New York Dolls

House of Blues

Anaheim, CA

March 9, 2008

By Victoria Joyce
(SugarBuzz Hollywood)

SugarBuzz Magazine

We heard the Friday New York Dolls show in Hollywood at the Fonda was the greatest show ever, quote, unquote. The place was mobbed and it left the crowd screaming like teenagers and stunned. OK, same old, same old. Sorry we missed it.

Second stop in So Cal for the Dolls was their regular haunt, the House of Blues in Downtown Disneyland. We love the smell of burnt sugar in the morning. It is the smell of victory.

Are we over it yet? The legendary New York Dolls, one of the most revered and copied bands in rock history are back in the game and on the road. Still? A royal command performance a few years back, summoned by Morrisey (see documentary “New York Doll”) birthed the reunion, resurrection and the realignment. It clicked with Dolls and the fans. Two records thirty years ago with songs that still inspire and make us scream. Plus a new record, two years old now. And still kicking.

The Cinderella story aside, the short answer is, yeah, we are over it, just a tad. This is our third Dolls show in Anaheim in as many years. Happily driving the 100 miles to see them, this time we stay within the speed limit. We’ll get there.

The first of two opening bands; lady led Hazelden (who called Joe Escalante’s Barely Legal advice show on Indie 103-seems she’s getting cease and desist letters from a big rehab hosp.) was first up. They were OK and they got better. Final song “Paper Bullets” was a cutie.

We got fooled. The next band, We Are the Fury, out of Ohio, so resembled the NY Dolls for a minute there we got all excited. Skinny, long hair, hats, scarves, sparkle, etc. (Don’t know about that name boys. It’s kinda long. Can we suggest The Baby Dolls?)

That said, WATF kicks it hard. Lead singer, Jeremy Lublin, has a screaming singing style delivered with control like it was nothing. Perfect rocker abandon. “Let’s Start a Fire Tonight” and “Shake Your Asses” were pretty rockin’ songs. The latter was a teensy bit of a knock off if “Downtown Train” by Guess Who. The Fury followed up with “Hey Louie” a re-bop rocker that Buster Pointdexter would have love.

Between set songs for the Dolls were by Big Brother and the Holding Company, The Shangri La’s and The Ronettes. The Dolls love their dolls; Janis, Mary and Ronnie. House lights down and an aria from Madame Butterfly? Again, the Dolls love their dolls.

Around 10p, the New York Dolls took the stage like titans, ten feet tall. Opening with “Babylon” (from 2nd album “Too Much, Too Soon”) followed up with “We’re All In Love” written by Sami Yaffa for thier most recent “One Day It will Please Us to Remember Even This.” Ok, thirty years between records means they can name the album whatever they want.

Mixing up more new than old, we heard the NY Dolls classics; Bo Diddley cover, “Pills” and sweet and sad song for Johnny Thunders, “You Can’t Put Your Arms Around a Memory” and the newish “Dance Like a Monkey,” “Punishing World,” “Rainbow Store” (which slid nicely into “The Bristol Stomp”) and “Superfluous Music.”

Then we got some more of the old faves, “Looking for a Kiss” with David Johansen ripping off the classic Shangri La opener, ‘When I say I’m in love, you best believe I’m in love, L-U-V!” And mid song, Sami and Sylvain did a pick toss that was just too cute.

The old stuff is sad and crazy. The new songs are delightful and smart. Just like life.

We noticed The Dolls are getting comfy with each other and having much more fun. No longer the new guys and the old guys; the band has fully jelled. They are over it too.

“Trash” featured the familiar “how do you call your lover boy?” We love Dick and Dee Dee. Or was it Paul and Paula. The Dolls are such historians.

Ending the 90 minute plus show with the perfect “Jet Boy” gave us the shivers. Of course the encore was “Personality Crisis” that turned our knees into Jello. Lime green Jello.

David Johansen, Sylvain Sylvain, Sammi Yaffa, Brian Delaney and the gorgeous Steve Conte head down to South America for the next leg of this tour. According to Johansen visiting Jonesy’s Jukebox, The Dolls are gonna have a little talk with Hugo Chavez about the shape of things.

We can only hope.

http://www.nydolls.org/

http://www.hob.com/venues/clubvenues/anaheim/

Bonus material: Click on Trivia Game for documentary website “New York Doll” and scroll through the “Geneology of Rock and Soul Music.” Jolly fun. Trust me.

http://www.onepotatoproductions.com/NewYorkDoll/rocktimeline.html

SugarBuzz Magazine