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 Photo:Aaron Sammut
A band must feel great comfort when they find themselves in the situation that The Dandy Warhols do tonight. With their sixth album Earth To The Dandy Warhols seeking out by far the least ears since their first record, The Tivoli has still been completely sold out for weeks, and this show has turned into something resembling the hottest ticket in town. What an opportune time to play the people your new record, right? From the minute the four Portland, Oregan rockers emerge, it’s obvious that nobody has any such pretensions, and there’s nothing but generous goodwill in the air.
“We’d like to dedicate every second of tonight’s show to Barack Obama” a clearly thrilled Courtney Taylor-Taylor announces just hours after the US election has been declared. “We’re not ashamed to be Americans any more.” The Dandies clearly want to celebrate, and the theme of Obama’s victory runs through the entire show. Champagne is popped, the President Elect’s picture is broadcast from an intricate light show, and references are constantly dropped. Our homegrown crowd is similarly joyous at the result, and so begins a feelgood marathon.
“A long time ago (clap clap) we used to be friends”, Courtney quietly intones, starting a stellar run of well-known songs covering the last 12 years. Shakin’, Not If You Were The Last Junkie On Earth, You Were The Last High, Bohemian Like You, Get Off, Lou Reed… even just half an hour in, the set-list really is a long-time fan’s dream. Lined up across the stage in a row of four, the band have by this stage established their unchanging characters for the night. On our left, keyboardist and tambourinist extrodinaire Zia McCabe demonstrates why she’s been the dreamy indie rock poster girl for so long – gorgeous, coyly silent and communicating only with her eyes, there’s not a person here not wrapped around her little finger. Next to Zia is front-of-house drummer Brent DeBoer, whose enthusiastic backing vocals often make him the Dandy to which most eyes are drawn. Taylor-Taylor is next, and tonight the frontman is sporting a considerably muted, almost whispered voice. While this works a treat in the glorious Godless or Horse Pills, it results in neutering the classic Stones rock of All The Money Or The Simple Life Honey. Luckily, the crowd’s demand for sing-alongs picks up his vocal slack. To the far right, keeping out of the spotlight, is the guitarist I presume to be Pete Holmström, though his face rarely glimpses up from his shoes long enough for identification. In keeping with the evening’s celebratory tone, this united front line is a charming touch, and apart from Courtney’s odd vocal choice, the band can’t be faulted.
Yes, they have the pop hits covered, but The Dandy Warhols come in two styles, and though the drumbeat-driven psychedelia-inspired meandering melodies mightn’t draw the same instant squeals of recognition, it’s these languid, chugging mind-wanderings that the Dandies perhaps do best. By the time Zia wraps up the encore with a fittingly adorable a capella song about a flower tattoo on her toe, they’ve been playing for almost two and a half hours. While Taylor-Taylor’s broad-grinned claim “This really is a night we’re never going to forget” might have more to do with events outside than the show itself, there’s still not a smile on the way out that says otherwise.
SIMON TOPPER
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