A decade ago, a Dresden Dolls fan might have required a sentence or two to describe his or her favorite band. These days, the solo career of head Doll Amanda Palmer needs a multi-page explanation for each new quarterly phase. It's the mark of an artist who's constantly looking for arty new kicks on the reg — and a by-product of Palmer's ability to deliver her musical aspirations in gauzy layers of drama.
Did I say "drama"? Walking through a phalanx of Sox fans on Lansdowne Street into the House of Blues at 7 pm last Saturday was like crossing from Jockland to Drama School Island, as a seated audience politely awaited Evelyn Evelyn's entrance. Oh, right, the explanation: EE is a Palmer collaboration with multi-instrumentalist Jason Wembley wherein the two put on wigs and a frock and take on the guise of Evelyn Evelyn, conjoined twin sisters who reveal the details of their tragic life through their baleful tunes.
The concept works better live than on record. Palmer and Wembley inhabit the roles of the reserved and stunted twins, whether they're bashing through the folk-shock narrative of "The Tragic Events of September" or running through a down-tempo folk-strummed cover of Joy Division's "Love Will Tear Us Apart." And if the act at times came off like a Little Britain out-take — especially given the pair's petticoat-and-bustle conjoined dress — it was worthwhile not only for the sight of a mock-bashful Palmer pretending to shy from the limelight but also for the sheer talent-show display of Palmer and Wembley pulling these tunes off in unison as they shared duties playing keyboard and guitar, one hand each. It's possible that EE may eventually register as a minor Palmer project, but on Saturday, the seated audience was drinking in the peculiarity of this headscratchingly arch concept, knowing that in a few months Palmer will be on to something else. Oh, that's right — Cabaret at the ART. Did I say "drama"?
Related:
Photos: Evelyn Evelyn at the House of Blues, Don't mess with Neko, Photos: Nada Surf live at the WFNX Clambake, More
- Photos: Evelyn Evelyn at the House of Blues
Evelyn Evelyn perform live at the House of Blues on June 19, 2010
- Don't mess with Neko
For some reason, an audience member hurled a CD — no case, just the shiny, sharp-edged disc — at the stage early in the band's set. This prompted New Pornographer Case to say, half-jokingly, "Whoever threw that, come up here, and I will fucking fight you. . . . I will go to jail, I don't give a shit."
- Photos: Nada Surf live at the WFNX Clambake
Nada Surf live at the WFNX Clambake, House of Blues Boston, June 27, 2010.
- Photos: Deadmau5 at the House of Blues
Deadmau5 performs live to a swarm of glowsticks at the House of Blues on July 21, 2010.
- Photos: Scissor Sisters at the House of Blues
Scissor Sisters, live at the House of Blues, on August 28, 2010
- Brooklyn’s Matt and Kim just want to have fun
Brooklyn's Matt and Kim just want to have fun
- Photos: Social Distortion at the House of Blues
Social Distortion play live at House of Blues on November 1, 2010.
- Photos: Brandon Flowers at the House of Blues
Brandon Flowers performs live at the House of Blues on November 26, 2010.
- The perfectionist persona of Natalia Kills
The British-born Natalia acted in BBC television and radio comedies (starting at age nine) before morphing into a musical career that has seen her adopt the stage name Natalia Kills — which describes her lethal combination of dark themes and anthemic synthpop.
- Photos: The Decemberists at the House of Blues
The Decemberists play an acoustic set at the Foundation Room at the House of Blues on January 29, 2011.
- Photos: Interpol at House of Blues
Concert photos of Interpol at House of Blues on February 19th.
- Less
Topics:
Live Reviews
, Dresden Dolls, Dresden Dolls, Dresden Dolls, More
, Dresden Dolls, Dresden Dolls, Dresden Dolls, Joy Division, Joy Division, Evelyn Evelyn, Evelyn Evelyn, Evelyn Evelyn, Art, Cabaret, Less