Amanda Palmer & The Grand Theft Orchestra at The Roundhouse

Last night I communed and got sweaty with Amanda Palmer and her Grand Theft Orchestra at the Roundhouse, a venue she last played in 2006 with The Dresden Dolls. I was there in 2006 and I was there in 2013. Some things are *important*.

As ever with an Amanda gig, she invites half of north London to have a support or guest spot during the evening - she is a very sharing person, after all - but I was there for the main event and she burst onto the stage with 'Do It With A Rockstar'. And by the first chorus she vanished into the crowd at the front of the stage, wandering round and singing about being a needy rock star before climbing back onto the stage. She was off and running, giving us a series of great performances of songs from 'Theatre Is Evil'.

The band made a marvellous noise on stage and Amanda sang up front or to the side with her keyboard and, later, alone with her ukelele. The huge light show made a great backdrop - I couldn't help but think of previous, smaller shows over the years at places like Bush Hall and the ICA with minimal lighting and here was Amanda, the Rock Star, being flooded in all the colours of the rainbow. We were at the back of the hall so had a good view of the lights, less good view of the stage due to tall people but it was lovely to see Amanda commanding and confident and having fun.

She gave us a good range of songs, old and new, including 'The Killing Type', 'Missed Me', 'Girl Anachronism', 'Astronaut', 'Want It Back', 'Delilah' (with Georgia from Bitter Ruin) and 'Bottomfeeder' during which she sang while crowd-surfing almost as far as where we were standing at the back before being passed to the other side of the hall and back to the stage. She told us about meeting Liam Gallagher at Glastonbury before launching into the bouncy 'Oasis'. The cover song for the evening was 'Common People', a great, powerful version with everyone singing along.

About two thirds of the way through the set the band left the stage and it was just Amanda and us again for some ukelele and piano magic. Amanda played a new uke song, 'Bigger On The Inside', a hauntingly beautiful and sad song sharing her feelings over the last four months or so of being misunderstood and attacked in the media. It was very raw and painful. That's something I love about Amanda, she shares herself with us with an almost brutal honesty.

We also had a rousing version of 'Map Of Tasmania' with the whole place joining in the cries of 'Fuck it!' in the chorus. Amanda moved back to her keyboard for 'The Bed Song' that always gets my eyes moist.

The encore saw Amanda come back on stage alone in her kimono to tell us about how the Daily Mail had published an article about her show at Glastonbury that didn't mention her songs but was just about how one of her tits had come free from her bra (I blogged about it at the time, see here). She played, in waltz time, her response to it, 'Dear Daily Mail' in which she points out that if they'd only used a search engine they'd have seen that her tits were used to being in the limelight. Half way through she dropped the kimono and continued the song naked while commenting in a very funny way on the Mail's misogyny about what was, after all, just a woman's body. What a great way of making a very good point! The whole audience cheered as she played and there's a video of the moment below - listen and watch! It's great fun!

And then the band came back with all the various guests of the night to give us a stomping version of 'Leeds United' - whenever Amanda plays this I can't help but regret missing being in the video because I slept in that Sunday morning (drat!). And with bows and waves, after over two hours of playing the most excellent music, they left the stage leaving a hall full of happy, sweaty people to slowly exit and go out into the warm London night.

I was very happy with a great gig and more memories to sift through and add to my existing collection - another Amanda gig, Amanda Fucking Palmer the Rock Star.

Come back soon!

Amanda Palmer at The Roundhouse 2006

I took this photo of Amanda Palmer and Brian Viglione, aka The Dresden Dolls, at the Roundhouse on 4 November 2006. They were playing 'Mein Herr' from 'Cabaret' at the time and you can see the performance in the DVD of the show, 'Live at The Roundhouse'. I have the show poster framed in my hall with the legend, 'Fuck the Rock'n'Roll Circus, this is the Punk Cabaret' - the Rolling Stones' 'Rock and Roll Circus' was filmed at The Roundhouse in the '60s.

 
I mention this morsel of information for two reasons:

1. This is one of my favourite photos of Amanda that I took myself; and
2. Amanda returns to The Roundhouse tomorrow night for her first gig there since 2006 and I shall be there (obv). She won't be with Brian, but she'll be surrounded by the Grand Theft Orchestra and they make a fine noise.

I'd better charge up the battery for my camera...

Amanda Palmer at the Roundhouse

If you didn't already know, Amanda Palmer is returning to the Roundhouse on 12 July.

She last played there in 2006 and recorded the live Dresden Dolls DVD there. The Dolls played two nights to record the DVD and I'm pleased to say that I was there on both nights (I also blogged about both nights so use the search function to track them down). It was a fantastic experience and I have no doubt that seeing Amanda and the Grand Theft Orchestra will be an experience worth seeing. I saw them play three times last year and was well wowed!

I (naturally) bought tickets as soon as they went on sale. Take my advice and get tickets while you can - you won't be disappointed!

AFP & GTO - The Make Up Tour

Amanda Palmer & the Grand Theft Orchestra has announced some long-awaited UK dates on the Make Up Tour which, as Amanda says, is "as in re-scheduled, not face-painty-makeup, but there will be that and glitter too." Tickets go on pre-sale on 4 April so snap them up while you can:

Fri 11 Jul | The Ritz | Manchester

Sat 12 Jul | The Roundhouse | London

Sun 13 Jul | The Concorde | Brighton

Tue 15 Jul | The Academy | Bristol

Wed 16 Jul | The Institute | Birmingham

Thu 17 Jul | The Picture House | Edinburgh

Fri 18 Jul | The Academy | Dublin, Ireland

Amanda and the band are also playing Glastonbury and (gulp) the Newport Folk Festival in America and has promised to plug in her electric ukelele.

You need to see the force of nature that is Amanda Fucking Palmer!

Amanda Palmer & GTO - 'The Bed Song'

Here is the long awaited video for 'The Bed Song' from 'Theatre Is Evil' along with a new version of the song that Amanda has just released.

I first heard the song 3-4 years ago when Amanda played it live on the Jonathan Ross radio show one Saturday and was delighted when it turned up on 'Theatre Is Evil'. And even more delighted when I saw her play it live last year at her Art Show in Shoreditch. It was also one of the highlights of her show at Koko in the Autumn. It is a lovely song.

Amanda Palmer at Koko - Moshcam Video

Those lovely folks over at Moshcam have posted the song by song video of the whole show from Amanda Palmer & The Grand Theft Orchestra at Koko in London on their site. Just click here for some joy!

Amanda Palmer & The Grand Theft Orchestra - 'Do It With A Rockstar' Video

'Do It With A Rockstar' was the first song I heard from Amanda Palmer & GTO when she sent it out to Kickstarter backers as a gift back in May and it's still one of my favourites from the 'Theatre Is Evil' album. After my first listen I knew I wanted to see the video. With such tremendous material I knew Amanda would make a video worth watching. I have waited patiently and seen her perform it live a couple of times and, finally, here it is. The video.

Every rock star cliche has been thrown in here as well as the band's own rock star fantasies. They are vibrant, they are alive and they are sweaty and covered in glitter.

It starts off with disparate AFP fans and haters talking about going to the gig - drag queens and hipsters - arriving at the gig for the performance of their lives and the after-show party backstage. *This* is how a rock star lives!

As well as Amanda and the GTO, the video stars a real life porn star called Stoya who (naturally) seduces Amanda (not that she plays hard to get) and they end up in bed as does the rest of the band. Michael ends up with the hater, Chad with a drag queen and Jherek with his bass guitar (after stomping a melon in lots of socks... um...). You can read the background to the video in Amanda's blog along with photos and gossip.

Do you wanna dance?
Do you wanna fight?
Do you wanna get drunk and stay the night?

What more can I say? Watch the video!

Amanda Palmer & The Grand Theft Orchestra at Koko

Last night I saw a thing of rare beauty and power. I saw Amanda Palmer both lead and be part of her band, the Grand Theft Orchestra, comprising Jherek Bischoff, Chad Raines and Michael McQilken. They gel, they're one unit, they're four great performers and artists in their own right. Led, of course, by Amanda Fucking Palmer.

OK, so Koko isn't one of my favourite venues - unless you're near the front of the stage or balconies, then you don't get a very good view of the stage or the performers, but the sound is fine and it's quite nice being surrounded by the red and gold baroque of what was called the Music Machine and the Camden Palace back when punk bands ruled there. The plus side is that it has a nice long bar and the bar staff are very attentive and friendly (which always helps). It also has a giant glitter ball hanging from the ceiling (which is always a good thing). But most of all it has Miss Palmer on stage.

The last time I saw Amanda there was in 2008 for the 'Who Killed Amanda Palmer' tour. Back then she went on stage by walking through the audience - or on that night, hobbling through the audience on a crutch with her foot in plaster after a car accident in Dublin. That didn't hold her back, though, it just gave the Danger Ensemble more scope for their performance art.

Last night the ticket touts were out in force and I just couldn't help but grin at the sight of them. When they turn up to gigs you know you've arrived. There was Koko with its facade all lit up with pink and purple lights blaring out into the Camden night,  and a huge queue snaking round the side of the building. I joined it with a private smile remembering when I saw Amanda years ago without having to queue.

Amanda came on stage in a kimono and general's cap to introduce the first support band, Jherek Bischoff and  a crowd-sourced string quartet to do a few of the songs from his new album.  Jherek was followed by Chad Raines and his band, The Simple Pleasure, which played some really dirty '80s synth riffs and rocked us with some pink flamingoes. They were great fun and Chad is a good frontman. I downloaded their album from Bandcamp a month or so ago and it's well worth listening to. It must be handy having your support bands led by members of your own band. Michael McQilken doesn't have a record out or a band but a record is coming out shortly, so he was given the honour of playing one of his songs during the main set. Equality for all has always been Amanda's approach to these things and praise up anyone on the bill.

After a break (and a trip to the friendly bar), on came the Grand Theft Orchestra in white suits, all nicely different but similar at the same time, along with Amanda in a slinky posh white-gold frock. They launched into 'Smile' from the new record, 'Theatre Is Evil' and stayed on stage for most of the next two hours. Amanda has moved onto a new level with a big light show and a screen filling the back of the stage with both crowd-sourced and custom made projections, spotlights following her around and great sound. This is Amanda Palmer the Rock Star and she fit the bill perfectly. Her frock even stayed on for the first few songs before falling down to reveal a black bra (that's the AFP I know and love!).

Most of the songs were from 'Theatre Is Evil' and they sound great live. We had 'Missed Me' (during which the band swap instruments) and 'Girl Anachronism' from her Dresden Dolls days and 'Astronaut' from 'WKAP', all of which sound amazing with a full band behind them, adding volume to very familiar songs. We had cover songs (including 'Careless Whisper, accompanied by a great sax player) and guest stars including Scroobius (doing 'Letter From God') and then Neil Gaiman with his Sawchestra performing 'Psycho'. We had a light show and I knew I was at a punk/rock/cabaret show.

Favourites included a really powerful 'Smile (Pictures Or It Didn't Happen)' and 'Bottomfeeder' during which Amanda crowd-surfed around the crowd, even getting close to where I was standing at the back. 'The Killing Type' sounded great live as did the lovely 'Trout Heart Replica' with Jherek's string quartet adding to the swirling feel of fish swimming hypnotically round and round as Amanda sings and tells us what she wants from the Wizard.

My favourite of the evening was 'The Bed Song', a beautiful and tragic song about the loss of communication in a loving relationship - why didn't you say something? It's a tender song performed by Amanda on her own on stage with no light show, just Amanda doing it old school.

My second favourite was her cover of Yazoo's 'In My Room' (yes, *that* song!) if only because it was so unexpected.  Complete with all the weirdness and synth-sounds, a faithful rendition with Amanda standing at the front of the stage with the projection of all the things you'd find in an '80s bedroom projected onto her and the screen behind her. I loved it but I think I was probably one of the few in the hall that recognised it. When it finished the crowd didn't seem to know whether it was a deliberate gap or the end so I started the clapping to help them realise it was over. Yes, mine were the first hands clapping and a second or two later everyone joined in.

My third favourite was a stonking version of 'Time Warp' from 'Rocky Horror' with guest star Richard O'Brien on lead vocals. Amanda sung Magenta's lines and Chad sung the Little Nell part. It was great fun, especially seeing all the middle aged people suddenly going into sweet transvestite mode and doing the dance.

It ended after 11:30pm with Amanda and the band in one of the theatre boxes at the side of the stage doing an encore of 'Want It Back', getting us to stamp out the beat on the wooden floor of Koko before gathering everyone back on stage for a final applause. On the way out I picked up a poster of Amanda's drawing about 'The Bed Song' (I saw the original at her Art Show over the summer and it's included in the GTO Art Book).

I had a lovely evening, thank you, with some great songs and sights. Amanda has quite clearly moved to another level with this album and tour. That makes me sad that hanging out after a show isn't going to be the same as it used to be but it also makes me proud of her. And she's still Amanda Fucking Palmer.

She's coming back to London in March to play the Roundhouse with GTO. The Dresden Dolls played there two nights running and recorded their live DVD there so it holds some nice memories. It was also the site of Poly Styrene's last gig so is a special place. I've already ordered tickets. Have you?

Amanda Palmer's Rock Show, 20 June 2012 in London

Amanda did a free ninja gig on Tuesday but I saved up my awe for Wednesday when I saw her full-on Rock Show at Village Underground in Shoreditch. The place looked very different from the bare artscape of Monday, with speakers and lights hanging from the rafters, a stage filling the back wall and, not least, a packed, sold-out house. The art was gone from the walls and Amanda was noticeable by her absence which was just as well since she would've been mobbed.

I got there at about 8:15pm with my name on the guestlist as a Kickstarter supporter, to find the place already well filled and the support acts about to start. Amanda came on stage in a kimono to introduce the support acts - once again we had the swirling strings of Jherek Bischoff who was followed by a comedian in a dress. Amanda seems to have a thing about men in frocks on this visit. I was happy to watch from a distance in the bar area and when the comedian left I got ready for the main event of the evening and scooted round for a much better view from the top of the few steps where Amanda had played 'Ukelele Anthem' at the Art Show a few nights before.

Once again introduced by the bagpipes, Amanda Palmer and The Grand Theft Orchestra took the stage and stayed there for about two hours. Amanda stripped off her kimono during the first song to reveal her black rock goddess gear underneath, black bra, basque and skin-tight trousers, long gloves and warpaint on her face, with a sparkly band in her hair. The band launched into 'Do It With A Rockstar', a great opener and the song Amanda had released to Kickstarter backers.

The band played mainly songs from the new album - that's what it was about after all - some of which we were already familiar with, others were brand new. After starting with 'Do It With A Rockstar' we were given 'The Killing Type', 'I Lost My Wallet', 'Trout Heart Replica' and 'Want It Back', all from the new record. For Dresden Dolls fans she played 'Missed Me', 'Half Jack' and 'Girl Anachronism' - who can believe guitar solos in those songs? and the band all swapping instruments three times during 'Missed Me'? She brought the songs to life again in a new reincarnation, no longer just piano and drums, but a full band.

The new songs from the record are all terribly good and work well both stripped back as at the Art Show and with full electric backing at the Rock Show. Rather special was hearing 'The Bed Song' with a full, trembling, backing and 'Berlin', a new song that involved a crowd-source horn section playing along - this seemed like a traditional Amanda song with loud parts and quiet parts but blown away when the horns blared for the chorus, a magical experience. Husband Neil Gaiman came on to sing 'Psycho' with two saws duelling to give him the best weird soundscape.

There were no songs from her first album, 'Who Killed Amanda Palmer', and I thought that odd until the encore that was made up of 'Astronaut' and a mad 'Leeds United' with the horns back on stage and a host of friends dancing and singing along on stage. Once again I regretted not getting up that Sunday morning four years ago to take part in the filming of the video for that song.

Amanda has evolved. She is now a Rockstar and is ready to be Rockstar. This record and these shows will move her up to the next level. Gone are the long, rambling stories and random commentaries and we were presented with an artist that knows how to give her audience what they want, a solid show with herself at the centre. Being at the front of a band brings different responsibilities. She's split herself in two - art Amanda and rock Amanda and I like both visions. She's going to go big with the new album and I suspect that means we'll lose the goddess who gives away free hugs at the end of gigs but if anyone can keep that aspect of her shows going, it's Amanda Fucking Palmer. Go get 'em Amanda, show us all what you're made of.

I will treasure my past hugs and celebrate the birth of a Rockstar.

Amanda Palmer & The Grand Theft Orchestra - 'Do It With A Rockstar'

The first single from the newly rocked-up Amanda Palmer & The Grand Theft Orchestra is 'Do It With A Rockstar'. Amanda shared it with Kickstarter backers on Friday and then let it loose on the world today to anyone who signed up for her email list - isn't she generous?

It is a magnificent blend of... of ... of everything that's magnificent! It has the knowing seriousness and humour of 'The Jeep Song' wrapped up in glam pomp with thunderous drums and guitars and synth in there somewhere. This is not the Amanda of ukulele simplicity, this is a rockstar at the peak of her art, confident, powerful and unafraid.

"Do you wanna dance?
Do you wanna fight?
Do you wanna get drunk and stay the night?"

But then we hear all sorts of excuses from the suddenly reluctant fan who has pets left alone all evening, who needs to charge their phone and check messages, who has a DVD about swinging in the 70s to watch... I'm terribly unimpressed with this so-called fan who has the chance to do it with a rockstar.

Mind you, the rockstar seems a bit too keen and needy as well. 'Wait, wait, wait... I'll be fine in a minute' says the rockstar who comes to terms with the fan not wanting to jump in the sack and bemoans his/her loneliness. Life is tough at the top.

I lurve this song. The first time I heard it my face broke into a giant smile as I gently rocked along to it, then I listened to it again and again and again... I want to see a video. I'm looking forward to seeing Amanda play it live at the acoustic session on 18 June (at the Art Show) and in full rock out mode a couple of days later at the Rock Show. 

Listen to it here:

Amanda Palmer & The Grand Theft Orchestra

Amanda Palmer's been busy recently what with going on tour with Neil Gaiman before Christmas and more recently with Bran Viglione as The Dresden Dolls but she'd now got some 'me' time. She's just released a new, re-recorded version of 'Polly' (she contributed a version to the Nirvana tribute album last year) which is available through her Bandcamp page for 50c + donation. She's also released a rather harrowing video to go with the song.



Of greater importance is the news today that Amanda is heading back into the studio to record a new album! She's recording it with her band, The Grand Theft Orchestra, that supported her on her tour last summer (and I saw at Heaven in September). She's recording it in Australia in a few weeks time after a couple of weeks of rehearsals and a week of live shows to get the songs just right. She reported that she had about 20 songs to choose from, many not played live before. She also says that there'll be synthesizers on the record.

I'm really looking forward to this record, her first full album since 'Who Killed Amanda Palmer' in 2008. Since then she's released some singles, the UkeleleHead record and 'Down Under' (and 'Down Under' has some excellent songs on it) but not a full album. I'm also assuming there'll be a promotional tour and lots of new merch.

Amanda's started talking about us, her fans, as her record label since she doesn't have one at the moment and doesn't seem to want one after her Roadrunner experience. She'll be crowd-sourcing what she needs for this record and I, for one, will be happy to contribute and buy pre-sales and whatever else. I assume that, since she's not tied to record label schedules that she can probably release the album in whatever format she wants, whenever she wants, so I'm expecting a summer or autumn release (that's my assumption, not Amanda's) even though not a single track has been recorded.

I'm really looking forward to this.