DeVotchKa opened last night for The Dresden Dolls at Webster Hall. I arrived halfway through the set, and standing in the back, house right (where I always end up), I couldn’t help but bust out some dancing, including a polka at one point. The typical New York audience was standing still, much to my surprise. Listing to this band is like being at an Eastern European Gypsy wedding, it’s unique, haunting and fun. There is no better site than Jeanie Schroder putting on her tuba decorated with Christmas lights. I mean, come on, how many other girls out there can get on stage and rock the tuba.

The Dresden Dolls, made up of just a piano, drums and the bittersweet voice of Amanda Palmer, came on stage next. I saw them when they opened for Nine Inch Nails and loved the music, but I wasn’t prepared for what a show they could put on. During one of their songs a curtain dropped from the ceiling in the middle of the hall and a girl climbed up and did all kind of tricks in the air with it (what do you call that? tissue dancing?) At one point Zombie Brides were throwing flower petals off the balcony, mechanized boys were dancing on stage and a full orchestra came on stage for a cover of ‘Science Fiction Double Feature.’

If Edward Gorey decided to put together a show, this is the line-up he would choose. It was the perfect way to start Halloween weekend.

Since I was in the back, my pics didn’t turn out, so the above images are from a Dresden Dolls concert in March that I took from http://www.freemusic.cz/clanky/3693.html