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The Dollyrots : Viper Room
Playing for a packed house at the Viper Room is never an easy feat for any artist, yet young power punk band The Dollyrots made it look quite easy, playing the 9:30 P.M. slot recently at Viper as part of an evening presented by Indie 103.1 F.M., and Filter Magazine.
Their task was simple: having to follow a blisteringly fast, loud and raucous set by The Waking Hours, they needed to lay it down with equal force. Such a burden may be bothersome for most bands, but this is no average band. The Dollyrots, a trio comprised of the unquestionably cute firecracker Kelly Ogden (bass/lead vocals), the quiet cyclone Luis Cabezas (lead guitars/backing vocals) and stylishly dazzling drummer Joshua Valenti (in his nifty blue jumpsuit and matching blue Mohawk) were well trained while on tour of the east coast with local power punk powerhouse Bang Sugar Bang.
The Dollyrots blend a combination of youthful energy in a cocktail of happy hooks and scortching licks with a playful punk rock edge. They like to call it “an energetic style that blends indie punk with 60’s girl-group charm.” Whatever the label on their jar may say, these artists presented a drop-kick-slam-dunk of an energetic and physical showcase for the eager audience, some already adorned in Dollyrots schwag.
Their songs are crafted with intelligent lyrics, catchy arrangements with a bit of a retro flair. Some creations like the feisty “Feed Me, Pet Me”, an audience favorite and the song that put The Dollyrots on the map in a recent HP national commercial advertising digital photography, carry a distinctly punk backbone and is foaming over with angry energy. Their set often balanced that energy with slower melodies and ballads that carried that trademark retro tone, including an electrified version of The Ronettes’ classic pop song “Be My Baby” (also known as the song from “Dirty Dancing” to some.)
The Dollyrots punctuate their fun with a purpose attitude usually with a Smackdown! throwdown at the end of their set, very reminiscent of the old days of heavy metal when you were wondering just when is someone going to smash a guitar already! Characteristically, after their last song in their set, a fiery relationship song called “Kick Me to the Curb”, one of the players ends up clotheslining someone: in recent shows, Ogden would spike her bass like a running back scoring a touchdown and would dive over the drum kit (clearing it cleanly 98% of the time) and send Valenti onto the ground with one strike, followed by Cabezas to top off the dogpile. On this night for instance, Ogden tackled Cabezas like a safety trying to stop that breakaway run, sending both of them straight off the Viper Room stage, right onto the ground below, while Valenti simply took a bow.
For a young band just recently transplanted from Florida, The Dollyrots have generated a tremendous groundswell of interest, devotion and momentum – and they are riding the wave like Kelly Slater in a championship surfing competition, delivering a fast and friendly show, filled with fun and hyginx on every occasion.
Article by: Aaron Settipane
Submitted: June, 2004
Artist Website: www.thedollyrots.com
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