Whatcha Watchin’ Issue #28

The Dresden Dolls get down with Slayer, time management, and disfiguring diseases

By Gabrielle Moss
Published: June 1st, 2006 | 12:00am

Since meeting (quite appropriately) at a Halloween party in 2000, Boston duo the Dresden Dolls have been steadily kicking out the Kurt Weill–influenced piano-punk jams, picking up critical accolades and a devoted fan base along the way. Their sophomore album, Yes, Virginia ... , showcases more of the keen melodic sensibilities, playful theatricality, and biting wit that won them high-profile admirers like Trent Reznor (who hand-picked them as the opening act on Nine Inch Nails’ summer 2005 tour). Over a sushi platter at NYC’s Joe’s Pub, pianist-vocalist Amanda Palmer and drummer Brian Viglione discuss a few of their favorite things.

BOOB TUBE
Amanda Palmer: I don’t have a TV.
Brian Viglione: I wouldn’t watch a television show if you paid me.

MOVIES
AP: The last movie that I really loved was Me And You And Everyone We Know.
BV: The one that’s been on my mind the most is [Wesley Willis — The Daddy of Rock ’n’ Roll]. That was a beautiful, beautiful documentary about his life.

LISTENS
AP: For the past year, I’ve been listening a lot to Regina Spektor’s Soviet Kitsch, and Antony and the Johnson’s I Am a Bird Now. I actually really do like Fiona Apple’s new CD [Extraordinary Machine]. I’m not nuts about all the tracks, but there are two or three that get stuck in my head.
BV: I’ve been listening to sort of an eclectic mix: [Mozart’s opera] “The Marriage Of Figaro,” [Slayer’s] God Hates Us All, Ani DiFranco’s Educated Guess. There are two local bands whom I’ve been trying to spout off about: Reverend Glasseye, who have a new CD out called Our Lady Of the Broken Spine, and HUMANWINE.

READS
AP: I’ve been reading Chronicles by Bob Dylan. I’m also reading this book on time management called Getting Things Done [ by David Allen] that’s actually changing my life. ... It’s not as cheesy as it sounds — it sounds like ... some terrible self-help book, but it’s fantastic.
BV: The Secret Garden [by Frances Hodgson Burnett], actually. It’s beautiful, and I didn’t expect it [to be].

BROWSES
AP: The places I check in with the most are Salon.com and BBC.com. Malady Of the Month [asylumeclectica.com/malady] is also pretty awesome — lots of pictures of dermoid cysts and people with smallpox. Not for the faint of heart — don’t read it while you’re eating.
BV: One that I go back to every time I need a laugh is [Wendy McClure’s site] Candyboots.com.