Amanda Palmer @ Music Hall Of Williamsburg

November 17, 2009 - New York, NY

By Amanda Hatfield

Amanda Palmer @ Music Hall of Williamsburg - November 14, 2009 - Brooklyn, NY - Photos by Amanda Hatfield

For the uninitiated, walking into an Amanda Palmer concert can be an overwhelming experience. This isn't the kind of show that you casually decide to check out with some friends who may or may not be familiar with the band in question because there's been some blog buzz; this is where you go to feel part of a tribe of fellow devotees. Because by and large, fans of Ms. Palmer are anything but casual: they follow her on Twitter (where she's delightfully accessible and prolific), they know all the words to all the songs (and they've probably even bought physical copies of the cds), they affect manners of dress and makeup reminiscent of Amanda's style in the Dresden Dolls and now: doll like face makeup, corsets, striped stockings. Sometimes there's a theatrical element, with fans organizing performance art before the opening acts, and at this particular show two visual artists painted as Amanda played, with the resulting pieces being auctioned off before the last song.

It's easy, too, to be taken aback by her music, which tends towards piano based rock songs with heavy lyrics. There are also moments of genuine levity - and songs like Oasis, which is probably the most upbeat tune about rape and abortion you'll ever hear. Which isn't to say it trivializes or makes light of either issue, but these aren't songs to characterize as goth or emo, wallowing in their own dark subjects. Amanda was backed on this tour by the Nervous Cabaret, who added drums, horns, and guitar to her piano. Having the accompaniment seemed to push her energy even higher, and she and the band pulled out all the stops on favorites from The Dresden Dolls and her solo album, as well as some truly fun and fabulous, if slightly messy covers. The Ting Ting's That's Not My Name and The Animals' The House of the Rising Sun were particular highlights, as was a spontaneous post show ukulele performance in the lobby of Making Whoopee from atop some lucky guy's shoulders. Love her or hate her (if you're anything like me it's love) you can't deny Amanda Palmer's charisma and musical passion, and she left the crowd wanting more, more, more after yet another inspired show. ~ Amanda Hatfield

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Nervous Cabaret