Amanda Palmer and the Grand Theft Orchestra

I am going to miss Lincoln Center Out of Doors :(   I have now seen 3 concerts there.  All incredibly different,  none of them I would have sought out and all fantastic.

Friday night was Amanda Palmer and the Grand Theft Orchestra with opening by Rosin Coven.  I knew I was in for something unusual based on the attire of those showing up for the concert, looked like extras from set of Sweeney Todd. Black leather, lace, bustiers, colored hair, ...  I was getting a bit nervous but kept telling myself, this is Lincoln Center, how edgy could it get?

Rosin Coven describes themselves as the World’s Premiere Pagan Lounge Ensemble; nine musicians blend voices, cellos, contrabass, accordion, violin, guitar, trombone, trumpet, vibraphone, drums, and percussion to create their own style of theatrical cabaret.

The answer is PRETTY EDGY!  If I had known what I was getting into I probably would have chickened out, and that would have been a shame. By the time Amanda came out, I had made my way to front of crowd -- in the standing room only area right below the stage.  I was just trying to get a good look.  The band came out first -- base player in tuxedo, lead guitar in cutoffs, black Patten leather go go boots and maybe tights?, and the drummer was pratically naked -- short shorts that I think might have been velvet.  Amanda wore a black lace bra, long black skirt and a bustier. 

 Amanda describes her style of music as a cross between Punk and Cabaret.

I was the only one there that didn't know every word of every song. Her website describes her as "Sexy and brash, Amanda Palmer teased her way into cult status as half of The Dresden Dolls. With her Grand Theft Orchestra, the ever-inventive Palmer’s intense stage presence and evocative storytelling wink at burlesque and glam rock, with a take-no-prisoners intensity and theatrical flair."

The drummer from The Dresden Dolls made a surprise appearance and they performed Miss Me together.

 

 

Click here to see that whole song recorded that night from someone in crowd.  The recording doesn't do it justice -- it was jaw-dropping from the standing room only bull pit!  But still worthy of a view here.

 

Lastly, check this out.  Since when did musicians become so controversial?  Whether you love her or hate her (and apparently there is no in-between), she puts it all out there*.

TED Talks: The Art of Asking, by Amanda Palmer

The Art of Asking why we hate Amanda Palmer

 

*In one concert, she stripped naked and asked concert goers to write all over her body.  They obliged.