In oktober van 2021 besliste ik dat ik eindelijk de tattoo zou laten zetten waar ik al enkele jaren op aan het broeden was. Iets van een innerlijk kind op een schommel en de grote boze wereld daarrond. Mijn idee was vaag maar de fotografische imprint in mijn brein heel gedefinieerd.
In verschillende berichten en telefoontjes probeerde ik aan mijn uitverkoren artieste uit te leggen wat ik net bedoelde. Het eerste idee dat Sarah me doorstuurde was fantastisch mooi, maar helaas niet mijn tattoo. No problem, back to the drawing board. Het lukte mij even niet om het idee beter verwoord te krijgen, en Sarah had het ook even veel te druk, dus ontstaat er een tijdelijke radiostilte.
Ergens zomer 2022 beslis ik dan toch nog maar eens een poging te wagen, Sarah nodigt me uit in de shop. Beste idee ooit. Sarah is sowieso ook een van de Purple People. We vuren ideeën op elkaar af, terwijl zij het in Procreate tot iets concreets begint te vormen en tegelijk driftig notities neemt. Ik raak nog geïnspireerd door een van haar ontwerpen dat ik vanuit mijn ooghoek opmerk, en de rest is history.
We beginnen met het babyvogeltje uit haar eerste ontwerp, met een boekje in de schoot. (Eentje van Sir Terry Pratchett, moest u het zich afvragen.) Die mag al gaan chillen op zijn schommeltje. Vogeltje, want ja, kleine hyperfixatie op vogels specifiek en dieren algemeen. Oh, en kan er nog een koptelefoontje bij? Muziek, u weet wel.
De schommel hangt dan weer vast aan een (gespiegeld) dopamine symbool, omdat dat een belangrijk factor is voor mezelf, om in the moment op mijn schommeltje te geraken. Het boek, de headphones en de schommel zelf als herinnering aan wat me dopamine geeft. Woorden, noten en verbondenheid met mijn innerlijke kind.
Het oog binnen de dopamine is gebaseerd op het ontwerp aan de muur. Het staat symbool voor de kaleidoscopische blik die ik op de wereld heb. Opnieuw, een herinnering voor als ik vergeet van écht te kijken naar de kleine, mooie dingen.
Het schaduwkonijn dat errond zit is volledig Sarah haar geweldige ingeving. Een perfecte, maar toch niet te angstaanjagende afbeelding van de grote boze wereld rondom mij. Want als ik op alle andere elementen let, is de wereld ook draaglijk en niet echt ZO boos.
Innerlijke kind, check!
Grote ‘boze’ wereld, check!
Permanent visuele herinnering aan wat u energie brengt en beschermt tegen die ‘boze’ wereld, check!
Het wordt september en we beginnen eraan. Ik ben GEK van het ontwerp. Maar dan wordt het winter, in mijn hoofd en daarbuiten. Ik voelde me op een bepaald moment zo slecht, dat ik mezelf aanpraatte dat deze tattoo een foute impulsbeslissing was, waar ik nog spijt van zou krijgen.
Dat maakt het des te mooier hoe ik vanaf het begin van korte-mouwen-seizoen 2023, opnieuw met veel liefde naar mijn arm begon te kijken. En vanaf vandaag ligt daar dus nog een extra laagje liefde over.
Ik lig hier in de tuin een eenzame vaderdag te vieren met alleen muziek als gezelschap. (En dat is OK, het voelt niet alleen.) Maar door hier zo te te liggen soezen in de zon, met muziek in mij oren beginnen mijn gedachten te verdwalen in patronen.
lk besef net hoe super profetisch deze tattoo is voor de mentaliteitswijziging die ik in de laatste 2 weken aan het doormaken ben. En voor de relatie als dochter van mijn vader. Als in, toen ik ze liet zetten was ze hyperrelevant en sprekend, en nu heeft ze nog twee extra betekenislagen gekregen die ze nog ZO veel belangrijker voor me maakt.
De timing rond deze tattoo en keuze voor deze artieste is al om verschillende redenen zeer synchronistisch gebleken. Deel van dat verhaal is niet van mij alleen, en ga ik hier niet uit de doeken doen. Je zal me moeten geloven op mijn woord.
Als ik mensen die een tattoo overwegen iets kan aanraden: de juiste artiest is veel belangrijker dan het juiste idee. En laat het rusten als het nog niet is wat je zoekt. Je zal hooguit een ontwerp moeten betalen waar je later misschien nog iets mee kan op een of andere manier.
*Een bedrag dat mee in de prijs van mijn uiteindelijke gezette tattoo opnieuw werd verrekend. Voordeel als je bij dezelfde artiest blijft. Maar nooit een verplichting. Wel om hen te betalen, want ook het uitwerken van een tattoo is voor hen werk. Vaak veel meer dan een leek kan vermoeden.
Voor mij was de juiste artiest in dit geval Sarah Boo Punkelmees. (De naam alleen al, komaan!) Het was misschien een zware bevalling maar ik denk dat we alle twee uiteindelijk uitermate enthousiast zijn over het eindresultaat. (En ik althans ook over het proces.)
Los van een super getalenteerd tekenaar en tattoo artist is ze trouwens ook een pracht van een mens, en een extra inspiratie om te leven zoals mijn tattoo het me aangeeft. Met een open blik op alles wat belangrijk is. ❤
Volg Sarah Boo Punkelmees en de shop The Lost Oasis waar ze werkt. Het loopt daar vol van Purple People volgens mij, met elk hun eigenwijze stijl en aanpak! ALLEN DAARHEEN! (En zeg dat ik u gestuurd heb!)
Ik had kunnen zoeken dewelke ik het leukste vond, maar dan had ik volgende week nog niet op publish geklikt, dus hierbij haar laatste post! (Die ik voor de duidelijkheid dus ook absoluut bangelijk vind he!)
About keeping in touch with your inner child (and following all your old dreams.)
Okay, you might view *ALL OF THIS* (gestures wildly to this blog) by now as a dramatic midlife crisis. I call it keeping it touch with your inner child, because they knew what was up. (Maybe not necessarily about everything, but about the most important things.)
Anway, I was recently advised, (among many other things, but this one was the one I struggled with.) to use prayer as a means of getting through bad thoughts or moments. Not in a God shall smite Thee way, but more like any form of higher power you believe in. And I don’t really believe in a deity or other higher power. I mean, I love and worship Mother Nature daily, but I wouldn’t ask her for help with my issues. (She has too much work already, saving the bees.)
But the answer was so clear to me and has been staring me in the face with every blog & social post I’ve written in the past couple of weeks. I believe in the concept of synchronicity. I was pretty sure I wrote about it on my old blog, which I’m slowly trying to rehaul over to the current iteration. I was looking for that post and came across this one from 2010.
Written on the THIRD of June in 2010. The last few weeks and months have revolved around the number three in way or another. Just check this series called Pete, Me, And The Devil Makes THREE for instance. (A tour in THREE parts, full of THREES.) In the last crazy week of performances, Gogol Bordello finished the bill at De Roma on… You guessed it, the motherfucking THIRD of June of 202THREE, 1THREE years after writing that blog. (I know, I know, I should get to writing that Gogol Bordello love letter, but I am BOMBARDED BY SYNCHRONICITIES in THREES, so give me a second to catch my breath. – Also, I am writing this bit from the future where the review of the actual performance of the band is done: read it here!)
What does Gogol Bordello then have to do with anything I hear you wondering? (Aside from me accidentally finding this above song while simply looking for a gif and wondering how this would sound in a Gogol-Flavour.) The world needs this Eugene, the universe is telling me to tell you!). Well, they’re the Purple People. (I’ll explain later) What I mean is that I found community and meaning in music last week, in so much more ways than one. Walking out of de Roma that THIRD of June, I made a decision.
I am going to stop trying to see which parts that could fit me, and focus again on the parts that have always fit. Writing. Music. Yes!
After which I, by the way, totally accidentally located the THREE Brits I was trying to interview between the two encores. (That’s a show in THREE parts, in case you were counting.) I had lost all hope of finishing that bit of the story by then. They were the only people we crossed on a half hour trek to the car. They sang me MMMbop which was synchronicitous in and of itself. My sis and I went to see Hanson together a few times now. They’re amazing musicians. Also, did you know they are a TRIO and the last show we saw was their 30TH Anniversary tour? Just saying.
The first one we were going to see, I missed because Amanda was in town and my sister understands my hyperfixated brain a little. But then Taylor and Amanda were playing not just on the same night but also the same venue. And when I saw them kick a ball backstage at Trix, my brain almost exploded. That performance you ask? The 3x3RD of the 2X6TH month of 2017 if you were wondering. But that weird and random link just settles it for me.
This as a complete aside just to mention all the THREES, but the rest of the Gogol Bordello Brits and their lovely rendition of MMMbop will grace this blog soon.
But, asides aside. The thing is, just yesterday I used that very same video (from the Prime Zomer van de Kijker campaign in 2010, not 2008 as I believed.) to cast my newest alter ego, Polexia Miller to this website, who is entirely based on THE MOVIE I AM PROMOTING IN THE CLIP.
Yes, I am yelling. (Sorry, I get excited.) Yes, this all might not mean anything. It probably doesn’t, and I’m realistic enough to know that full well. They’re stupid coincidences. But I am choosing for them to mean something.
Just like the jackdaw (another hyperfixation) that ‘followed’ me on my way to a big day, was the one I saved last year, wishing me luck this time. (Like any and all jackdaws I’ve since encountered.)
Just like I am choosing to see any reference to Johnny Cash as some sign from my dad.
Just like I am choosing to believe this came on my path (both literally and figuratively) for a reason. To learn to accept the donut, but also to see and appreciate the donut-givers.
I’m not sure if I’ve ever actually actively chosen to believe in something. And now I wholeheartedly CHOOSE to believe. In something that brings me great comfort. That some people could even find odd and stupid. I choose it and I own it. And it is goddamn liberating.
And that is what being a Purple Person is all about to me. That’s what my newest original soundtrack song means to me. Choose Purple. Choose anarchy from your own thoughts.
So that’s what I am going to do. Be the best purple version of myself, doing the things I love best. And I can never really tell what language the thing is going to take. So I am going to keep switching I am sorry if that is confusing to any readers out there, but I hope you appreciate the liberty I can feel by not limiting my creative quirks. And I think that no limits is best with the Gonzo Journalism style I’ve apparently adapted.
(Disclaimer: all the purples you see on this blog have been a personification of my inner Purple Person. I only very recently became obsessed with this song. Another beautiful synchronicity.)
“That groupie”? She was a Band-Aid! All she did was love your band. And you used her, all of you! You used her and threw her away! She almost died last night while you were with Bob Dylan. You guys, you’re always talking about the fans, the fans, the fans; she was your biggest fan, and you threw her away! And if you can’t see that, that’s your biggest problem. And I love her! I love her!
William Miller – Almost Famous
Pete Bernhard(One devil), me and the Devil makes Two! In totaal met vier. Ik ken mijn wiskunde.
The Chats at Trix – Josh Hardy, Matt Boggis | Clumsy Crane
Julie and Dec Martens at Trix november 2023
Amy Taylor (Amyl and the Sniffers), Clumsy Crane and Seriously Hilary at Trix in november 2023
Post-show selfie with the one and only AFP
I got this picture courtesy of the only person I ever met at an AFP thing who was weird in a bad way. He let me know he snapped this pic (way better quality than my selfie) so I added him on messenger and then he turned full creep in 2 seconds. At least it brought me this picture. Photo credit,: THAT guy.
Me, Edward Ka-Spell and the I can Spin a Rainbow merch (Amanda Palmer & Edward Ka-Spel – Trix – June 9th 2017)
Julie Van Craen WebWijf Zondag Zondag
I just established my new alter ego. (Yes, yes, as if I needed any more. At least this one is not getting her own Instagram page.) Her name is Polexia Miller, she is the person I turn into when I experience (live) music.
She is part Band-Aid, part Rock-Journalist (and full on badass), so she gets the best of both worlds. The name is completely and lovingly inspired by the movie that made me want to be a (rock)journalist: Almost Famous*. My most feel good feel good film of all feel good films. Try to say that three times.
Or, try and say ‘fantastisch’ as much as I do in the above video reviewing the movie for Prime. (Never before released to the general public.) The synchronicity (again, sorrynotsorry) of finding this today in the depths of my neglected Youtube archive made me get over the cringe of seeing myself say ‘fantastisch’ over, and over, and over. (And over, and over.) But it doesn’t matter because I was still fucking right, that movie is a classic.
I’ll probably never really write about movies anymore because I still find it hard to recommend a film without spoiling the plot. But that’s the beauty with rock (whatever that means) journalism. The only plot I can ruin is whether or not you should get that ticket.
I’m pretty picky about what I go see, because I want to see SO much. I don’t think I’ve ever written a review for a performance I didn’t like and I probably won’t.
More to come still with Part 2 and 3 of Me, Pete, me and the Devil Makes Three, Gogol Bordello, The Interrupters and Brakrock soon. (Also The Rabids, but that is awaiting important input!)
So anyway, enjoy Polexia Miller’s wacky adventures in live music land and see where it goes!
*Along with April O’neil in the series Teenage Mutant Ninja Turtles from 1987. (Earlier she was apparently a computer programmer, later she became a warrior. I think the eighties got the most sexist version, but still, she was a good role model for young me.) Same goes for Rory Gilmore from Girlmore Girls, her dedication to be a journalist was the second influence. And I said I never had female role models. For shame.
Part one: Rounding off the Edges – Guided by Angels
Part two: Live! Amyl And The Sniffers (Trix)
Part three: Guided by Amyl
When I heard Guided by Angels for the first time, I got into a heated discussion if they might be a Christian band (they’re not). It’s not always that I look up the lyrics immediately, (though it does happen A LOT) but in this case I just fell in love instantly. If I hadn’t already fallen head over heels for that pumping intro riff.
When they (inevitably, obviously) make a movie about my life, this song is going to be on the soundtrack. Right next to The Dresden Dolls’ Girl Anachronism. Both songs just radiate ADHD energy to me.
Energy, good energy and bad energy I’ve got plenty of energy It’s my currency I spend, protect my energy, currency
Guided by Angels
Rounding off the Edges – Guided by Angels pt. 1 – Number 37 in the series.
I had to use these words somehow, in the Rounding off the Edges Series. And I did. And believe me when I say I am not yet done with their words. All this to say: I absolutely love this band.
Another few lyric favourites:
Does my opinion really make you that sick? Every decision, every consequences My choice is my own, my body’s my own Opinion is my own, I own it, I own it
And I would rather figure it out the hard way Even if it takes a little more time I want all the experiences I have To be explicitly exclusively mine
Choices
Does my opinion really make you that sick? Every decision, every consequences My choice is my own, my body’s my own Opinion is my own, I own it, I own it
And I would rather figure it out the hard way Even if it takes a little more time I want all the experiences I have To be explicitly exclusively mine
Freaks to the front
Live! Amyl And The Sniffers (Trix)
Australian invasion of Belgium – Part one! (See The Chats for part 2)
I got to see them at Trix on November 15th 2022 and I seriously almost started crying in the audience. To say it had been a rough few months for me would be an understatement. This gig was quite literally the first fun activity I had planned since the end of August. And I still didn’t really feel like going, even though I had been looking forward to it for over a year.
So I just stood there and let the energy the band emits (the song is not wrong!) wash all over me. I felt the loud basses coursing through my body. I felt the happiness and enthusiasm of the audience I was in (and then I’m not even addressing that same feeling radiating off of the stage). I felt like somewhat of a person again. Music is my home and Amyl And The Sniffers made me feel SO SO welcome.
At the time I wasn’t in a writing state of mind, so I never gave them the review they deserved. But everything felt a little lighter after that day. Got to meet the lovely Amyl (Amy Taylor) & Sniffer Dec Martens post-show, hanging out by their bus. Great and funny people, so down to earth and genuinly nice. You can tell by my crazy joyous smile. Next time they’re around, I will write them that review and then some!
Julie and Dec Martens at Trix november 2023
Guided by Amyl
I search, search For the angels guiding my energy They’re so heavenly I love their energy Angels return my energy heavenly …. From the angels heavenly guided—fuck!
Guided By Angels
It might not surprise you that I have a soft spot for the lady Amy(l) who is everything I want to be when I grow up. (Yes, she is 10 years younger than me, I just never had the right role models growing up. Still learning!) The above lyric rings so true to me. (See: Circle in a Square Puzzle.) It is so hard to find the people who bring the best out in you. And so glorious when you do find them.
It took me way longer than I would have liked, but I have found some of my angels both near me and in a ‘love-you-from-afar-way’. Both are represented in the below picture.
Amy Taylor (Amyl and the Sniffers), Julie and Seriously Hilary at Trix in November 2023
Amyl and the Sniffers ,15th of november 2023, Trix antwerpen
I was never good at asking. I’d rather fall flat on my face several times before asking anyone for help. I still suffer from this affliction to some extent. But I’ve learned asking or receiving it is not something disgraceful. It is helpful. It creates a positive energy that you in turn can pay forward. Without help from our parents, we wouldn’t have a decent car or the house we live in. Should I be ashamed of this? No! I should however be very thankful of the help received.
I’ve only come to this realisation recently, when I started reading The Art of Asking by Amanda Palmer. I’m only halfway through this already fantastic book, so please don’t expect an elaborate review.
2023 note: I have read this book countless times since then and wormed its way again onto my ever growing to (re)read pile.)
This is my written ode to Amanda Fucking Palmer: musician, singer, writer, artist, poet and all-round voice of so many people that don’t get, or dare to yell out themselves.
Getting The Art of Asking signed after the Amanda Palmer gig at Die Kantine in Cologne in 2016. Receiving a big hug after telling her how much it meant to me.
In the book, she describes beautifully how she felt like a beggar while working as The Bride at first, a living statue she took on the road.
How she tried her hardest to connect with people, all without uttering one word. And how it felt when she broke through the shell of one of the busy commuters.
How she made her eyes speak “I SEE you”. She recalls the thankful looks of recognition. I’ll never look at a living statue the same way again.
2023 note: Having met her, I can tell you this is not a gimmick. She SEES and FEELS her fans, her people. They are both her driving force and safety blanket.
Her music and lyrics inspire me. They break me when I feel fragile, and kick my ass when I need a boost. I keep discovering more and more layers within the songs. In the words and the notes. In the silences in between. I fall in love all over again, with every note and snippet of lyric, every time I put any of her music on.
The beautiful lyrics she writes down represent full honesty and fragility. When she whispers or screams them out on stage, only then do you understand them fully. They are what you want them to be. They can be everything and nothing in between. On a road-rage-fueled morning commute, they can be a release for that anger. On a quiet drive in the fields, it can be a lovely friend who tells you how beautiful the world is.
The beautiful lyrics she writes down represent full honesty and fragility. And then when she screams them out or whispers them on stage, only then do you understand them fully. They are what you want them to be. They can be everything and nothing in between. On a road-rage-fueled morning commute, they can be a release for that anger. On a quiet drive in the fields, it can be a lovely friend who tells you how beautiful the world is.
Amanda Palmer & The Grand Theft Orchestra at Botanique BXL -November 2nd 2013 (Potato quality courtesy of crappy iphone)
Her shows, both with The Dresden Dolls, solo or with one of her many side-projects always radiate an energy that every fan takes home and treasures for years. I’m still talking about a Dolls show in 2006 like it was yesterday. She & Brian shook the AB venue in Brussels on its foundations. Just the two of them, an electric piano, a drum set and a set of lungs. Oh and his guitar, which he smashed. I still have to small part of it I managed to get a hold of!
AFPiano: Amanda Palmer & Edward Ka-Spel – Trix – June 9th 2017
AFPshoes: She commented on my blingy shoes my friend put on the stage after I took them off because they hurt. (Amanda Palmer & Edward Ka-Spel – Trix – June 9th 2017)
Pre-show selfie with bestie Hilary. We go all out for AFP.
During show picture by bestie Hilary! I was crying because it was so intense. (Amanda Palmer & Edward Ka-Spel – Trix – June 9th 2017)
Hanson was at Trix too that night. (I was actually supposed to go see them, sorry again sis.) I unfortunately lack the photographic evidence, but there was a little football match going on back-stage between them. It was the mind-fuckiest thing having those two artists existing in that same space at the same time.
Post-show-hug-selfie, with an honorary mention to Merch Queen Alex in the back!
Me, Edward Ka-Spell and the I can Spin a Rainbow merch (Amanda Palmer & Edward Ka-Spel – Trix – June 9th 2017)
I got this picture courtesy of the only person I ever met at an AFP thing who was weird in a bad way. He let me know he snapped this pic (way better quality than my selfie) so I added him on messenger and then he turned full creep in 2 seconds. At least it brought me this picture. Photo credit,: THAT guy.
Remember the during-show picture by bestie Hilary? Well, she’s an amazing artist and turned that moment in time, that wonderful emotion into a beautiful piece of art.
The love she shows her fans and opening acts is astonishing. The pure brutal force with which she brings her music is borderline maniacal. She lives her stories and music on stage. She leaves behind a breathless, satisfied audience that can forget about using their voice the morning after. If you’re not hoarse as a barmaid the day after a DD or AFP show, you’re doing it wrong.
The fire with which she storms the world head on makes her my most appreciated female artist of all time. She isn’t afraid to give out her opinion, but isn’t afraid to retract if she feels she was wrong. She tackles misogynists and uses wit and art to make her point. She does not back down. She isn’t afraid to ask (for help).
The way she reacted to the Daily Mail article about her Nip-Slip on stage during a festival. No. I’m not quoting the source. I am however quoting Amanda on the matter of this type of journalism:
“Anything that seems to exist just to taunt, denigrate, bully, bemoan or demean others (especially if it is wrapped in a shroud of self-righteousness) is click-bait. Instead? Fuck it! Share something actually useful and wonderful! We need more of that, always. Preferably something deep, profound, mind-blowing and enlightening, but seriously…. sloths n’ kittens are still vastly better than yet another article shit-click-baiting.“
AFP
Here’s the video. Warning NSFW!
Not only is the song pretty fucking hilarious, she dares to fight the misleading media. In this case she refused to be reduced to a nipple. Deceptive journalism is a dangerous and slippery slope. Because of what is not written, a lot of important points aren’t made. In Amanda’s case, it was about her music and how it should speak for her, and not a silly wardrobe malfunction. But it is bigger than that too. It is about some stories being reported on profusely, while others die on the metaphorical editorial floor. And it’s mostly the stories that matter, that don’t make the cut.
Amanda isn’t afraid to speak her fears, as well as her mind. She evens the path for people who have something they fear or are anxious about, to speak their mind about it.
To let them be heard, so they can start to heal. She lends her ear to fans in need in the signing queue. In turn she has a shoulder to cry on when she doesn’t feel her best.
This is how she connects with her fans. Through laying it all bare. Through showing that it’s okay to talk about it, however much it hurts. However much people might reject you. She encourages you to grow from and empower yourself with this rejection. You cannot please everyone. Deal with it.
I feel she brings a healthy and much needed voice to femininity. She posts pictures to instagram & facebook without make up and her signature painted on eyebrows. She tells girls, young and old alike, that it is okay to be yourself. That we’re all flawed. That we all have bags under our eyes on most days. That real women have pores. And taches de beauté. And that that is okay.
Someone should write a book about this woman’s life. Oh wait. That’s right, she already did. It is called “The Art of Asking” and you should read it now. (Also, this post is turning into my version of her biography: ‘My life with Amanda Palmer.’ I’m only slightly kidding. Hyperfixation much?) Then start asking, stop worrying and let people help if you can’t do it alone.
Editors note: Originally posted on February 7th, 2015
So much has happened to Amanda, me and the world (both good and bad) in the 8 years since I originally wrote this post in February 2015. Hence me feeling I have to add this rather long addendum and instead of just reposting the original from the depths of the Way Back Machine. (If it wasn’t for that site by the way, I’d have lost all my content since I started DownSideUp originally.)
Between the original post and now, I have met this beautiful person after shows on several occasions and even got to spend a day with her and her entourage.
Biggest and only regret of the day is not telling Neil Gaiman what a fucking fantastic author he is. Instead I kept gushing about my love for his co-author to Good Omens, the wonderful Terry Pratchett. (Sorry, Neil, I LOVE YOU but I google other authors!)
AFP and Neil Gaiman at Speelgoedmuseum
AFP and Neil Gaiman at Speelgoedmuseum
AFP and Julie + youngest fan (He got his uke signed!)
AFP & Neil Gaiman browsing for a new kitchen. Shortly after we lost Neil who in turn posted a cryptic thread to Twitter you can read below.
Prized possession: my battered copy of Good Omens signed by Neil Gaiman & Terry Pratchett (at least in spirit).
Rolemodels we need growing up, Neil Gaiman & Amanda Palmer as a boxed up Ken & Barbie.
Driving Neil & Amanda back to Borgerhout. Shout out to the lovely person on the right of Amanda whose name escapes me..
Group picture we just had to take because I am still having trouble believing all of this really happened.
Pre-show selfie with bestie Hilary, note the 3 AFP related badges on my coat and the There Will be no Intermission tour poster – 20 september 20
Post-show selfie with the one and only AFP
The only problem with wandering around a bit of a children’s museum that’s closed, on your own, is that suddenly you are in a Brian Clemens scripted 1960s tv episode. It’s only a matter of time before the murders start. pic.twitter.com/kfqCB7ftcp
Attachment to the gallery: We lost Neil Gaiman somewhere around the creepy old dolls and he started a cryptic play by play thread of trying to find us again in the maze full of oddities that is the Toy Museum.
Another sidenote from the gallery above. AFP inspires people to create unabashedly, like how Hilary made her beautiful painting from my picture and I got to go wild in my Dresden Dolls inspired Photoshoot. (Plus countless other fan art I am not mentioning because this article is already TOO DAMN LONG.)
Anyway, since that first The Dresden Dolls gig, I have seen her most every time she’s been in Europe. Every iteration has been completely different, from the loud punk-esque sound with The Grand Theft Orchestra, to the haunting tour with Edward Ka-Spel, and her various (solo) projects.
She released at ton of music in the past decade, fueled by her Patrons. There were the collaborations with with the extremely talented Jason Webley for Evelyn Evelyn and Sketches For the Musical JIB. She brought her family along for the ride with ‘An Evening With Neil Gaiman & Amanda Palmer’ and the album You Got Me Singing she made with her dad Jack Palmer. Her last tour de force was There will be no Intermission with musician Jherek Bischoff on which you already know my opinion. There is just too much to mention everything individually, so just check the full discography on her website. Do note though, that The Dresden Dolls have started hitting the stage again as of this year.
DownSideUp 