New York Dolls at Berbati's

Aerosmith are just another street-corner rock'n'roll band, using notorious Zeppelin riffs in an effort to steal out love and devotion. But when one ruminates over the fact that 'Toys In The Attic' is the band's third album. Thanks, but not thanks Aerosmith. I'll stick with the New York Dolls for my rock'n'roll thrills. STEVE MORRISSEY, Kings Road, Stretford, Manchester."


From Melody Maker 1975

Morrissey, like Depeche Mode, is now hidden somewhere in a nostalgic haze. The music I listened to when I bought postcards for my friends and scribbled what I thought were insightful things on the back no longer applies. And occasionally I find myself reaching for his and The Smiths greatest hits, basking in great singles but no longer really relating to the lyrics. And while Morrissey and Mode are tucked away as the soundtrack to my 20s, I have Morrissey to thank for some of what's getting me through my 30s, the New York Dolls.

Only two of them are still kicking around on the tour circuit. Sylvain Sylvain and David Johansen dragging their beleaguered rock and roll asses to tiny clubs all over the country. But good god, unlike the middle aged rock step aerobics charade that was 2/3 of Bananarama, the Dolls just breathe and ooze everything that's great about rock and punk music.

And that feeling, that urge to get up and shake your ass is not something that carries on an iPod. They're rarely on any of my playlists. Their music isn't a wall of sound designed for a music player, it's meant to be live. It's meant to be listened to drunk. The riffs are supposed to make you want to stand up and cheer. The strutting not so much a sad Mick Jagger impression as men that simply can't grow up. They're consummate professionals at being horny, punkish teenage boys dressed in outrageous pants.

The venue doesn't matter. The time doesn't matter. The price of a dirty martini doesn't matter. What does matter is the New York Dolls are what it means to go see a phenomenal band.


Blown off by Johansen but they keep coming back
Seriously, the Cliks or Clicks or the oh god they sucked as an opening acts got nothing on these guys

Side note: The crowd were also enormously cool, we met a great couple who highly recommend Flogging Molly and a drag queen called Lisa who introduced me to Shonen Knife. A few irritating hipsters but this is Portland after all.

Listen:
New York Dolls radio on Last.fm
Shonen Knife
Flogging Molly