'Dark & Deviant' Lillies

By Meredith Deliso

Halloween’s just around the corner, and with the London-based act Tiger Lillies coming to town, you couldn’t ask for a better act to bring in the sinister overtones and costumed glory of All Hallow’s Eve.

They come to St. Ann’s Warehouse in DUMBO, where they’ve been on and off for the past several years, October 16 and 17 for two nights of theatrics (their painted faces channeling a twisted Marcel Marceau) and darkly humorous lyrics on anything from bestiality to prostitution.

With St. Ann’s celebrating their 30th season, the Lillies also have some champagne to pour on their own accord – the shows, titled “Dark and Deviant,” marks their 20th anniversary.

In honor of the occasion, for the first time in years, the band will perform songs from their award-winning junk opera “Shockheaded Peter” (watch a clip below), which ran in London for several years before coming to off-Broadway in a revival four years ago, as well as selections from their Grammy-nominated album “The Gorey End,” and others from the past two decades.

Singer Martyn Jacques formed the band in 1989 and fronts the Lillies with his castrati falsetto described as “Tom Waits on helium,” while playing the accordion for a Left Bank Paris, pre-war Berlin feel. Accompanying Jacques are Adrian Huge, who is prone to playing with toy babies and rubber chickens, and Adrian Stout on bass, musical saw and vocals, making music that possesses a Brechtian spirit, punk cabaret feel and their characteristically twisted humor.

Don’t miss this energetic live show when it comes to Brooklyn October 16 and 17 at St. Ann’s Warehouse (38 Water Street) at 8 p.m. Tickets range from $32 to $42. For more information, call 718-254-8779.

The Tiger Lillies in "Shockheaded Peter"