The first time I came across the New York Dolls was a few years ago as a mention in a biography of Vivienne Westwood. The next time was on Thursday afternoon as the Boy was hyperventilating down the phone on being told that I’d gotten late tickets to the Morrissey gig in the Marquee with the NYD playing support. (He got very excited about the New York Dolls.)
Now, this is probably nothing you don’t know already but Morrissey quite possibly had the same reaction when the NYD (actually…am I allowed abbreviate? Oh, damn it all to heck – I live on the edge!) agreed to reform at his behest for a one-off gig at the Meltdown Festival in 2004. I have to say that I’m tickled pink by the idea of someone of the stature of Morrissey being a die-hard fan - it’s kind of like trying to picture him in short trousers. Mind you, he probably had the same hair-do…
Ok, so what has all this got to do with the gig in the Marquee on Thursday? Well, for the ones down the back, it’s because the Dolls played support to Morrissey in the Marquee on Thursday. Do try and keep up. Kudos to Aiken Promotions!
OK – so the New York Dolls! Generally thought of as the fathers of punk, one-time clients of Malcolm Maclaren, starting in 1971, stoping in 1977, reforming in 2004 and now playing in little old Cork in a tent. I think you’ll have guessed by now that I’m a Dolls virgin so I am not going to upset dyed-in-the-wool fans by commenting on or even trying to name any of the songs. Having said that, I do remember one in specific – the easy-to-remember, easy-to-pronounce-and-sing-along-to “Pills”. The Boy did liken them physically to the Village People – don’t shout – it’s more that they’re five very different-looking people on stage (there was a definite ACDC vibe going on with Sylvain Sylvain’s wardrobe) but they put me more in mind of the Stones, not least because of the striking similarities in looks and swagger between Johansen and Jagger. But I suspect that Johansen may not take himself as seriously as Jagger (working on the assumption that Jagger does, mind you). Speaking of wardrobes, when are men going to realise that the wearing of pink, stretch, spangly tops will actually enhance their level of attractiveness? Make-up, dresses, pink spangly – try it out! It worked for that dude out of Babylon Zoo, it works for Eddie Izzard and it worked for David Johansen on Thursday. Look it – women have been cross-dressing for decades – trouser suits, short hair – why not men? I miss the New Romantics…
Sorry – wandered - back to the gig! It seemed to me that the crowd took a little while to warm up to the Dolls and really get into it but by the time Mr Johansen was introducing us to the local boy on stage we were happy, happy people. I love their stuff – it’s original, unpretentious, good old rock’n’roll punk and, most importantly, great fun. I would love to see them again, hint hint.
A total change of scene and mood, Morrissey took to the stage after a LOT of flashing strobes, as a picture of sartorial elegance. Immaculate hair. We were asked for our compliments/comments. The grey really does make a man look distinguished.
Opening with “All you need is me” (wonderful lyrics) and following with “Ask” (my personal favourite – it should be printed on cards and handed out in schools and health centres), he made efforts to gel with his audience and show his fluffy side by speaking Irish at us (phonetically from a card, but how many of us can do much better?) and even tried a bit of a Cork (sorry, Cark) accent. It was quite sweet, really.
I wandered out for a bit in the middle, when he wandered into his more modern, solo stuff. There was a feeling of detachment around, which I thought was me disengaging from the music but have heard it since from others so perhaps it was emanating from the stage, or perhaps I happened to talk to the only people in the place who felt it, who knows? In any case, I was back inside just in time to miss his cover of the Buzzcocks’ “You say you don’t love me” (apparently superb) but in very good time for “How soon is now?” and the totally excellent encore “Irish Blood, English Heart”. And let me tell you, you haven’t heard that song until you’ve heard it being bellowed by a tent full of Morrissey fans – sends shivers down the spine, especially the bit about Cromwell.
Now I want to know about those pictures used as the backdrop. I’ve been wandering around the web to see if anyone has info on them, but no joy. Now the one on the left was a face-on mugshot, taken on the 26th June 1940 and just before he launched into “How Soon is Now?”, his keyboard played a slow and strange rendition of “Happy Birthday”. Hmm…bit of a mystery. Any enlightenment? Is it a really obvious connection? (Aside from the dates coinciding, of course.) It was a definite themed set – what with the mugshot triptych and the smaller image on the front with a snippet of accompanying information, which was saying basically that the guy in the picture was arrested for stealing a watch but claimed that the owner had given it to him. Both were drunk, apparently. Hmm…yes…and the mystery thickens.
P.S. Apologies to the first support band as I did not hear them and cannot find where I wrote their name and arrived at the gig with only just enough time to have a quick beer before the Dolls … em … well … anyway … I’m only human!
