Party on the Internet Auction Funhaus 2.0

Amanda Palmer lives in a strange world - a delightfully strange world, but strange nonetheless. If you'd like to be part of it you could log on to her party on the internet at 10:00pm tonight for an auction of stuff. Details are below:

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We'll start the webcast around 10PM GMT (5PM EST) at partyontheinternet.com We'll show off the items and give them names like, "Leeds United chorus girl costume" and "Oasis pregnancy test" then we'll tell you what exactly they are (i.e. "Amanda wore this in the video for 'Coin-Operated Boy'")...then we'll start the bidding.

You will place your bids by e-mailing auction@amandapalmer.net with the subject line AUCTION ITEM NAME - BID. For example, if I wanted to bid $200 for the pregnancy kit, I'd put "OASIS PREGNANCY KIT - $200" in the subject line. All bids are in US dollars and if you win, please be prepared to pay via PayPal as soon as the auction closes. Please do not bid unless you are serious and can pay upon the end of the webchat.

As bids come in, we'll update you on the webcast and via Twitter as to the current high bid. When we're about to close an item, we'll let you know what the high bid live on the air so that you can try to beat it. Should a bidding war commence, we'll go back and forth and count down from five 'till no more bids come in. All winners will be announced via the webcast and Twitter with first name and last initial as well as the winning bid amount.

Amanda will sign and personalize any of the items we auction off (but we'll sort that out once bidding is closed).

This is a new thing for all of us, so we'll be working out the kinks as we go along... Again, you can watch at partyontheinternet.com and send bids to auction@amandapalmer.net

Love, Team AFP

P.S. We're hoping there's gonna be some wine...it wouldn't be a webcast without wine, right?

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See you there? Hmmm maybe I'd better get some wine...

Amanda at Forbidden Planet

This evening Amanda Palmer did a signing of her 'Who Killed...' book at Forbidden Planet (who moved it to the top of Shaftesbury Avenue? And when? Nobody tells me anything these days). I was going to the theatre tonight so, when I saw the size of the queue and pace of movement I regretfully decided there wasn't really enough time to get the book signed and scoot off to the theatre in time (on Embankment) so I didn't meet Amanda but I (naturally) took a few snaps.

I was pleased by the turn-out for the signing even thought I wasn't able to meet Miss Palmer. Still, I'm seeing her at Union Chapel in a couple of days, so I'm happy.

IMPORTANT NEWS!

Now, I'm not one to get excited over trifles (unless it's a proper one) but you need to know that Public Image Limited are getting back together and touring in December - what a grand Christmas present I thought, and then I saw when they were playing London... the same day as I already have tickets for the Pet Show Boys Christmas show at the O2. Can you imagine the colour of my language on seeing that? And I can't go to Manchester because I'm seeing Ray Davies that night. O what to do ...?

Pop on over to the new PiL site for details.

Bananarama - 'Love Comes'

The 'Nanas are back! This is the new single from Bananarama and it's pretty damn fab, with Keren and Sara looking gorgeous as ever in the video. There's no 'story' to the video, just the lasses looking groovy robed and dis-robed in various scenes, and they've even combed their hair.

I know they haven't really been 'away' as such - I saw them a few years ago doing a promo thing with the Scissor Sisters and it was a little bit fab to be waved at by Keren from the second floor windows of The Forum while we queued to get in. I downloaded the single this morning and am playing it non-stop. The album is out on 14 September so I think that'll be another one to invest in with my pocket money. September's going to be an expensive month...

Welcome back, 'Nanas, I hope this is a big success!

Alan Cumming - 'I Bought A Blue Car Today'

Last night we went to see Alan Cumming in his one-man show, 'I Bought A Blue Car Today', at the Vaudeville Theatre. It's a song and talk show about his ten years living in America and the title comes from part of his US citizenship test in which applicants have to write down a sentence that's dictated to them and, at his exam, 'I bought a blue car car today' was the sentence.

When we got there we headed for the bar since there was some time to kill and while chatting who should come up to the bar near us but Geri Hallewell with her petite posse. Geri looked well but I thought the time of the tartan miniskirt had passed.

Alan's show is about two hours with an interval and he started very energetically by opening with Cyndi Lauper's 'Shine' since he worked with her a few years ago on Broadway. And that set the tone for the evening, with some chat about his experiences over the past ten years and a song related in some way to what he's been talking about. He's got a nice singing voice and it's nice to hear a Scots burr underneath some of the lyrics and phrasing. It's also nice to just hear him talk and waiting for the revelation of where he's subtley taken us before he reaches the next song.

He had a seven-piece band as well as his musical director on piano, and three members of the band were born in the year he made his West End debut so he not so subtley commented on their ages throughout the show in the manner of a man coming to terms with the sudden onslaught of age. Still, he looks good on it.

He's an accomplished raconteur with a story for every situation and we got a goodly selection last night - how he wanted to get citizenship to vote for Obama but it came through three days after the election, his trip to Dollywood, playing various shows with big names, onsets of nerves, his marriage to his boyfriend, meeting Mika, his friend Graham Norton... you name it, it was in there somewhere. I enjoyed it, I liked hearing his tales.

Of the songs, I'd single out three: 'Next To Me' about waking up in the morning to see his husband so he knows everything is all right, including the chorus that says something like 'holidays, the British kind lying on a beach and drinking too much, not the American kind that involve religion and is not fun' (or something like that). He sang 'Mein Herr' from 'Cabaret' a surprise choice dedicated to Natasha Richardson who died earlier this year, with Alan singing it in a moody Glasweigan way. I'd also single out 'Unexpressed' a tender love song after which he said we needed more same-sex love songs. The comedy songs included a Victoria Wood song and a lovely one about the 'Latte Boy'.

He was great fun and I'd happily see him again. The current show is only on for another couple of nights so see it if you can. You might not be lucky enough to see Amanda Palmer, of course ...

Beverley Knight - 'Beautiful Night'

Beverley's new single released on Monday 7 September.

Beverley Knight at The ICA

On Thursday we went to see Beverley Knight play in the box known as the ICA (Institute of Contemporary Arts) as a prelude to her new album due out next week. We saw Bev a few weeks back doing a short acoustic set at the National Portrait Gallery so it was nice to see her new show, all ready for touring over the autumn. And she is *hot*!

On came the band, her usual trio of backing singers and then on strode Beverley, wreathed in smiles, waving at the crowd and then launched into the music. The band were tight and the singers a fun occasional foil for Bev striding round the stage, throwing her head back and giving it some heavy lung action, pointing and high kicking, the woman was tiring to watch but a fantastic sight. She looked like she was having the time of her life up there on stage and giving us her full "100%" which is the title of the new album.

The set was a mix of oldies and newies from the new record, a setlist to please everyone and remind us what a great back catalogue she has. 'Made It Back' and 'Flavour Of The Old School' got us off to a great start, a great extended moody, blues version of 'Shoulda, Woulda, Coulda', and an extended version of 'Piece Of My Heart' (always best live) with Bev giving it some heavy rock vocals and throwing herself round the stage. She also gave us the perennial favourite 'Gold' and a version of the Bee Gees' 'Too Much Heaven'.

The new songs were really excellent, fit right in with the rest of the set but sounding fresh and new. There's the new single (out on Monday), 'Beautiful Night', the great 'Soul Survivor' (which Bev said summed up her feelings over the past 15 years of her career) and what I think is my new favourite, 'In Your Shoes' with the great message of 'get a life and make it work'. I'm looking forward to hearing the album versions of these songs. The encore was, of course, 'Come As You Are' with some great funky guitar-work with flashes of Shaftesque riffing which sounded great.

Beverley has a great voice, a lovely personality, some excellent songs and she never gives less than 100% in her shows so it's a bit of a puzzle why she isn't bigger. She certainly sent me home happy and sweaty after her show at the ICA, and looking forward to the new record. Maybe this will be the record that does it for her. And this time I brought my camera ...

'Manda Hugs

Y'know when you've had one of those days and you just want to get home and relax in a hot bath or go out and dance your head off, listen to loud music or sink into a cream cake and Guinness, just do whatever you need to do to get your life back into a sensible place? Well, one of the things that works for me is a hug from Amanda Palmer.

After one of my worst days in ages, the lord (insert name of your choice) reached out his hand and blessed me with a great big, trademarked Amanda hug! O yes. And I have witnesses.

We went to see Alan Cumming's show tonight and in the interval I quizzed Chris on the Amanda references in the first half of the show - namely Mr Cummings talking about 'I Don't Care Much' and then singing 'Mein Herr', both songs sung my Amanda. After hanging back to let people leave at the end and then visiting the toilet (it's a long journey home, y'know), walking down the stairs I noticed a woman sitting on the floor beside the banister and I just continued walking. Eagle-eyed Chris noticed her as well and also recognised who it was. 'That's Amanda' he says, and I say, 'eh?'. I look and a man is taking photos of her. I think, um, gulp, it is too much and my shyness kicks in. I think, well, I'll just buy Alan's CD and that'll give them time to leave... but no, they're still there.

I walk over and say, 'I'm really sorry, I really don't want to interrupt but *have* to say hello' and hold out the badge on my jacket lapel that bears the legend 'PUNK CABARET IS FREEDOM'. I sort of thought Amanda might smile and wave, and with that I would've left quite happy. But no, she didn't do that. She got up off the floor, came over and gave me the biggest hug you could imagine, a true 'manda hug. Why on earth would you do that for a random stranger? It's proof that she's lovely, that's why.

I (naturally) then shook her hand (I cringe as I type this). She then introduced Neil Gaiman and I shook his hand too (he's British so will understand). Then we stand there chatting, yes, we're seeing her at the Union Chapel, she's excited about it and planning special shows, I say we've seen her on every visit to London since she appeared as part of Patti Smith's Meltdown Festival and Chris asks about her doing the Bertold Brecht song she sang solo. He then mentioned we'd been talking about during the interval and she chipped in with saying she sang 'Mein Herr' at the Roundhouse. Then she told us a secret about her secret gig next Sunday and no I'm not going to tell you what it is (it wouldn't be a secret if I told you, but watch her Twitters and blogs for news).

We were then ushered out of the foyer and we said goodbye and left Amanda and Neil to go their own way, Me? I'd had me 'manda hug so was happy. Alan raised a smile after my dreary day but Amanda lifted my heart. I'm still grinning! I know I witter on about Miss Palmer sometimes but I think she is a very special person, one of those people the world is better place for with them in it. She shares her special way of viewing the world with us, interprets and re-presents it for us so we catch a glimpse of something more than the everyday. Amanda is art and, most importantly, art that can hug. And make me happy.

And here's a reminder of Miss Amanda Palmer singing 'Mein Herr' at the Roundhouse a few years ago...

Fuck You at Manchester Pride

Now, I've never really paid any attention to Lily Allen until now and this cheerful little ditty from her last album. There's nothing wrong with little ditties - they're the ones that tend to get stuck in your head. And I like this one.

It's a blatant bit of anti-homophobia and very direct - fuck you if you're homophobic or harbour any other form of hate in you, get over it and enjoy life. The video was filmed at Manchester Pride last weekend which makes it a bit of fun. Take a look and take a listen.

Miss Allen has gone up in my estimation for having views and not being afraid to express them in song. I can't help but compare this to the Sugababes new song (see my blog below). Integrity doesn't mean you can't have a hit record.

Another Big Plinth Poo!

Ok, I can take a hint, you think I'm not creative or worthy and would probably just sit there taking photos of people taking photos of me. But, how do you know I wouldn't put on a mini-circus show, or strip and paint my body in 15 different colours or build a castle out of matchsticks? That's it, you see, you *don't*.

What am I wittering on about? The Plinth People have rejected my kind offer to be part of the Fourth Plinth project. I expressed my distress in not being selected in August and here we are again with an even bigger poo. Since my artistic integrity is being doubted then I loose all faith with the Plinthn and have removed the badge I put on the right hand side of this blog to help promote it - see? it's not there any more. That'll show 'em!

Mind you, I think I'll still use the Plinth as my meeting place of choice for the rest of September - if I'm going into the West End I think I'd still take a peek at what the Plinthers are doing...

Ich bin kunst!