Pat Todd is a roots rock and roll incarnate — a relentless road dog, grinding it out night after night with his hot-as-buckshot band, The Rankoutsiders. His shows are raw, electric, and lived-in, a testament to decades on the road. With a career spanning over forty years, Todd has earned a reputation as one of the hardest-working men in the music industry, someone who wears his experience on his sleeve and his passion for rock and roll in every note.
Fans of his current work know that Todd’s story stretches back to The Lazy Cowgirls, the L.A.-based punk‑infused rock band that helped shape the underground scene of the 1980s and ’90s. With the Cowgirls, Todd learned the art of raw performance, relentless touring, and storytelling through music — lessons that inform every chord he strikes today. His career is a masterclass in endurance and authenticity, bridging the gap between punk attitude and roots rock soul.
Now, decades into his career, Todd turns his attention to one of his personal favourites: The New York Dolls. Their influence is monumental, inspiring generations of musicians, yet they never received the mainstream recognition they deserved. With his latest EP, After The Dolls, Todd pays homage to this legendary band, blending swagger, grit, and raw emotion into a record that’s simultaneously a tribute and a statement of his own enduring artistry.
The EP opens with a rip through Johnny Thunders’ classic single "Dead or Alive", also featured on Thunders’ solo masterpiece, So Alone. Todd’s version doesn’t stray far from the original, but it lives and breathes with a new intensity, channelling Thunder’s signature swagger, whine, and chaotic charm. It’s a track that instantly signals Todd’s reverence for the Dolls while proving he can make it his own.
Rather than sticking to the obvious hits, Todd digs deeper, giving fans something special. The second track, "Disappointed in You", was reportedly recorded during Thunder’s final studio sessions in 1990, a year before his tragic passing. There’s a sense of urgency and poignancy in Todd’s rendition, a nod to the raw emotional weight of the original.
Next is "Short Lives", from the 1985 album Que Sera, Sera, written by Thunders and Patti Palladin of the band Snatch. The title itself is almost prophetic, a reflection of the fleeting nature of life on the rock road and the bittersweet legacy of the Dolls’ era. Todd brings a rugged, roots-rock sensibility to the song, emphasizing its dark humour and rock-and-roll melancholy.
Todd doesn’t stop at Thunders. He also embraces David Johansen’s solo work, covering "Wreckless Crazy and Melody" from the 1979 In Style LP. Co-written by the underrated Sylvain Sylvain, these tracks capture a later phase of the Dolls’ evolution, when the band was experimenting, and Thunders and Nolan were pursuing separate paths. Todd’s interpretations honour the originals while infusing them with his own grit, turning them into something familiar yet freshly energized.
Finally, Todd digs into the Dolls’ vault with "The Rope (The Let Go Song)", a track recorded during sessions for their self-titled debut but released as the B-side to David Johansen’s first solo single, Funky But Chic. It’s a rarer gem, and Todd’s take brings out its haunting undertones and wildness, creating a fitting close to an EP that’s both a tribute and a celebration of the Dolls’ far-reaching influence.
After The Dolls is more than just a covers EP. It’s Pat Todd channelling the chaos, glamour, and heartbreak of one of rock’s most iconoclastic bands while filtering it through his own decades of experience. The result is an EP that feels lived-in, authentic, and vital — a record from a musician who has spent a lifetime living and breathing rock and roll, and who continues to push its boundaries with every note.
Pat Todd reminds us that roots rock isn’t just a sound — it’s a lifestyle, a commitment, and a relentless drive. With After The Dolls, he proves once again why he remains one of the genre’s most enduring, fearless voices.
10 Lipstick Killers/ 10
