The Dresden Dolls announced two shows at the Wilbur Theatre, one for each of their major label releases. The second night was dedicated completely to Yes, Virginia, released in early 2006.

The Dolls opened with back to back banging versions of Sex Changes and Backstabber. Playing the album in order, there wasn’t really that much surprise to be had tonight. Instead, the night became a kind of lovefest between singer and keyboardist Amanda Palmer and drummer/guitarist Brian Viglione and the audience. In addition to offering some backstory on how the album was made, the duo played off each other as if 2006 were merely yesterday.

The best of the night was a gorgeous rendition of Delilah with Georgia from Bitter Ruin adding some harmonious textures. There was also a extended, rousing version of Mandy Goes to Med School that pitched the audience into a frenzy. There was definitely a shift in the energy level, one that rocketed up and up and didn’t drop again until the house lights came up. Amanda Palmer did a short solo take on Me & the Mini Bar that somehow, even in its quiet aspirations, kept the momentum rolling into the end of the show. They closed with an encore that included Amanda Palmer racing through the mezzanine, and a run through of their iconic single Coin-Operated Boy. Their rendition of War Pigs (a Black Sabbath cover that’s been in their setlist before) was everything fans have come to know and love about the Dresden Dolls. It included an extended duel between Brian’s drums and Amanda’s keyboards, interplay that clearly displayed their affection for music, the fans and each other. It was an awesome, otherworldly display that – because the Dresden Dolls are shortchanged as an oddball indie act – not enough people have witnessed in the last ten years.

Though ostensibly the Dresden Dolls are no longer recording new music together (both have released other projects) here’s hoping they come together once in a while and remind us of just how great they are. They can play whatever they damn well feel like, and I would come back for more.

Dresden Dolls setlist
Sex Changes
Backstabber
Modern Moonlight
My Alcoholic Friends
Delilah (with Georgia Train)
Dirty Business
First Orgasm
Mrs. O
Shores of California
Necessary Evil
Mandy Goes to Med School
Me & The Minibar
Sing
Encore
Mein Herr
Coin-Operated Boy
War Pigs

Bitter Ruin is the reason I go to concerts. To have a musical duo blow you off your feet from the first note and keep you suspended in time until the last strum of the guitar is why I go to live shows. To do that as complete unknowns is a minor miracle.

From the heavenly harmonies between Ben Richards and Georgia Train to the haunting melodies, their songs transcend the music two people should seem capable of achieving. Even with a certain amount of theatricality, songs like Relief and Soldier shone in their right. The best of the night was the simple A Brand New Me which had the strength of stirring musical number and kept the audience hushed until Georgia sang the last note.

Referred to somewhat obliquely as just Georgia and Ben, the former has a voice that is out of this world, the latter is a pretty stellar vocalist and guitarist. Together, they make an outstanding duo. Georgia is the kind of person that could sing the ingredients on a shampoo bottle and people would perk up. But the fact is that Ben kept up with his harmonies all the while turning his guitar into a one man serenade. The opening act was a rare one that felt like their time on stage was too short.

Side bar, however Amanda Palmer keeps finding these exquisite musical acts to open her shows, she needs to keep it going forever and ever. In fact, she should start a circus and invite all her former opening acts to take part.