Legends from New York hit the Anaheim House of Blues

By Austin Lewis
Daily Forty-Niner
Staff Writer

Some 30 years ago, the New York Dolls were playing bars and clubs on the East Coast. At the time, they were considered just another band — they played high-energy rock ‘n' roll in a style similar to the Rolling Stones. There was something unique about the New York Dolls' approach to music, however. They were actually a punk and glam band years before either of those words meant anything in music, and they would go on to pave the way for bands like the Sex Pistols and the Ramones.

The New York Dolls broke up in the 1970s, but the remaining members'— lead singer David Johansen and rhythm guitarist Sylvain Sylvain — recently reunited and formed a new version of the band to perform in venues from England to Japan. They played two concerts at the House of Blues in Anaheim over the weekend, and I couldn't pass up the opportunity to see them.

The set lists for the two shows were nearly identical, and they included most of the songs from the band's 1973 self-titled debut album and 1974s "In Too Much Too Soon."

Highlights from Friday's show include "Looking For A Kiss" and""Puss"‘N' Boots." These songs opened the show and built the momentum that would carry the band through the rest of the night. During "Subway Train," Johansen moved from one end of the stage to the other, clapping along with the crowd. Throughout the show, he worked both ends of the stage while dancing with his microphone and the other band members.

One of the biggest surprises of the night was the cover of Janis Joplin's "Piece Of My Heart." It drew a huge response from the crowd, which sang the lyrics along with Johansen and the band. A song that drew an equal response was "You Can't Put Your Arms Around A Memory," a tribute to the New York Dolls' original lead guitarist, Johnny Thunders. Sylvain led the band through part of the song before segueing into "Lonely Planet Boy."

Two of the best songs from Saturday's show were "It's Too Late" and a cover of Bo Diddley's "Pills," both featuring Johansen on harmonica. The song "Trash" was another high point. The crowd shouted the choruses back to the band here, as they did during many songs throughout the weekend.

"Jet Boy," played towards the end of Saturday's show, featured a jam at the end where Sylvain and the band's lead guitarist traded solos while Johansen worked the crowd into a frenzy.

They closed with "Personality Crisis," and Johansen threw roses out into the crowd.

The band played "Human Being" for an encore, which featured another jam similar to the one in""Jet Boy." Sylvain made use of his guitar's feedback throughout the song, and he again traded solos with the other members of the band. The night came to an end with a band introduction by Johansen, followed by a reprise of the jam from "Human Being."

This review would not be complete without a mention of the Chelsea Smiles, who opened Friday's show. The band, fronted by lead vocalist and guitarist Todd Youth, played 30 minutes of fast-paced, guitar-driven rock'‘n' roll. Youth and guitarist Christian Black traded solos throughout their set. Both guitarists seamlessly switched from playing rhythm parts to lead parts and back again. Their set included songs such as "I'm Gone,"""I Want More" and""Misery Bite Me." I am eagerly awaiting the release of their first album. Until then, check them out live. They will not disappoint.