On a brisk spring night in New York City, turn of the century indie darlings The Dandy Warhols played their second sold out show at the Bowery Ballroom to a room of delighted fans. The older leaning crowd were treated to a career spanning set that touched on all of the group’s highpoints as the Portland foursome played over 20 tunes, stretching out with ease.
Before the headliners took the stage though there were two openers. First Miranda Lee Richards with some help on mandolin backing vocals and cello delivered a well manicured acoustic set. It was a sweet appetizer as songs like “Colors So Fine” wafted over the crowd before the volume and electricity kicked up.
The most exciting surprise of the whole evening was contained within the Seratones 45 minutes of slamming, ass shaking rock and roll. The Shreveport, LA based four piece brought a determined sense of shimmy right from the first number as frontwoman AJ Haynes strummed and sang with a strutting confidence. The rhythm section of Adam Davis and Jesse Gabriel were on overdrive the whole time propelling things forward while Connor Davis dropped ripping solos into the mix.
Tracks like “Necromancer” and “Get Gone” from their upcoming release had garage rock power with splashes of R&B, Soul, and Latin flavors. When Haynes hopped into the crowd to sing and dance on the closing number she sealed the deal, gaining a plethora of new fans. The Seratones are certainly a band any rock and roller should look out for.
There was barely room to move in the venue as The Dandy Warhols took the stage playing their mix of dance infused folk rock with their equipment set up four across the front. Opening with “Mohammed” off of Thirteen Tales of Urban Bohemia the group’s drone began the space laced set that showcased the band’s newest tracks from Distortland as well as old favorites. Newer winners were the punkish “Pope Reverend Jim” about Christopher Lloyds character from Taxi and the more laid back “STYGGO” which had hands clapping to the beat.
A few solo songs from main Warhol Courtney Taylor-Taylor broke up the evening (one of which was a cover of “Ohio” by request) before the band came back to rock some of their best known numbers. Songs like “We Used To Be Friends” “Bohemian Like You” and the night closer “Boys Better” all received rapturous applause from the crowd, proving that even after 22 years as a group the Dandy’s are just as loved as ever, flying high with their patented brand of odd rock.
