Allyson Lipkin aka DD Dagger Bio

DD, a.k.a Allyson Lipkin, is a visual artist, performer, and entertainer. She started playing alto saxophone, singing, and performing live in clubs in her mid 20's. Her first band, "Deep Sombreros" became a local ATX favorite with their comical stage antics and old world-inspired jazzy tunes. Allyson was a co-writer for the band's music along with the 3 brothers Grant (Peter, Ian, Christian) who played guitars and upright bass, respectively. The band made only one record, "Quien Es El Pinche Hombre"(Southern Love) and was featured on a KVRX Local Live CD with local stars ...And You Will Know Us by the Trail of Dead, Daniel Johnston, and the Texas Meat Purveyors. The Deeps created a big buzz locally, made 2 videos (one of which reached the top 10 in the Austin Chronical Music Pole and was directed by local hot-shot Paul Minor). The band was featured many times in independant television, films, and local radio.

Musically Lipkin shifted gears to play rock-n-roll drums in an the all girl band Jackie Ono with Marisa Pool, (Candi and the Cavities). She honed her skills as a hard-hitting drummer for the band while contributing a few tunes to their self-titled ep. She also continually sat in as a side woman and session player on sax for many acts from the national rock scene that came through Mike Vasquez's Sweatbox Studio.

DD made a tough decision to leave the girl band and took a short break from music to obtain her Design Degree and study graphics. (She holds a BFA from the University of Texas, Austin, and an Associates in Visual Communication Design from Austin Community College).

With a new resolve to write and compose a full set of her own music she formed The Easies on guitar with guitar player turned Drummer Kevin Hoyas (Simple Circuit) and soon after picked up bass player Jeff Linton (The Damn Times, The Stepbrothers, Sons of Hercules). They made a record together called "Aspirins and Band-Aids" (Topple Records) at Sweatbox Studio. It and has sold over 300 copies and is featured on Pandora Radio and Last.FM. In 2008 Kevin left the band and was replaced by Kory Cook (Sons of Hercules), but an unsteady musical crew left Allyson unsure of sustainablility. She disbanded the Easies and went solo.

As DD Dagger, Lipkin didn't want to be another singer/songwriter. In fact, she rarely even plays an acoustic guitar. She prefers the crunchy sounds of an old hollowbody or her 60's Kay sunburst. DD Dagger's music rocks- but she cuts the tension with electronic beats, organic noises, loops, electric piano and singing, and heartfelt lyrics.

Lipkin managed to take her live show a step further and join her visual sensibilities by adding dancers, projections and visual props. Do512 writes about her live show, "Vocalist and multi-instrumentalist Allyson Lipkin's dark, sexy, and maybe dangerous sense of play on stage will leave a lasting impression of a truly entertaining musical performer."

Dagger has written, produced, recorded, sang and played every bit of her newest and most original effort, "Femmie Auteur" (aside from the cover she recorded of Crimson and Clover with film score and Tin Hat band leader, Mark Orton. (Everything's Illuminated, The Real Dirt On Farmer John, The Good Girl))

Rob Patterson of Texas Music Magazine writes, "DD Dagger, writes, plays and sings everything here (save for a cover of "Crimson and Clover"), pulling in indie rock, punk, ambient, electronica and much more on a lo-fi set that remains full-blooded and brims with talent and charm. "

She has sold the record all over the world and all over the US. She continues to book shows and take mini-tours to the NE (New York, DC) and the NW (Los Angeles, Portland, Seattle, Olympia). She gigs locally, often as a one-woman-band, using her backing tracks and visuals; and, sometimes, with back up dancers "La Pistolles". Occasional live appearances on drums are made by Virginia Meza (Unhung Heros, Jackie Ono, Rabitt Fist), Kory Cook, and on Trumpet by Mike Vasquez, (SisterRunNaked, The Somethin' Ain't Rights).

DD has also sat in, recorded, or played live with these fine musical acts:

Deep Sombreros, SisterRunNaked, The Futants, Jackie-Ono, SuperEgo, Double O Go-Go, Enduro, Pearly Gates, The Crack Pipes, Total Sound Direct Action Committee, Attack Formation, Chargers Street Gang, Mishka Shubaly, The Fleshtones, Flato Van Vleck, One Man Show Live, Super Sonic Uke, The Easies, MC Sweet Tea and the Allyson's, Darling New Neighbors, Tom Ovans, The Somthin' Ain't Rights, David Dondero, and Peelander Z among others.