Dresden Dolls

Part cabaret show, part punk rock spectacle, trying to pin down exactly what happens at a Dresden Dolls show is a fruitless endeavor.

The duo, made up of Boston musicians Amanda Palmer and Brian Vigilone, has been playing together for about seven years, and their once-underground sound is starting to get a lot of attention lately thinks in part to a slew of famous rock star fans. When Vigilone isn’t sharing the stage with Palmer he’s playing drums behind Nine Inch Nails. Equally busy is Palmer, who is currently working with Ben Folds on her solo record.

The Dresden Dolls have just turned in “No Virginia,” a compilation album that comes out on the heels of “Yes Virginia.”  Palmer spoke with us recently about the new record, the band’s live shows and their fan-created merchandise.

Tell me a little about the songs on "No Virginia."  Is this a companion piece to the last record?

It's more like a trove of orphaned songs. Some of them needed to be recorded, but they've all been kicking around being good, but unreleased. 

I really liked the last song on the record, "Boston". What can you tell me about it?

Ach. It was about an ex. We were trying very hard to stay present with each other despite all the running and flying around. This was just about that...about trying to be in the moment despite what we knew might not happen, against the backdrop of the city that we had fallen in love in. The song makes me sad.

Sorry for bringing it up, then. Do you plan to tour behind this new record?

We're touring for about two weeks on the west coast and to Texas. Then we'll do some summer festivals in Europe. But other than that I'm working on my solo record, which comes out in September and was produced by Ben Folds. It's awesome.

Has Dresden Dolls, as a band, started work yet on another full length album of new songs yet?

There's a lot of songs on the drawing board. I don't think we'll have any lack of material when we go into make Official Dolls Record #3.

The band has a very distinct sound. How do you describe a Dresden Dolls show to someone who's never seen it before?

Piano. Drums. Banging. Craziness. Silliness. Feelings. Catharsis.

I know you were involved with The Onion Cellar production (a play created by Amanda) in Cambridge.  Do you have plans to take that show to other venues across the country?  Any plans for other plays?

The Onion Cellar was a creative disaster for me, so it will be put to bed. But I am hoping to create another original piece of theater next year with one of my favorite directors. Details forthcoming.

I also remember reading about a theater in Rhode Island that put on a production based around some of your songs. Did you see the production or have any involvement?

I did see a DVD of it. It was wonderful to watch the interpretations.

On to another topic, what can you tell me about Post-War Trade?

It's a merchandising company for our fans to create things for each other under the business umbrella of the band. They're making all sorts of CRAZY shit. It's very exciting.

 You are also singing with the Boston Pops this summer.  How did that come about?

I begged and they said yes. The song selection is happening right now. Its great fun....we're going to do some really weird stuff and surprises. They're a kooky bunch, I wasn't expecting it.

What other projects are you and Brian working on outside of the band?

Brian just drummed on a Nine Inch Nails record and is playing with a New York band we love called World/Inferno Friendship Society. I'm putting out my solo record and devoting a lot of time to that. I'm making the release and the promotion a lot more complicated than it needs to be, which seems to be my style. But it means I don't get much sleep.