The Dresden Dolls have announced a pair of reunion shows to take place this summer. The cabaret two-piece — comprised of Amanda Palmer and Brian Viglione — will play Boston’s Blue Hills Bank Pavilion on August 26th, followed the next day by a show at the Amphitheater at Coney Island Boardwalk in Brooklyn.
The new dates mark their first official performances in years. The Dresden Dolls officially went on a hiatus in 2008, but reunited briefly in 2010 for a special Halloween show and short tour.
Speaking to Pitchfork, Palmer said the August reunion shows came to fruition after an employee from the Amphitheater at Coney Island Boardwalk asked them about the possibility of getting back together. “It was just too tempting to say no to playing a giant Coney Island show,” she elaborated, adding, “Coney Island is in our roots.”
While there are no other reunion shows in the works for the time being, Palmer noted that attendees of the August gigs will be in for a real treat and can expect to hear new music. “The Dresden Dolls never get together to play shows without surprising people.”
“We don’t like to repeat ourselves, and we do not like to be predictable, and that is what made the Dresden Dolls such a fantastic live band,” added Palmer. “Throughout the course of our touring history, you never knew what you were going to see when you went to a Dresden Dolls show. These two shows are going to be no exception. We are going to pull out all the stops: there is going to be insanity, onstage special guests, strange happenings, love with the audience. It’s never simple.”
Although Palmer and Viglione have repeatedly quashed reunion rumors, it seemed almost inevitable that they’d rekindle their musical chemistry again. In an interview with Flavorwire shortly after splitting up, Palmer said of Viglione: “Brian is basically just the world’s most incredible one-man band. I think it would be incredibly easy to go back to orchestrating with Brian.” She added, “I definitely would love to play with Brian again because the experience of playing with him his incredible and sublime; it’s like the best music sex I’ve ever had.”
The Dresden Dolls’ last album of original material was 2006’s Yes, Virginia…. Since that release, both members have kept up their own projects; Palmer especially has enjoyed a prolific solo career, releasing countless singles, live records, and full-lengths.
Below, revisit a few singles off Yes, Virginia…:
