The Gossip Dolls = Amanda Palmer of The Dresden Dolls & Beth Ditto of The Gossip. Below is their take on Radiohead’s ‘Creep’ as performed at the aftershow for Monday night’s True Colors stop at Radio City. My review of that gig can be found via this link.

The full show was close to five (!) hours in length… However, rather than reliving the entire journey step by step by step, here’s my review in *under 100 words*.

The Gossip: Absolutely incredible. Highlight of the evening. The trio even busted out Aaliyah’s ‘R U That Somebody?’. Beth had on a fabulous purple shimmery dress.

Dresden Dolls: Impressive. Won over a reluctant crowd. ‘Coin-Operated Boy’ was met with huge applause, as was the Jacque Brel cover. Class act, as per usual. Ace.

Debbie Harry: Disappointing, disappointing, disappointing. Vocals were off, not one single Blondie track performed and Debbie now goes by Deborah. Sigh. And Deb, you know we love you, but the silver mini-skirt was easily the fashion faux pas of the year.

Erasure: Electro-pop gods prove why they got the title in the first place. ‘A Little Respect’, ‘Chains Of Love’ + ‘Oh L’Amour’ met with rapturous approval. Biggest cheers of the night.

Cyndi Lauper: God love her. Wig, unmatching high heels, Karen O-esque gown and all. ‘True Colors’ choir to close the show = perfection. Accent was flaring out of control!

(photos via Faded Youth Blog + Satan Polaroid)

MP3s: The Gossip – Your Mangled Heart + Dresden Dolls – Backstabber (live)

Via Spin: *Amanda Palmer, the animated vocalist and pianist of Brechtian punk cabaret act the Dresden Dolls, has stepped out on her own, confirming Who Killed Amanda Palmer, the singer/songwriter’s solo debut currently underway in Ben Folds’ Nashville, TN recording studio. Palmer confesses Folds’ entry began with a random email confessing his love for the Dolls, and from there, the duo’s musical relationship blossomed. “When I finally met him in Australia he generously offered his Nashville studio up for anything I needed,” Palmer said. “When I told him I’d gladly squat there to make my solo record, he offered to produce it. I didn’t think twice. Working with Ben has been amazing. We collaborate perfectly.”

The new album, an effort thrust to the forefront while Dresden Dolls drummer Brian Viglione tours with fellow Bostonian outfit Humanwine, will feature renditions of Dolls live standards such as “Ampersand” and “The Point of It All,” alongside fresh Palmer-penned tunes with titles like “Guitar Hero” and “Runs in the Family.” Furthermore, Who Killed Amanda Palmer, which will showcase percussion and keyboard work from Folds and string fingerings courtesy of ex-Rasputina cellist Zoe Keating, is tentatively slated to hit store shelves in the spring of 2008 via Palmer’s own Eight Foot imprint.

“The songs range from intimate ballads to faster and harder Amanda-assaults-the-piano thrillers,” the oft-makeup caked singer said speaking on the album’s semi-departure from Dolls material. “We’ve been adding everything from organs and Leslie cabinets [keyboard speaker] to strings, horns, and tympani. The final result should be biblical.”*

Biblical, eh? Learn more about her solo debut (and hear some tracks from it) here on Amanda Palmer’s MySpace page. Dresden Dolls will be touring throughout June on The True Colors Tour.

MP3: Dresden Dolls – My Alcoholic Friends (via Peter Marinari)

The MTV-owned Logo cable network will be hosting this summer’s first annual True Colors Tour.

Cyndi Lauper, The Gossip, The Dresden Dolls, Erasure, Rufus Wainwright, Margaret Cho & Debbie Harry have all signed on to team up for the summer tour entitled ‘True Colors’ (a la the Cyndi tune of its namesake) which will hit major US cities this June to promote gay rights. The MisShapes will be DJing between sets at each of the 15 tour spots.

The show is to be in the neighborhood of five hours (talk about getting your money’s worth!) and will hit Radio City Music Hall on June 18th. HRC (Human Rights Campaign) will receive a portion of each ticket sold. For more info on the event and all of its sponsors, mission, etc. Please the tour’s official site!

For the full list of tour dates, click here! Pre-sale tickets can be picked up now! (Password is HRC)

MP3: Cyndi Lauper – She Bop