Dublin, Ireland - March 26, 2001
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San Francisco Examiner
at The Dublin Olympia Theatre
By David Roy
July 31, 2000
Over on stage left, keyboard player Zia McCabe jiggles semi-naked while Peter Holmstrom roams his banks of guitar effects, lost in his own private sonic cathedral. Stage centre, singer Courtney Taylor brandishes his guitar looking like a cross between Iggy Pop and David Bowie and knowing it, while afroed drummer Brent 'Fat Head' DeBoer brings up the rear, keeping the beat big and heavy on the kick drum.
Meanwhile, over on stage right, there's a big Texan in a stetson with a trumpet. It's like punk never happened, and for once it's a good thing.
The Dandy Warhols are a rare breed indeed - a US band with a healthy sense of irony, and a keen appreciation of the best British rock from the last 40 years. Limp Bizkit they are not. As one of the most individual and exciting rock bands around, so far the Dandys have produced three albums painted in their own distinctive cool.
The phased guitars of 1995's debut Dandys Rule OK paved the way for the droning keyboards and surprise pop sensibilities showcased on 1997's The Dandy Warhols Come Down, while hit singles Not If You Were The Last Junkie On Earth and Every Day Should Be A Holiday grabbed public attention in the summer of 1998.
However, by the arrival of Thirteen Tales From Urban Bohemia in 1999, the band were already verging on self parody. After four years of raving it up, making ludicrous claims of excess in every interview and generally acting out their super-slacker hipster fantasies, the Dandy Warhols were getting bummed-out on their own trip. Every reporter wanted to talk to them about drugs, drinking and certain member's tendencies to misplace their clothes.
Yes, they blew their advance from Capitol Records on partying, but what bunch of irresponsible 20 somethings wouldn't? They're a rock band, not a PTA committee. And yes, some of them do like to get naked.
However, the Dandys have become determined to rise above their own hype. A new seriousness has been detected in their camp, which may be the reason for the heavy irony employed on their third album and its singles Get Off and Bohemian Like You.
If truth be told, the band never really needed to rely on tales of bohemian debauchery. Fans became legion on the strength of the cool catchy songs they'd heard on the radio, or on mix-tapes made by friends. Those tales of rock'n'roll excess were just the icing on the cake.
Across every record they have made are moments of pure brilliance. From the fuzz-drone of It's A Fast Driving Rave-Up... through the shoegazey sunshine pop bounce of Everyday Should Be a Holiday, it's clear that under the band's self-consciously cool exterior exists a brilliantly creative songwriting talent.
When the Dandy Warhols get their Velvets-meet-the-Stones rock fantasies working for them, the results are startlingly good. Live, they can kick out the jams like no other. It's only rock and roll, but you'll love it.
The Dandy Warhols, Dublin Olympia Theatre, Monday March 26, 7:30pm.
Tickets IR£15 / £16.50
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