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I'm mostly here for the Dolls, who are doing an "acoustic" set opening for someone Amanda has described as "possibly my favorite songwriter ever," which seems like something I need to check out. The Dolls only do six songs, but make them count. "Acoustic" here means that Amanda sings and Brian plays guitar. They do rearrangements of a couple of their songs--it's interesting the way the rhythmically unique piano intro of "Backstabber" translates so easily to guitar--and a bunch of covers. I've never really understood the incredible enthusiasm that "Port of Amsterdam" generates among the Dolls fans; frankly, I think that Amanda's songs are better, and I'd rather hear them. But tonight she tears the shit out of that song, and I am suitably impressed. And they finish with their version of "Two-Headed Boy," which is one of the most beautiful things ever. Not a lot of set, but a whole lot of set, if you know what I mean.
And then The Legendary Pink Dots. Hmmm. I'm not feeling it with the songwriting here. I hear a weird, jazzy croon in a buzzy sort of tone over fairly minimal guitar, some sophisticated sax, and a drum machine. I have a real problem with drum machines. There's not a lot of melodic hook to be found, or even a whole lot of melody. And he's got a bizarre, sort of reticent-yet-freakish stage presence that somehow reminds me of the crazy nuclear scientist guy in Repo Man. I don't know why. And there's a drum machine. There is not nothing interesting here; under better circumstances, I could stand here and be bemused by this band for the rest of their set. But I have a long night ahead of me at work, and I get to it.
