Music Is My Weapon

In our recent podcast, we talked about the Dresden Dolls. I felt as though we did not give them as much air time as they deserve so I will talk about them here.

The Dresden Dolls sing in a style called "Brechtian punk cabaret", which was inspired by pre-World War II Germany night clubs. Only in the musical "Cabaret" have I heard this style of music, and nobody did it as well as the original Broadway cast; until I heard the Dresden Dolls. Besides the fact that their music is pretty much anti-male, they are flawless in their presentation and excicution. Their musical style is more than just an image of the old days. Their entire motif is lit with remenicent imagry. The name, according to Palmer, was "inspired by a combination of things", including the firebombing of Dresden, Germany; the porcelain dolls which were a hallmark of prewar Dresden industry and a reference to a V.C. Andrews novel, while evoking Weimar Germany and its cabaret culture.

The Dresden Dolls are a two-piece band hailing from Boston. Singer and pianist Amanda Palmer is backed up by drummer, and occasional guitarist, Brian Viglione. Their style is an echo of the underground "Dark Cabaret movement" that is quickly gaining momentum. For those of you who don't know, a cabaret is a place where you go to forget about the war, and enjoy life intensely while you are inside. Image a prohibition speakeasy mixed with a swing dance club, mixed with a strip club; the only difference, is a cabaret is a more couples-oriented viceground.

Life is a cabaret my friend, and I love a cabaret!