arty-smarty-typey

valley of the dolls......

When i started this blog i did so with the intention of writing about music and art and fashion etc. Championing the things i like which perhaps are not particularly part of mainstream culture but maybe had underground cult status. So this blog is about a particular person. With that in mind I have something to confess. *Takes deep breath*

OK here it is.

I have a very addictive personality
Obsessive!

Especially when it comes to music. Above everything else, all my other interests, ideas thoughts and inspirations, music is the centre of it all.

I cant pin point exactly when being a normal music listener developed into an obsession. I think its when i started listening to music out side of the mainstream. Having studied art for 4 years at college and university my tastes in culture developed ALOT. I became interested in fashion more. And i found something i hadn't been exposed to.

The Avant Garde. Including, punk, cabaret, performance art. This was around the time i was first exposed to the Rocky Horror Picture Show. Also burlesque fashion and music. Anyting different and with a possibly absurdest theatrical streak running through it. That's my taste.

So for this blog am going to write about a singer songwriter who embodies a lot of these sensibilities within their sound and performance.

The Dresden Dolls,

Amanda Palmer on the left and Brian Vglione

aren't they cute.

I first heard the Dresden Dolls at about 2am on a mid week night in the year 2000. Probably on something like the Rob DeBank radio show. This was the first song i heard.

First off i was alarmed and impressed at the chaotic speed of the piano playing and lyrics. Amanda plays the piano and sings, and Brian plays the drums. After the song the DJ talked about this new band rocking the Boston underground rock scene, with their Brechtian Punk Cabaret.

Many of the songs on their debut album "The Dresden Dolls" comprised of punk cabaret music, often sounding like stories, or punked up nursery rhymes, with twisted lyrics and whimsical melodies. Palmer's deep sounding almost German voice at first sounded like a male vocal.

The dolls dealt with an impressive array of sunbject matter, and their songs also differ in mood and tempo. Amanda's often comedic take on serious issues is quite the audio spectacle.

The dolls general stage uniform was in a cabaret/burlesque style, Amanda often wears corsets and big rocker boots or DM's brian in a bowler hat, often shirtless. Both with french mime style painted faces. Amanda shaves of her eyebrows and draws them on fresh every day in a series of intricate and elaborate designs like this;

Because i am really nice blogger have put together a spotify play list. Which contains work from the Dresden Dolls album and also Amanda Palmer's solo work click the link for audio treats.

http://open.spotify.com/user/1118317871/playlist/5nDhbGNIKiPSb2hOOdJzzW

Some of my particular favourites from this list are.

Guitar Hero
Mandy Goes To Med School
Backstabber
Mrs O
Shores Of California
Jeep Song

A pretty interesting bunch of songs.

I think for best results if you wish you could listen to the play list. This music is certainly different and maybe even a bit of a particular taste but i estimate that at least 50% of the people reading this would enjoy some of their stuff.

So Amanda Palmer has been a love of mine for quite some time, particularly since she has gone solo.

Amanda is now married to the best selling author Neil Gaiman.

Pic from ghetty images.

Marriage made in heaven? Neil wrote the original book Coraline which was adapted into a great animation film. So they share a dark and magical sensibility.

What i really like about her also is how i have made friends with another dolls fan. I met my friend Claire at a party in Folkestone, It was if i remember correctly supposed to be a fetish cabaret evening. I was dressed in some ridiculous garb. I walked past Claire who was using her phone and saw this as her phone background.

picture from Dresden Dolls website.

At least I'm pretty sure it was this pic.

Anyways i pounced on her and interrogated her and found out yes she like me was lets say an "enthusiastic" dolls/Amanda Palmer fan. Its such an amazing thing when you meet a like minded person with whom you are on the total same wave length with. The joy of being a super fan WITH SOMEONE ELSE who doesn't think your a music nerd douche.

Claire introduced me to other bands who perform what she calls "malicious opera." These being in no particular order;

Emily autumn
Bitter Ruin
The Jane Austin argument
The Tiger Lillies (The holy grail god like saviours of avant garde cabaret musicality.)

Claire and i made a pact that the next time Amanda toured the UK we would defiantly get our organised heads on and book tickets to wherever she was playing. Eventually dates were announced and tickets were booked. The venue was audio2 in Brighton.

Going to Brighton ended up to be something of a musical pilgrimage for both of us. I conducted a plan. To add a new tattoo to my arm whilst i was there. Amanda is very popular on twitter. (@amandapalmer if u care to follow her.) She tweeted saying that members of the audience could contribute items of clothing for the bands stage outfits. The theme was sequins and shiny things. I took a pair of silver sequined leggings i bought at a festival the year before. The plan was that we would lend items for the show and they would be given back in the signing Que after the gig.

My plan was on the return of the troos I'd ask Amanda not to sign my merch but to sign my arm and do maybe an eye with an Amanda Palmer style eyebrow, which i would get tattooed on the day after.

Long story short the gig was TOOOOOOOOOOOOOOTTTTTALLLLLLLLLLYYYYYY amazing. And in the que after i got to meet my idol and ask for a tattoo design. She was totally sweet and lovely. but still had on the sparky troos. i told her the only cost me a tenner and although i loved them would be honoured for her to keep them. Here are the signing pics.