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Bio
"Billy & Dolly" is the musical venture of Bill Rousseau and Dahlia Gallin Ramirez, the singing and songwriting duo of San Francisco band The Monolith. After five years with The Monolith, they traded in the Moogs and elaborate orchestrations for an acoustic guitar and a piano, and went into two years of song-writing hibernation in Dolly's basement. They wrote songs about love and loss, old friends, Gene Clark, the Garden of Eden... They emerged ready to rock again, backed by The Tell-Tale Hearts:
They released their first album, In the Beginning, on Nov. 17, 2009. In addition to The Tell-Tale Hearts, they were joined in the studio by the supremely talented engineer Jay Pellici (Deerhoof, Erase Errata, Cody Chesnutt). |
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Radio
Rip this Band Off: Billy & Dolly and the Art of Giving It Away
"What's an unknown band to do after pouring blood, sweat, tears, and its own money into making the most awesome record ever? The answer: give it all away. Outraged, one dedicated follower takes it upon himself to spread the word, one fan at a time."
- Eric Winick, Yarn Audio Works, 2010 (featured on KQED)
Press
"Long time musical collaborators Bill Rousseau and Dahlia Gallin Ramirez have compiled an impressive amalgam of styles under their new moniker Billy & Dolly. Their debut album, In the Beginning, fluctuates between sweet, acoustic pop ballads and densely orchestrated (and pretty damn epic) full out rock and roll. Joined by former Monolith bandmate Alex DeCarville, along with Nils Erickson and Adam Cunha of 20 Minute Loop, it's apparent that Billy & Dolly's sound comes from great care and musicianship, embellished by multi-part harmonies that won't soon be forgotten."
- Anne Ostrowski, Noise Pop
"Billy & Dolly are making heartfelt and memorable indie pop gems."
- Music Induced Euphoria
"Ex-Monolith members Bill Rousseau and Dahlia Gallin Ramirez are back with their new band Billy & Dolly, and a debut album called In the Beginning. Produced by bandmate/20 Minute Looper Nils Erickson and recorded and mixed by Jay Pellicci, the album’s packed with catchy guitar- and piano-driven power pop."
- Ben Van Houten, Bay Bridged
"Have you noticed? Like clockwork, the buds on the ornamental plum trees are starting to power pop their thin pink petals, making sidewalks more poetic all across the city. Ephemeral yet impressive, the changing season awakens melodies of Billy and Dolly, the local singing and songwriting duo formerly of the Monolith. The guy-girl combo is backed by the Tell-Tale Hearts, a sonic unity of 20 Minute Loop's rockin' guitar-bass team and the Monolith's drummer. The harmonies are deliciously poppy and achingly bittersweet, reminiscent of Elliott Smith, were he not so chronically bummed and had a lovely lady voice as a complement. Beware: between the trees and the tunes, it's all so pretty, it just might hurt your heart."
- Kat Renz, SF Bay Guardian