WEDNESDAY 4 AUGUST
Paradiso (Grote Zaal), 20.30, €20

The strongest criticism to be leveled at Portland, Oregon’s The Dandy Warhols is that they look the part. The cheekbones, the leather trousers, the piercings, eyeliner and pouts are perfect. This is distracting. Distracting because away from the vintage cool and engineer boots they have written some very catchy songs. These songs deal with money (or lack thereof), fame, expectation and more importantly identity, friendship, success and failure in the scramble that is life in the modern world.

Drawing heavily on their influences – most noticeably The Velvet Underground – The Dandies have successfully updated that ’60s psychedelic vibe to a very contemporary sound while managing to survive the indie feeding-frenzy that gripped the record industry in the mid ’90s. Fame and money might have dampened their initial drive and output, but they can still deliver that perfect hook or that flawless melody and look super while doing so.

This show also has an added attraction of DJ Zia Rescue (The Dandy’s keyboardist Zia McCabe) DJing an afterparty in the basement of the Paradiso.

For a fantastic insider look at the intense relationship between The Dandy Warhols and The Brian Jonestown Massacre (housemates and a major early inspiration), the film Dig! is a must see for any lover of popular music, or heartbreaking tragedy.