The Dresden Dolls @ The Exchange Edinburgh
They may be infamous for their theatrics, but tonight was also a musical masterclass
The Dresden Dolls are back, and boy have we missed them. As soon as Amanda Palmer hammers out the beautiful, skewed chords of Backstabber she has the crowd in the palm of her hand; and then proceeds to grace the Exchange with nothing less than a tour de force. Drummer Brian Viglione provides impromptu mime and witty banter throughout the set, endearing himself to the whole audience in the process . His drumming is breathtakingly powerful and elaborate - a fierce, rocking counterpoint to Palmer's dramatic and soaring compositions. During songs like Half Jack and Mrs. O the electricity between the two performers crackles thrillingly, both songs reaching quite phenomenal heights. Their cover of War Pigs destroys, with Viglione pulling the most brutal moves behind the kit, leaving me in no doubt that he is one of the best drummers of his generation. Palmer matches him move for move however, countering his visceral attack with a moving solo rendition of Me and the Minibar. They may be infamous for their theatrics, but tonight was also a musical masterclass. {Lucy Faringold]