LIVE: THE DRESDEN DOLLS – Austin, TX, USA – March 23, 2024

Venue: Mohawk Austin

City: Austin, TX

Dates: March 23, 2024

Review and Photographs by: Todd “Toddstar” Jolicoeur (www.toddstarphotography.com)

When bands go on hiatus, you never know what is on the other side.  This was the case when The Dresden Dolls called it a day, even if it was only deemed a break.  Thinking I had no shot at ever seeing the dynamic duo together on stage, I settled into the warm blanket of their music believing I would never experience the pairs legendary live show. Lo and behold, in 2023 shows were announced and Amanda Palmer and Brian Viglione were embracing the stage, their catalog, and especially their fans and taking the show on the road.  Fast forward to early 2024 and I was reviewing my business travel calendar and a show posted for Austin, TX’s Mohawk happened to overlap with already planned travel.  Now to grab a ticket and hopefully be approved to photograph the twosome and check another one off my personal bucket list.  Fast forward to March 23, 2024, on a comfortable Saturday night in Austin and I find myself picking up my photo pass, walking into the outdoor venue, and mentally preparing myself to photograph a show I never thought I would witness.

Slotted to hit the stage at 8:10p, that is exactly what Palmer and Viglione did.  After a quick embrace and series of bows at the front of the stage, they took their respective places on stage – Amanda behind her keyboard and Brian behind his drums (with a guitar nearby).  From the moment the music started until after the final note cascaded through the venue’s sound system, it was obvious the band missed Austin, the crowds, and the stage… and we missed them.  With a plethora of music at their disposal, the pair proceeded to play what could be conceived as perfect based on the reaction of the crowd after each song finished and as the opening notes of each succeeding track enveloped the standing room only crowd.  Everywhere you looked around you, there were fans singing, dancing, and enjoying every moment.  Most of my favorites made an appearance in the evenings lineup and I couldn’t have been happier to hear songs like “Coin-Operated Boy,” “Mandy Goes To Med School,” and “My Alcoholic Friends” live.  Seeing the joy in the face of Palmer and Viglione added to the warmth, fun, and genuine good vibe that covered the venue and evening with each passing song and moment.  Don’t get me wrong – the snarls, sneers, and other faces the pair made as they played their hearts out would normally seem aggressive, but tonight it was their effort to make sure they delivered on every level for the fans that were able to grab a ticket for the show.  The evening wasn’t perfect, contrary to this review.  How you ask?  It ended.  That simple.  This will go down as one of the best, most energetic, and enjoyable shows I have seen in a while or will see anytime soon.  Brian and Amanda — thank you for loving the fans, the music, and each other enough to get back out there and breathe new life, love, and enjoyment into these songs and the related life experiences and memories.  Now to bookmark the Tour Dates so I can continue to monitor for another date in my vicinity.

[Show as slideshow]

COMPLETE SET OF THE DRESDEN DOLLS PHOTOS

THE DRESDEN DOLLS LINKS:

OFFICIAL SITE

FACEBOOK

X – TWITTER

INSTAGRAM

Tags: featured

Category: Live Reviews, Photo Galleries