New Videos: 1 Million Hits, Fates Warning, Monkees

A bunch of shorter videos I made recently. Nothing exceptional although it just struck me how I forgot to show the Set List I got at the Fates Warning show. O well, maybe in another video.

Million Hits:



Fates Warning and Queensryche, brief review




The Monkees and Jimmy Gnecco along with brief comments about the new Foals and Amanda Palmer albums.

Meaningful Songs: Amanda Palmer - Want it Back

Amanda Palmer - Want it Back

In thinking about Amanda with her new album, I was reading back about her 2 other records I enjoyed so much, and among a large handful of tunes, this one is one of the standouts.

It's just so bloody catchy and the energy is infectious.

She gets wordy or rather sings a lot of words quickly, which can often be difficult to master, but it somehow fits in-time, on this tune.

And the little floating/dreamy synths part I forgot how that part is such a goose-bump-worthy little bit.

Her new album I don't find has anything like this in that way, which is fine, but I can't help but yearn for more tunes like this again from Amanda.

Amanda Palmer - There Will Be No Intermission (2018-2019)

3/3/19

Release date is this coming friday, but the whole thing is already streaming:

NPR's Stream Link


I'll have to give it a go tomorrow at work (assuming I have time, I have 2 meetings scheduled).

Or I may have to pull my flash drive out of my car and try and check it out there and/or at home tonight if time allows.

I still think this may be a sleeper, although I hope I don't get the feeling I and others got after big hopes for the Typhoon album Offerings from last year.

12/13/18
This thing is being released on March 8, 2019.

Her email from the email list was a novel, but that's par for the course for Amanda.

I could quote some of it; maybe later.

I will just say, it sounds like a very well-thought-out, reworked, played live, demo-ed, etc labored-over record.

her most emotional yet of course.

AMBITION may be the key work with it.

Theatre is Evil was awesome and Who Killed Amanda Palmer had many songs I loved.

This sucker may be as great as she talked about in that email.

20 tracks, 10 instrumentals, and 77 minutes. A concept album I imagine?

As I posted in the 2018-2019 preview..a bit of another sleeper...that is until now, since I know about and have large hopes for it now.


1. All the Things 1:23
2. The Ride 10:13
3. Congratulations 0:37
4. Drowning in the Sound 5:45
5. Hold on Tight, Darling 0:40
6. The Thing About Things 5:35
7. Life's Such a Bitch Isn't It 0:33
8. Judy Blume 6:45
9. Feeding the Dark 0:20
10. Bigger on the Inside 8:29
11. There Will Be No Intermission 1:01
12. Machete 6:09
13. You Know the Statistics 0:38
14. Voicemail for Jill 5:34
15. You'd Think I'd Shot Their Chicken 1:43
16. A Mother's Confession 10:37
17. They're Saying Not to Panic 0:27
18. Look Mummy, No Hands 5:30
19. Intermission Is Relative 0:54
20. Death Thing 5:00

All Media Reviews Podcast #7: Modern Songwriters Pt 2

This is 14 mins long, with the new recorder which made it into an WMA file, lol. I had to convert that, but so be it.

I'm not sure if making them at a restaurant is the best process, but it was a 1st time/experiment.

I do want to try and make 1 of these for an Albums calendar. The thing I worry about is how long it does go (and requires me to make it), per how long some of the calendars are and how much I would talk about each album (obviously some may be awhile, while others very little).

I am in the middle, er, maybe 2/3 or more from getting through 6 of them which I anticipate publishing around the same time. So perhaps if not before then, I could plan to try doing 1 or more of those Albums Calendar Podcasts around that time.

Time permitting of course per January is looking rather busy at this point with concerts, doctor appointments and a trip to the Hollywood area.



Jim Matheos Andre Matos Colin Meloy Craig Minowa Janelle Monae Neal Morse Dan Moxon Amanda Palmer Mike Patton Yannis Philippakis Tomer Pink Mike Portnoy Jesse Ribordy Sheena Ringo Claudio Sanchez Robert Schneider Sufjan Stevens Timbre Mike Vennart Daniel Victor Brooke Waggoner Steven Wilson John Wright

Amanda Palmer - Drowned in the Sound [1B] (2017)

So Amanda wrote and recorded this new song, which what seems largely if not entirely for the benefit for the victims of Hurricane Harvey. Hence the title in some ways.

I couldn't help but think of the Drowned in Sound Music website even though I'm sure the title has absolutely nothing to do with it.




amandapalmer: i just dropped a brand-new track, written and recorded in 3 days with the help of over 600+ people on my patreon. all the public proceeds from the track benefit Texas Diaper Bank, who are helping alllll affected areas of harvey. 

100% of the proceeds from the download of this song until September 30th will support the Texas Diaper Bank to help victims of Hurricane Harvey across Texas! Read more about Texas Diaper Bank here:texasdiaperbank.networkforgood.com

this song was written as a two-day songwriting exercise on august 29th and 30th, 2017, using input/inspiration/comments from over 600 patrons (you can read those here: www.patreon.com/posts/i-am-open-for-me-14099481). it wound up being a response to the insanity of internet politics melded with the recent total eclipse and the devastation of hurricane harvey….and, y’know…other stuff.

read the full backstory & lyrics here:amandapalmer.net/drowninginthesound/

if you love this song, please consider joining my patreon to support me, my team & collaborators make MORE THINGS.www.patreon.com/amandapalmer/posts

--

Photo courtesy of the U.S. Air Force, taken by Staff Sgt. Oscar M. Sanchez-Alvarez/Released. This has been modified from the original.
Creative Commons License
www.flickr.com/photos/soldiersmediacenter/2587455960

credits

released August 31, 2017
credits:

music, lyrics, piano, vocals: amanda palmer
engineer: eli winograd @ lone pine studio in kingston, NY
special thanks to ben folds for texting with me before his show in little rock, arkansas, and making me change one rhythm and cut two useless repetitions before the first chorus

Amanda Palmer - Machete [Single]

Good tune, not all that different for Amanda. The inspiration is interesting as usual. Cool that Ben Folds is included in the credits.

this song was written in memory of anthony: best friend, cancer victim, weapons enthusiast, life-saver and….it’s a long story. but a good one. read it here: bit.ly/AFPMachete 

PLEASE LISTEN WITH HEADPHONES IF POSSIBLE. 
this recording was able to come into being created because of my incredible patreon community. 
if you want to support more making of Things, please consider joining us: www.patreon.com/amandapalmer 

the band: 
amanda palmer - piano and vocals 
jherek bischoff - electric bass, string arrangement, mixing & mastering engineer, bad-ass 
ben folds - drums, spiritual editor 
ryan lerman - electric guitar 
aniela marie perry - cello 
lauren elizabeth baba - viola 
crystal brooke alforque - violin 

sound engineers: 
chris kahn at eastwest studio LA (band) 
jaron luksa at the rattle room (vocals and strings) 

thanks to mayumi heider for cat-herding, and to mayumi, risa luksa, and gracie folds for childcare.
lyrics
lyrics: 

MACHETE. 

i have never liked the box of knives 
you said was a paradox because you’re kind 
but withstood a childhood that robbed you blind 
of love that was safe and so you learned to fight 
x3 

what do i do with this stuff? 
it seems like yesterday i called you up 
i had a terrible case of the past 
i didn’t know how to get it off 
i didn’t know how to get it off 

and you took 
your machete 
and you sliced through the vines that wrapped around me 
and you said 
i don’t know what i’m doing 
so i’ll just keep on cutting 
it’s worth a little blood to get your arms free 

i have never liked the box of knives 
you said was a paradox because you’re kind 
but withstood a childhood that robbed you blind 
of love that was safe and so you learned to fight 
x2 

what do i do with this stuff? 
it seems like yesterday i was in love 
i kept of covering the soft parts up 
i didn’t know how to get them off 
i didn’t know how to get them off 

and you took your machete 
and you hacked through the woods in the surrounding 
and you said 
i don’t know where i’m going 
i just know that i’m heading from 
the dead things piling up behind me 

and you took 
your machete 
and you carved out a path to my chest and you said see 
there’s nothing not worth keeping 
you’ve felt so many beatings 
but 
nothing’s going to work if you believe me 
nothing’s going to work if you believe me 

i have never liked the box of knives 
you said was a paradox because you’re kind 
but withstood a childhood that robbed you blind 
of love that was safe and so you learned to fight 
x2 

i have never liked the box of knives 
i took it to the oceanside the day you died 
i stood out on the dock 
no matter how hard i tried 
i couldn’t drop them in 
and i collapsed and cried: 

what do i do with this stuff? 
it seems like yesterday you were alive 
and it’s as if you never really died 
and it’s as if you never really died. 

and you took 
your machete 
and you said boo guess who 
but seriously, beauty 
you said 
see ? 
you get the drill now don’t you 
it’s not a will or won’t 
you can’t keep making symbols out of nothing 

so i took your machete 
and i sliced off your head and you laughed 
and you said see 
it’s just like anti matter 
it’s dumbo’s magic feather 
you don’t need me here to cut you 
you don’t need me here to cut you 
you don’t need me here to cut you 
you don’t need me here to cut you 

free.
credits
released March 9, 2016

Matt Mahaffey aka sElf : (15min) TED Talk/Performance

he's the perfect person to do one of these. Like Amanda Palmer, he can speak to being blue-collar and not compromising (or at least for the most part).

The thing he mentions about commercials is so true, but also as I've known for a few years, his stuff is all over television ads and animated movies. I've probably heard dozens of his scores and compositions, and wasn't even aware of it.

I also think, the more I think about it, his lifestyle and approach quite easily might be what Kevin Gilbert would be doing today. At least in some ways; as a producer/engineer and someone who not only makes his own music, but also makes music through being resourceful in the entertainment business.

I wonder if Matt's ever heard of Kevin. The similarities are somewhat eery to me. But of course that is all just hypothetical and guessing.

Now, the actual state of sElf and their upcoming music still remains to be announced. The album sampler that was posted a few months ago was the last thing I have seen. I know Matt did a special show, I want to say in February or March in his home state of Tennessee.

And reading some of his FB posts, he seems to be doing much of the day or nightjob thing, as I thought I saw he was tending bar not too long ago. So, the music he is making or has made recently, maybe has taken a bit of a backseat to paying his bills with other means.

Perhaps with some of this exposure per a TED talk, it may get the ball rolling a little more with the future work for sElf or any other *original* rock/pop music he may make.

The Red Paintings - You're Not One of Them [Video]

Cool video and song. My memory escapes how much if any content I've included about this band in the past. The long story short is, they're an Australian "Art Rock" band I first heard about at least 3 maybe 4 or 5 years ago per my friend Hayley on the Ours fans forum I think.

Stylistically, they are kind of similar to the likes of Muse and Amanda Palmer I suppose, although that is probably quite vague still. I actually am reminded in some ways of a band like Revere, fellow/former Aussie band Battle Circus (RIP), or NewVillager with that video as well.

They have 1 LP The Virgin Mary Australian Tour Acoustic/Strings Album  and a bunch of EP's released since their formation in 1999. But ever since I've known about them, they have meant to release the album The Revolution is Never Coming but have not due to various circumstances. 

I almost have got to the point to not caring. However, it seems like 2013 could be the year for that and more for them, as I am going to get to see them live next week on April 25th, at (for the 1st time for myself) Mill City Nights, opening for Mindless Self Indulgence (a band who I likely won't stick around to see).

And maybe the biggest reason I am looking forward to that show is how they are known for their live shows, maybe visually more than musically. "Art Rock" maybe in the truest sense. Ala Cloud Cult, dredg, Amanda Palmer, Jenny Dalton and others. I am expecting something more than just some guys singing and playing their instruments.

And hopefully more specifics about their long-awaited album. I suppose one thing to note which I didn't realize, is they are now residing in Los Angeles, CA. They have for the past few years in fact, but that still doesn't detract for how rare it may be to see them live in Minnesota at least.

Amanda Palmer: Speaking about "Trust"

This is quite the story that easily could be rather inspiring to many artists. I suppose Amanda is not like many other artists who would look to crowd-funding, but I can attest, I have seen some rather obscure bands have  very successful Crowd-Funded campaigns, so much so, I think there is something to using the web and just making connections. 

I'm not sure how far it can go for every artist trying to fund the making of every album, or maybe more so, just having a STEADY INCOME of some kind. But just as an initial challenge of making music, the crowd funding tools and maybe more of what she emphasizes in this short presentation, CONNECTING with the fans more DIRECTLY, may allow music to be made without the concerns of going into debt in order to make a record or even do a tour.

Now, whether the music industry and major labels, streaming services (and things like the RIAA) ever will come to accept this as a viable alternative in their industry is a whole other issue. But then again, go back only 5 or 6 decades, the music industry wasn't about capitalism anyway, so, perhaps those in that part of the industry may discover that doesn't and maybe shouldn't ever have belonged in the control of the business world. 

But, only time will tell. But Amanda's story certainly could have an impact.

Amanda Palmer & the Grand Theft Orchestra @ First Ave 10/3/12

This is another one of those reviews, that should have been posted just after the concert ended, but I only got about 4 hours of sleep last night as I didn't get home until 1:30AM. I may never learn the lesson, but weeknight concerts that are 18+ or 21+ unless a nap or in-late-to-work-request is made prior, really are not a desirable circumstance.

But, as far as reviewing this somewhat largely anticipated concert.

An Estimation of the Set List 

(I believe there was at least 1 Dresden Dolls or another cover in here that I am not remembering right now, but if I find a set list I'll edit it in).


-Meow Meow Introduces The Grand Theft Orchestra  
-Smile (Pictures or It Didn't Happen)
-The Killing Type
-Want It Back
-Grown Man Cry
-Astronaut
-Trout Heart Replica
-A Grand Theft Intermission
-Lost
-Bottomfeeder (Amanda goes crowd surfing with a 20x20 Sheet?)
-The Bed Song?..(sometime around this time Amanda read off the depressing messages put in the Box that were then sampled and music played over)
-Berlin
-Careless Whisper including jam (Wham..also George Michael)
-Olly Olly Oxen Free

Encore

-Do It with a Rockstar
-Leeds United





First let me point out, I just scanned a review here from Citypages.com and they referred to the Wham/George Michael tune as "Never Want to Dance Again." While that is a line in the chorus, the song is called "Careless Whisper" and not "Never Want to Dance Again." I myself didn't even know that, but at least would be responsible enough to mention that, or more likely just do a web search.

Is it really so hard to do? That is now the 2ND time in the last 6 months a reviewer on their blog had to be corrected about a fact (the Mayer Hawthorne guitarist's name back in May). Which brings me to ask the question, how do people like that get to positions where they can review (and maybe even be paid?..likely at least free tickets and perhaps backstage passes), and someone like myself receives very little to no recognition? I emailed Citypages more than once about writing for them, but obviously this blog does nothing for them. Blech.

This show was pretty LOUD and crazy at times. Amanda's TGTO or 3-piece backing band was rather tight. Although I suspect it was the people who did the mix last night who are responsible for the drums and guitar being at times too high to hear Amanda sing. At the same time, her vocals had a fair amount of reverb and distorted tone to them anyway, so that could have just been her too.

The extra chamber musicians from both local, and from some of the opening acts like Ronald Reagan, did add a lot to hearing many of these tunes live. Although at times the mix issues made them a bit difficult to hear clearly. As well, Amanda didn't have them on stage for every tune, namely a song like "Astronaut" if I recall, wondering why the string section was not included, given there are string parts in the song anyway..

Around the 4th or 5th song of Amanda's set, I want to say soon after "Want it Back," this act (DJ?) named Konkrete Jungle started spinning some heavy-bass based music in First Ave's "The Record Room," which especially given I was sitting on the Upper Level about 200 Feet in front of the Door, it became disgustingly apparent how distracting their music would become.

People kept going in and out of The Record Room to use the Restroom or for other reasons, and the bass especially was vibrating louder than Amanda's bass guitarist.

And by no coincidence it seems, this was the 2nd straight concert where Amanda played in the Main Room and another musical act in 1 of First Ave's bordering-walls was going on at the same time, and impossible to ignore.

As I recall thinking and probably writing back in 2008, when some hip-hop group could be heard in The Entry when she was playing, especially the quieter parts and just talking to the crowd; First Ave apparently does not SOUND PROOF their walls. Why this is? maybe cost or just lack of complaints?

It's shit like that, among a few other factors like the Hipster environment, failure to book certain bands, and booking Metal and cross promoting Hipfork Media music to the Metal crowd; that prevent that place from even coming close to living up to the reputation it receives. I have come around a bit with it, but last night's distraction from Konkrete Jungle (who may be great at what they do, but that doesn't matter when they end up hijacking my and I'm sure many others concert experience to a point) , in The Record Room just soured my feeling somewhat about First Ave again.

I suppose the key is to look at both The Record Room and The Entry's schedule and consider skipping a show if there's a chance another act may perform simultaneously. Especially if it's a show that I'm on the fence about anyway, on a weekend evening, there's another event to see instead, or just the price of tickets (or going down to find someone selling an extra).

Amanda herself even mentioned it on stage, if there were more time, a large group of fans with her should consider storming in there to try and get the attention of the group performing about how distracting their music is for her, while she was trying to tell a story and read off those depressing experiences from the box.

Putting the mix, arrangements and The Record Room distraction aside, this was a rather wild and chaotic show; probably more so than the show in 2008. Although less theatrical, than that last show was. I just got the sense given it was the "last show" of this tour as they said, Amanda and TGTO along with the musicians from the opening acts, wanted to go out with a bang.

They played more or less every tune I would have wanted off Theatre is Evil save for "Massachusetts Avenue" and "Melody Dean." I suppose some of the Kickstarter Bonus tracks like"Ukele Anthem" and "Provanity" as well would have been nice; but beggars can't be choosers of course and given they played almost the entire record plus a few others and the Wham/George Michael cover, the set list was fulfilling enough.

The pictures and videos even added more. And the pictures, I may me mixing up with something else like for the massive $50 BOOK that the Kickstarter campaign helped fund, I recall Amanda sending out something requesting the Kickstarter backers send in Photos or Videos of themselves? Maybe they were used for something else, but part of me wondered if some of the photos used in the background on the screens were from those Backers, and I wished I had sent one in.

One other thing I am still forgetting or thrown off by is, while this was the last show of THIS LEG of the American Tour, last time I checked, she goes to Europe in a couple of weeks, and then is back in the States doing more shows in November. Unless some of her tour was canceled?

The extra jams and things, along with thank you's I believe also came out last night due to the fact her husband Neil Gaiman was there (I don't think he was at many if any of the other shows thus far), given he lives in nearby Menomonie, Wisconsin. He even did a storytelling of sorts as 1 of the opening acts, telling his "Origin" of sorts about how he became a "writer" in some ways perhaps. I did find some of his story funny, although at times a bit over-the-top with the lude and sexual humor. I do think seeing him talk, I follow more now why Amanda and him are a couple. They do share many elements of being overtly honest, sexual and profane.

I should probably add, all of the opening acts, from Jherek Bischoff stuff including the Chamber pieces, to Chad Raines whose group The Simple Pleasure with their almost David Bowie-meets-Boy George Glam Rock, to Ronald Reagan "Boston's Premiere 80's Pop Saxophone Duo" all were entertaining, and artists I likely will seek out. I did even pick up a copy of Ronald Reagan's new EP which includes "Girls Just Want to Have Fun" (Cyndi Lauper) "Take on Me" (A-ha), "We Built This City" (Starship), "Total Eclipse of the Heart" (Bonnie Tyler) and "Beat It" (Michael Jackson) among others, which they played live.

Amanda Palmer IS PAYING the extra musicians: Sept/Oct 2012 Tour

http://www.amandapalmer.net/blog/20120919/

I don't likely have time to go in to great detail about all my thoughts with this, but I'll try and summarize what I meant to write within the last week, and now my reaction to this.

#1) The musicians she is/was asking to play with her KNEW about the circumstances before volunteering/being selected to play with her.

#2) these were in all likelihood going to be LOCAL musicians, or musicians that were to play for the show that were in THEIR HOMETOWN ONLY.

#3) Amanda has about 35 shows on this tour where she made this request (North America and Europe), and given that, just do the math about HOW MANY DIFFERENT MUSICIANS would be playing with her. 10 per show? 15 per show? maybe even up to 25 per show? I just guessed if it were to average 15 per show, 15 x 35 = 525 musicians. So there's a good chance she's be playing with approximately 500 different musicians on this tour.

#4) The Kickstarter Money. Yes, she raised the unthinkable $1.2 million dollars, but if PEOPLE ACTUALLY READ MORE ABOUT IT, they'd have realized SHE HAD A BUDGET AND PLAN FOR MORE OR LESS EVERY CENT OF THAT MONEY ALREADY, WHICH DID NOT INCLUDE PAYING 1-OFF PERFORMANCE MUSICIANS AT EVERY GIG.

#5) And let's say she wanted to change things and actually PAY each and every musician that played with her. Okay, how much? $100? well, that's $50K right there. Even $50 would be $25K, or MORE????? Again, she OUTLINED IN DETAIL where EVERY CENT was going more or less, and the 1-off show players were not in that plan.

#6) Should they be in that plan? Well, maybe, but 1st and foremost, THAT'S HER DECISION. Is it SELFISH? I guess it should seem payment enough, if you are an unknown musician just with the chance to gain exposure and experience playing with her and her band, in front of a large crowd who likely have never seen you play before anyway. Plus the other little perks like free tickets, beer, etc that she mentioned.

#7) In just considering numbers, $100 is an extra 50K, $50 25K, I concluded maybe around $20 or $25 wouldn't be so outlandish in moving $ around, or instead, Amanda just BUYS THEM ALL DINNER perhaps.

That all being said, from a PR standpoint, this does help, but I will stand by that I don't think she needed to do this. But whatevah.

I hopefully will write some kind of review soon of Theatre Is Evil, as I do like her new album quite a bit, although not quite as much as my initial impression. The bonus tracks for the Kickstarters are pretty tasty, including "The Ukele Song" namely.

For what it's worth, it charted today on Billboard, for its 1st week at #10. Nice Fuck You to Record Labels, but given it's hype and distribution, for a 1st week, that doesn't seem so surprising.

Amanda Palmer & the Grand Theft Orchestra - Theatre is Evil (2012)

6/19/12-7/2/12 4:58PM

Track List is below now, as Amanda posted it on a Kickstarter Update (among 500 other things of course).

Cover Art (I guess, no title or anything is a little odd)



01. Meow Meow Introduces The Grand Theft Orchestra
02. Smile (Pictures or It Didn't Happen)
03. The Killing Type
04. Do It with a Rockstar
05. Want It Back
06. Grown Man Cry
06. Trout Heart Replica
08. A Grand Theft Intermission
09. Lost
10. Bottomfeeder
11. The Bed Song
12. Massachusetts Avenue
13. Melody Dean (featuring David J on bass)
14. Berlin
15. Olly Olly Oxen Free

from facebook

I actually don't think I posted the actual title yet, save for in 1 of the topics about the Kickstarter campaign.

And track list? I don't think it's been announced yet. There's been some songs shared, but I'm blanking on if that was announced yet. If it was, it'll be edited in here soon.

The release date even isn't set, but it is coming out in September.

Evarusnik

I noticed Gavin Hayes from dredg post about this project just a bit ago on his twitter.

Help some friends, and our guitarist, create some music! RT @mengles: http://www.kickstarter.com/projects/evaru..

I just checked out some of their music, and it's not bad. Kind of acoustic piano-driven Female singer/songwriter with orchestral flourishes. Somewhat in the vein of Brooke Waggoner or Sucre I suppose. The compositions sound nice enough, so I pledged.

However, what is a bit confusing is their Kickstarter campaign. It's great they are using it, however the dollar amount of $17,000 and maybe even more so, given the time frame of 33 days left. I can't find the actual launch date, but I'm just guessing it was launched within the last day or 2.

Raising as much as $17,000, and in just over a month? maybe it'll happen (I gave $25, which is pretty blind given I only just heard them for the 1st time), but if it does not, this project supports another puzzling way of thinking with artists and the AMOUNT OF TIME THEY EXPECT TO RAISE SAID FUNDS FROM KICKSTARTER.

NOT EVERY ARTIST IS AMANDA PALMER.

And I'm not sure how Kickstarter campaigns are set up, but I would think if the album is expected in May of 2013, they could give themselves AT LEAST 3 MONTHS to raise that level of money.

What I have felt bands should do, is instead of launching the Kickstarter campaign and then going out and advertising, while the CLOCK HAS ALREADY STARTED COUNTING DOWN.

Go Out and MENTION a Kickstarter Campaign will be LAUNCHED SOON. Maybe even just see on Facebook and Twitter how many "Likes" and "Retweets" you get, even by posting about it a handful of times over say 33 days or so.

That all being said, I hope this Kickstarter campaign is a success. In the mean time, I probably will pick up a copy of their 1st record High Collar Dark Sky, just based on some of the impressive samples on the bandcamp page below.







http://www.evarusnik.com/Home.html

Amanda Palmer Kickstarter: $1,192 Million/24,883 Backers

Wow, just wow. As the co-host of "Epic Rock Talk" said the other day, if it happened once, it can happen again.



Here's the link

24,883
BACKERS
$1,192,793
PLEDGED OF $100,000 GOAL
0
SECONDS TO GO

Amanda Palmer and The Grand Theft Orchestra - TBA (2012)

5/1/12 3:52PM
Kickstarter Campaign which will go for another 30 days, that has nearly tripled her/the $100,000 goal.
edit: The Kickstarter Campaign is linked here
I put in $25. I hope this record comes close to as amazing as she sounds like it is. I guess if it's as good or better than Who Killed Amanda Palmer? I'm thinking that is more than worth it.



4/18/12 9:44PM


Not sure if the name of the record will be "Amanda Palmer & The Grand Theft Orchestra" "Amanda Palmer and The Grand Theft Orchestra" or just "The Grand Theft Orchestra." But whatever the EXACT name is, its a debut record expected in September. Kickstarter campaign coming in the next few weeks according to that.

I am a fan of The Dresden Dolls and of course her solo record Who Killed Amanda Palmer? from 2008. Evelyn Evelyn and the recent live record? not so much. But I'm rather curious reading about this.

to catch you up....brian and i (aka, ahem, THE DRESDEN DOLLS) rocked australia and new zealand hardcore, including a show where we played the violent femmes' debut album in its goddamned entirety with the femmes' bassist Brian Ritchie, and brought Richard O'Brien (creator of the Rocky Horror Show) on stage with us to Do the Time Warp. (Again?).

since then, i've been working night and day on a GIANT NEW RECORD with my band The Grand Theft Orchestra. we finished recording in melbourne, australia, about two weeks ago, and now i'm holed up in dallas with producer extraordinaire John Congleton (who some of you may know from his band The Paper Chase…or from his production on albums with St. Vincent, Murder By Death, Modest Mouse, Xiu Xiu, and MANY awesome others). we're almost done. i cannot wait for you to hear this shit. it's unlike anything i've ever done and if i am allowed to say it (fuck…of course i'm allowed to say it), it's the best thing i've ever made. it's a masterpiece....and the best kind of masterpiece, a collaborative one. my band KILLED, Chad Raines (the GTO guitarist) arranged the horns, Jherek Bischoff (the GTO bassist) is in seattle as we speak arranging and recording the strings, Michael McQuilken (the GTO drummer) did a ton of programming and basically everybody's crazy brains colliding to create a sonic explosion of awesome.

it's hard to describe what the record sounds like....but take my first solo album (who killed amanda palmer), both dresden dolls' records, add in a lot of mid-era cure and depeche mode, sprinkle on the cars greatest hits and some gary numan, then add a layer of my bloody valentine and swans and you've got a vague idea. it's LOUD. it's BIG. and it's totally awesome. it'll come out to the general public this septemberish. but true to form....i will bring it to you guys first.
in about two weeks (right around MY BIRFDAY), i'll be launching a Kickstarter project for pre-ordering.
if you're not familiar with Kickstarter yet, HERE is a video i did for FUSE talking about why it's awesome.
the packages available are going to consist of ALL sorts of beautiful ART (including, of course, the standard digital/CD/vinyl options).
EVERY package we sell via this Kickstarter campaign is going to be a limited edition backer-only version. that means different (and fancier) packaging than will be available to the public at retail, bonus content and all sorts of other unique madness which we're having LOTS of fun dreaming up. this stuff will NEVER be available in stores or online again. welcome to the future.
i don't want to say much more…just wanted you to be prepared. once the kickstarter campaign launches, all sorts of amazing things will start to unravel…and they'll unravel bestest for the people who get in on the ground up.

The Bewitched - Without a Net (2012)

Here this album is available on their Bancamp page where it's "pay what you want"



1. another day, another life 03:10
2. small world 04:25
3. things like that 04:22
4. the boulevard of broken dreams 05:19
5. olde lullaby 03:44
6. violet hour 05:58
7. late night creature feature 02:52
8. when all the freaks come out and play 03:20
9. watching the stars go out 05:03
10. without a net 03:56


As always, I don't have much time to write something in here, but I just have to post what I can for now (and likely not much later, even until the end of the year, sadly).

I met Mary and Eric at an Amanda Palmer concert I recall in late 2008. They are fans of course of Amanda and the Dresden Dolls like myself. Their music is influenced, but not entirely like the Dolls/Amanda's.

They do this interesting style of what I'd call Psychedelic acoustic-mostly Cabaret Pop/Rock/Folk. Rather lyrical, ironic, dark, humorous, theatrical, and especially on this album, there's a great dreamy element. Some parts sounding almost middle eastern. I think a lot of that is Mary's use of dulcimer, which for The Bewitched, is a primary instrument. That among other things, does distinguish them.

My favorites from this album, I'll confess, are the 1st 2 tracks "another day, another life" and "small world" which I recall them playing live when I saw them, which was sadly maybe 2 or more years ago last.

I know they spent a great deal of time writing and recording this record, and among other things, the production seems to show that. Am I blown away by it? no, not really. But it has a really nice mood and flow to it. And I'm not just saying that due to the fact I know them and consider them friends, nor that they are from Minnesota. I think the extensive time they spent writing and making this album shows.

Best Minnesota record of 2012? unlikely, but probably will be among my top 5-10 at least, and 1 I will revisit, especially since Mary said the other day on facebook they plan to have hardcopies at a show this coming Summer. Maybe The Bryant Lake Bowl again? or maybe even a place like The Ritz Theater.

And I still think they should try and play a gig with Jenny Dalton or maybe even Cloud Cult at some point. We'll see, but in the mean time, i'm enjoying this album and am very happy for them to finally see it come out. This week though, ironically, among the 8 or so other records just on my radar alone.
The Bewitched on Facebook