A little older, a little wiser. Dandy Warhols did not fail to please Sunday night at the Phoenix Concert Theatre. Previewing songs from their recently released 'This Machine,' the Dandy's plowed through almost two hours of new and familiar material from their extensive catalogue. There's something about a Sunday night in Toronto that brings out the band's earnest best and warmth.
For the second year in a row the Dandy's opted to finish their set and not leave the stage to subject their crowd to a lengthy clapping-hooting session, rather to stay and play a few more tracks and let their audience get home before midnight. Zia was again particularly magnanimous about welcoming and thanking a Sunday night crowd...it's as if the band, too, realize that there's a week of work ahead and a night's sleep required.
New material was catchy and instantly familiar. Sad Vacation, The Autumn Carnival, I am Free and (my new favourite) Rest Your Head showcased the Dandy's lulling and yet energizing sound.
Old favourites; Boys Better, I Love You (from Come Down) played like warm sweaters on a cold night. Courtner Taylor-Taylor was in fine voice and earned his keep as he always does. Zia was her radiant self, banging out time on her tamborine and zombifying the crowd with her hypnotic keyboards.
A Sunday evening well-spent.