Concert Review: New York Dolls at House of Blues in Dallas (Wednesday June 3)

by Teresa Gubbins

Marc Lee

New York Dolls Sylvain Sylvain and David Johansen

Dallas got to see a chapter from the early days of punk on Wednesday at the House of Blues with a performance in the Cambridge Room by the New York Dolls.

The Dolls formed in the early '70s, and gained notice after dressing up like girls. If any one band served as a segue from the glam/disco era to punk, it was the NY Dolls. They came out with two albums, then broke up in 1977. Singer David Johansen cultivated an alternate career as lounge singer Buster Poindexter, but the Dolls reunited in 2004. Only two of the five original members remain: Johansen and guitarist Sylvain Sylvain.

The band doesn't have a large catalog of hits, so not all of the songs were familiar, but the set was still engaging. Johansen is a classic rock frontman a la Mick Jagger or Steven Tyler, with a sinewy physique and slinky, dramatic moves that easily sustain your attention for 90 minutes. One memorable moment was at the end of "Gotta Get Away From Tommy" when he turned his back to the audience and clapped his hands over his head like a flamenco dancer.

Sylvain's guitar had an appealing, garage-y shagginess, with a kind of sad nostalgia that made you want to hear more. The three newer players -- bassist Sami Yaffa (formerly of Hanoi Rocks), guitarist Steve Conte, and drummer Brian Delaney -- shared the same proficiency and swagger-y style.

Marc Lee

New York Dolls singer David Johansen and guitarist Steve Conte

The tour, which began in May, marks the release of a new album, 'Cause I Sez So, produced by Todd Rundgren who also produced their '73 self-titled debut.

They wove in tracks from the new disc along with favored live staples such as the kitschy "Stranded in the Jungle," originally recorded by the Jayhawks in 1956. They also did a jumping rendition of "Pills" by Bo Diddley that got them and the crowd good and sweaty.

Marc Lee

New York Dolls bassist Sami Yaffa, guitarist Syl Sylvain, and drummer Brian Delaney

They knew how to open songs dramatically: Johansen often pulled out a harmonica or else they'd begin with a volley of drums or a series of bass notes. References to other bands darted in and out of their set like eels in the sea -- Yardbirds, The Who, T Rex, Public Image Limited, Wilson Pickett ("Land of 1,000 Dances") -- maybe you could catch them, and maybe you couldn't.

If the Dolls ever had a hit, it was with the unlikely but uptempo song "Trash", which they re-recorded for the current album. At the show, they ran through it briskly, then slowwwwed it down to a clip-clop honky-tonk tempo in the middle that made it funny.

Marc Lee

Crowd at New York Dolls show at House of Blues in Dallas June 3

The band played here last year at the Granada. This go-round drew approximately 350 people, an unpredictable mix of random oldsters and younger curiosity seekers. Originally scheduled for the main room, the show got moved to the smaller Cambridge Room due to low ticket sales. As a money-maker, it was probably a disappointment, but the opportunity to see a band with this level of entertaining chops in such a small room was a treat. And Johansen was mindful of where he was -- none of the usual empty "Hello Dallas" patter.

"The New York Dolls are so delighted to be here in Dallas, Texas," he said. "Our first live bootleg album was made here." -- then, drolly, "It's kismet that we're here."

Here's a video of their performance last night of "Mystery Girls":

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