Club in Boston. When a power outage unexpectedly delayed their performance, city streets became a temporary stage for some of the many performers- living statues, stilt-walkers, and fire-breathers among them- who had come from across the world to entertain audiences. The day and concert were filmed, and the resulting DVD- 'Paradise'- will be released to the US in November 2005.
The Dresden Dolls have completed initial recording sessions for a yet-to-be-titled album, expected for release in 2006.
Discography
Albums
*A Is For Accident (Important Records, 2003)
*The Dresden Dolls (8ft Records, 2004)
* Paradise (DVD) (Roadrunner Records/8ft Records 2005)
Singles
*Coin-Operated Boy (Roadrunner, 2004)
*Girl Anachronism (Roadrunner, 2004)
Compilations
*Coin-Operated Boy on album A Dark Cabaret'' (Projekt, 2005)
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