Thursday, August 27, 2009

Nine Inch Nails 'Wave Goodbye' Terminal 5 NYC: 08/26/09

I guess I'm in the "Denial" phase of loss... because I simply can't believe that this is the last time I'll see Nine Inch Nails live. Here's the last set list (I don't believe it!) Nine Inch Nails performed in NYC:
1. Pinion
2. Somewhat Damaged.
3. Wish
4. Last
5. Sin
6. March of the Pigs
7. Something I can never have.
8. Piggy (nothing can stop me now).
9. metal.
10. terrible lie.
11. head down.
12. burn.
13.gave up.
14. La mer.
15. the frail.
16.the wretched.
17.non-entity.
18. gone,still.
19. lights in the sky.
20.the downward spiral. 21.1,000,000.
22. survivalism.
23. the good soldier.
24. Dead Souls.
25. hurt.
26. suck.
27. down in it.
28. the hand that feeds.
29. head like a hole.
30.reptile feat. Peter Murphy in upside down Bat suspension!
31.Strange Kind of Love w. Peter Murphy
32. final solution w. Peter Murphy

Wednesday, August 26, 2009

nin

Head Like a Hole

Nine Inch Nails Wave Goodbye; Terminal 5: 08/25/09

What a great show last night! I can't believe that this evening is the last night I will see nine inch nails. Expect a massive Madame K meltdown blog shortly. For now, here's the Setlist from yesterday:
1. Home
2. Terrible Lie
3. The Beginning of the End
4. Discipline
5. March of the Pigs
6. The line begins to Blur
7. I'm afraid of Americans
8. The Ruiner
9. The Big Comedown
10. Burn
11. Gave Up
12. La Mer
13. The Fragile
14. Non-Entity
15. Eraser
16. The Way Out is Through
17. 1,000,000
18. Letting You
19. Survivalism
20. Reptile w. Peter Murphy
21. Kick in the Eye w. Peter Murphy
22. The hand that feeds
23. Head like a hole
24. The Frail
25. The wretched
26. The day the world went away
27. Dead Souls w. Peter Murphy
28. Wish
29. Hurt

Tuesday, August 25, 2009

Best view yet

nin about to come on!!!!!

nin wave goodbye

A "slightly" better view of the Horrors @ Terminal 5

Tuesday, August 18, 2009

The Dances of Vice 3rd Year Anniversary Party

Ever enter through a doorway and feel as though you punched through the fabric of time and space and ended up somewhere far away from the reality of the doldrums of your life? If the answer is yes, then I assume you were at the Dances of Vice 3rd Anniversary Ball that took place on Saturday Evening.

We decided to drive in, decked out in all our finery, ensembles complete with token top hats, pin stripes, and corsetry (incidentally going into a 7-11 to buy red bull was some of the most fun I've had in a while) and ventured into the borough of Brooklyn.

We arrived to the 303 Bond Street Theater to find a massive glass façade and door with the folk standing outside wearing clothing of various eras. Already I felt the promise of the evening stir inside me. The door slid open to release the a rush of cold air, perfumed fog, and the sound of the trombone, tuba, clarinet, and various other instruments of an era forgotten. It was like magic swept over me and an ethereal force waited to transport me into another world on the other side. We stepped over the threshold, and were promptly greeted by two young women who were positively decked out. One in fashion evoking the era of the 20's and the other in a Victorian bustle and corsetry. Over the din of the big band music we paid a pittance (as far as I'm concerned) and received a free drink token for some GIN concoctions. Our view of the space was blocked as we paid. I wasn't sure WHAT to expect just around the bend, but, if the visuals matched the sounds then I was in for a spectacular evening.

They did not disappoint. We rounded the corner, our heels adding a muddled clacker to the overall melodic din and came upon a simple room with the most beautiful constructs I've ever seen! The room was transformed into a sort of boudoir paradise, there were bejeweled chandeliers, and a steadily inclining platform with red velvet throw pillows strewn about, complete with chaise lounges and throne chairs before a giant crackled gilded mirror! Then, toward the back past the Hendrick's Gin bar, there was an opening, a sort of same level stage space with gilded silver embossed tiling lining the back in a semi-circle.

The Band was playing on far stage right- I learned quickly that they're called "Grandpa Musselman & his Syncopators" and they were so much fun that I could barely keep myself from dancing! The hostess of the event, Shien Lee, came up and spoke a few words to the crowd, then lulled us into subdued meditation with her voice as pretty as a song bird. One minute she had you restive, and calm, and the next she had you bopping along with the band.

Then, there was the dance troupe- Company XIV, the foursome performed 2 sets, one inspired by Argentinean Tango and the other a more classic Burlesque- the latter to my GREAT Aural pleasure featured the song "Pasties and a G-String" by the enigmatic Tom Waits. Their show was elegant, sensual, and played coyly with the more sexually driven side of dance.

I could go on and on and on... but really, you should go and experience this type of evening for yourself. So, mademoiselles, lace your corsets tight and dab on some extra rouge and, Gentleman, secure your spats and adjust your ties depart this dull and lackluster 21st Century era and go back to Vice.

Thursday, August 13, 2009

Bat for Lashes at Webster Hall

Dear Natasha,

You gorgeous woman. You move about the stage like a wild hummingbird with fur for wings. Your voice when speaking is breathy and quiet, barely audible on stage with its tastefully discreet English accent. Then, your voice transforms into an alluring siren call beckoning me closer and closer to the jagged rocks of your sound. Certain death doesn't await me there, however, the only certain thing is the quality of your music.

Drag me into the bowels of the seedy and dilapidated Webster Hall in the stagnant heat surrounded by your avid and eager fans, see if I mind. Let the stench of stale beer and cheap perfume invade my senses. See if poor lighting will stop my reverence.

Through the layers of thick humid air I see the faux moon on stage is full and the painting of the wolf is howling. I attempt to quietly listen, mouthing the words, and barely able to contain the impulse to dance. There are two types of followers in the crowd: the immobile drones and the simmering wild ones, barely able to keep still. Pearl's Dream does it. The wild ones are moving. Their hips and heads sway to the beat.

Your body suit is skin-tight and reveals your thin & frail frame, your arms are draped with white blonde hair, as you sway and swing your arms about the hair flows languidly like the feathers of a lazy bird fanning itself.

I only mourn this one fact: Your set was too short. You didn't overstay your welcome, in fact, you seemed to disappear before we were through. Next time, please, don't leave me so abruptly?

Thank you for another wonderful night!

Sincerely,

Madame K

P.S.
GREAT Set!
Glass. Sleep Alone. Horse & I. Tahiti. Siren Call.The Wizard. Two Planets. Sad Eyes. Traveling Woman. Whats a girl to do? Pearls Dream. Priscilla. Good Love. Moon & Moon. Trophy. Daniel.

& Other Lives were brilliant and VERY nice & approachable! They very graciously autographed my friends CD, even drew a dinosaur!

Wednesday, August 12, 2009

Other Lives

bass, drums, guitar, keyboard, & cello... i like.

Bat for Lashes!

About to go in!

Sunday, August 9, 2009

Dances of Vice Neo-Victorian Champagne Brunch

I’m a child of whimsy. Since a little girl I have only felt at home dressed in what some would call a costume. I say “some” because I didn’t consider it as such. A costume is something you wear to play pretend- to be some one else. I never felt like dressing up was a game or a part to play… it was simpler than that, I was being me. As I got older the fanciful desire to be adorned and dressed up never faded (to my mother’s dismay). As soon as I would leave the house it was black vaudeville eyeliner and lipstick. I wore tutus, German barmaid dresses, corsets, buckled boots, top hats, fishnet, and any other absurd thing one could throw herself into before going to her high school full of the predictable cookie cutter yet somewhat friendly peers.

Surely, I would get out of this predisposition before college? Wrong again. In fact, in some ways my penchant for extravagant dress got more serious. I didn’t want to look a part yet I wanted to look iconic. I attended the Fashion Institute of Technology, and although I was there for Display and Packaging Design, I was surrounded by like-minded fashionistas all wanting to look good and expressive at the same time. I wore get ups mostly, with my trademark “cat eyes” modifying as I
matured. All black was the staple.

Flash forward to today. I still dress up, but every year that gets tacked on to my age, my style becomes more subdued and legitimate. I’m less interested in getting attention than I used to be, but I still yearn for the flair and panache of antiquity. I’ve
adapted a modified 50’s sort of style, with a gothic twist… but every now and then a girl’s GOT to break out her corsetry and feathers, right? Right. Where can I go? What can I do? It wasn’t until recently that I heard of an incredibly interesting gathering of creative souls and their organized events known as “The Dances of Vice”. Key words like “Neo-Victorian” and “Steam Punk” were used excessively. Intrigued, I discovered that their 2009 events were about to commence starting with a “Neo-Victorian Champagne Brunch” it included a fashion show, a performance by the charismatic Voltaire, various brunch sundries, and copious amounts of champagne!

What more could a girl ask for? I strapped on my black Victorian witch boots, a red and black striped bodice, and set off looking like a madam of a brothel from the Wild West- gun holster wrapped around my shoulders and a flapper in tow and headed for the Montauk Club in Park Slope. It was the first time in quite a while that I felt grossly underdressed, and I loved every waking moment of it. There were ladies in brocade, their necks & ears dripping with jewels, feathered hats, tulle bustling, and many a mini top hats brimming with well placed colorful décor. The space was incredibly beautiful, having been built in 1889 in a Venetian Gothic style the Montauk Club provided the perfect backdrop to the event.

The brunch itself was simple. I opted for cinnamon French toast and went straight to a champagne diet shortly thereafter. The fashion show was showcasing the designs of Kristin Costa & Berit NYC commenced and what music do you think they chose for the models to strut to? Why, my beloved Rasputina of course! The models were wearing some of the most beautiful stylized fashion I ever laid my eyes upon, the piece that screamed at me in particular would have to be the Pirate Ship Hat (no doubt inspired by Marie Antoinette and later couture designers) & the bleeding ball gown tribute to Little Red Riding Hood.

The brunch closed with the music of Voltaire, an old favorite of mine from my teenaged years. I never got to see him perform when I was a youngin’ so it was a real treat to close this eccentric afternoon brunch with his pirate shipwreck songs. With an accordion, an acoustic guitar, and drums at hand, we were transported to a port littered with drunken miscreants, wenches, and perhaps even a few pirates all dancing about to his cocksure voice and rhythm. It was a short and sweet set- more like a sampler of his work to whet my appetite; I suppose this is my cue to go see him perform one night! His music is fun, vivacious, and doesn’t take itself too seriously- something VERY important to me when it comes to those of the “gothic” persuasion. I was sad to see it end, but know this- Dances of Vice- I look forward to dressing, drinking, and dancing like it’s 1869 with you in the near future!

Thursday, August 6, 2009

Uhoh! Chris The drummer & Dave the Bassist just SWITCHED INSTRUMENTS!!

Trouble's Afoot!

"The Punch Parade" 3rd song in this set at the slightly known Sidewalk Cafe.

Tuesday, August 4, 2009

My Ipod's on Shuffle for You

One can learn A LOT about a person when one puts their ipod on shuffle. There's a certain complexity of character that gets revealed when you attempt to go through their personal music catalog. In example, the last 10 songs that came up randomly on my shuffle were:
1. "Hey Ya" Outcast
2. "One Love" Bob Marley
3. "I'm so lonesome I could cry" Johnny Cash & Nick Cave
4. "7 Years in Tibet" David Bowie
5. "You're the one for me, Fatty" Morrissey
6. "Mutiny in Heaven" The Birthday Party
7. "I Cried Like a Silly Boy" Devotchka
8. "Never Tell" The Violent Femmes
9. "Hunting Humans" The Misfits
10. "Accident & Emergency" Patrick Wolf

What does this tell you about me? Well, lots, if you think about it. Try it out with your friends sometime, you may learn something interesting...
In fact if you're bored enough post your findings here!
Happy shuffling! xo K