The Dandy Warhols wind up with a hit single and a commercial placement in Europe while The Brian Jonestown Massacre spectacularly implode due to the fact that leader Anton Newcombe is a world-class jerk (Editor's Note: The music of The Brian Jonestown Massacre currently runs under the opening credits of the HBO show "Boardwalk Empire").
Meanwhile The Dandy Warhols used their fame and fortune to build their own studio in Portland, Oregon and have carried on as a regular working band with only one personnel change (the drummer of course).
I still like 1997's "The Dandy Warhol's Come Down" which has a lot of droning, Velvet Underground-like songs and some more poppish stuff for contrast. I kind of lost interest after that. I didn't like "13 Tales From Urban Bohemia" because the hit single "Bohemian Like You" was so head and shoulders above the rest of the stuff on the album.
Since they're coming to town next Tuesday, I thought I'd catch up with one of their more recent releases and 2003's "Welcome to the Monkey House" is surprisingly good. A little all over the map, but no major duds.
When I saw them at 4th & B in '05, they were one of the few bands that actually got better as the night progressed. Most bands start with a bang and try to end with one. At first Taylor-Taylor seemed aloof and bored but after the third song or so, he took off his coat (which ain't rock and roll) and got down to business and they played a really strong set.
They're touring behind the recently released Capitol years compilation so they should be playing their "hits" on Tuesday. I'm looking forward to a rockin' evening with a band that's been together now for over ten years.
The Dandy Warhols play the Belly Up Tavern in Solana Beach on Tuesday, December 7th.
