The Dresden Dolls

The Dresden Dolls are an American punk cabaret duo formed in Boston in 2000 by Amanda Palmer, who sings and plays piano, and Brian Viglione, who plays drums, percussion, guitar, and backing vocals. After meeting at a Halloween party, the pair built their early reputation through theatrical club shows, mime-inspired visuals, fan performance art, and a piano-and-drums sound they called “Brechtian punk cabaret.” Their early live material appeared on A Is for Accident (2003), followed by the self-titled studio album The Dresden Dolls (2003), which introduced core songs such as “Girl Anachronism,” “Coin-Operated Boy,” “Missed Me,” and “Good Day.” The duo signed with Roadrunner Records and expanded its audience with Yes, Virginia… (2006), featuring “Backstabber,” “My Alcoholic Friends,” “Shores of California,” and “Sing,” while touring widely and releasing the concert film Live at the Roundhouse. In 2008, No, Virginia… collected B-sides, outtakes, and new songs including “Night Reconnaissance,” before the band entered a long period of intermittent activity as Palmer focused on solo work and Viglione played with other projects, including the Violent Femmes. The Dresden Dolls reunited for selected shows in the 2010s and returned more fully in the 2020s, playing Woodstock dates in 2022, touring the United States in 2023, and performing at Riot Fest. In 2026, they prepared Yes, Virginia… (Tailor’s Version), a full Boston re-recording of their 2006 album, with guest vocals from Veronica Swift and Jinkx Monsoon.