K.jpg)
Saturday, January 23, 2010
My Brightest Diamond
I've never seen a person on stage as happy, grounded, and vivacious as Shara Worden. I tried to understand how someone could be so upbeat when singing such moving, emotional, and melancholic songs like "Gone Away"- and I think I came to a conclusion. She is a musician who desires only to be on stage, play her music, and sing her song to a receptive crowd, and this is just what she got at the Bowery Ballroom last night. There was a flow of magnificent positive energy, all stemming from the entrance of a mysterious woman making balloon animals and crowns for the audience, as well as handing out painted party hats. From there, it went like a maniacal prom date (though, really, is there any other kind?). There was joy, blues, new love, lost love, "tainted love", and "freak out"s. Although I missed the strings- the band was gifted and created quite a wall of sound for us to savor throughout the show.
The singer Shara Worden is an operatic puppet master. She moves you to what ever emotion she wants you to move to. If she wants you smiling and nostalgic, then by God, she pulls the strings of her vocal chords that are linked directly to the muscles in your face and has you softly smiling and teary eyed. If she wants you sad and bitter from the bite of love lost then she sighs- moves her throat into a well pitched falsetto and has you frowning and introspective. Shara Worden controls the crowd in a way that is both alluring and intimidating. The best example of her puppet mastery lies in the performance of the lovely little song titled "Gentlest Gentleman" the chorus is simple, yet has resonance- "la la la la la la laa". She sings it out, then humbly asks the crowd to do the same. You never saw a room of hipsters respond so positively and so immediately! The entire crowd bellowed out the bitter sweet "la la la la la la laa"s like they wrote the song themselves! It felt as if we were singing around a camp fire in the middle of a chilly forrest trying to keep warm with the memories of love, love lost, and the acceptance of that.
Then there's the person Shara Worden. She is energetic, FUNNY, gracious, and humble. All things I appreciate in a musician, but seldom see. She had me laughing out loud with her approachable banter, her helium inhaling antics, and her incredibly inspiring story telling. She was vivacious- running around the stage, dancing, and interacting with the other musicians like they were in a school yard. I never felt so intimate with someone I wasn't even standing remotely close to. Her stance, her voice, her smile, they all make you feel welcome. It's like she is a house and she's inviting you in, asking you to make yourself at home. Her stories are a cup of tea, and her music is a glass of wine. Enjoy them thoroughly while you visit, and let them comfort you when it's time to go. I will definitely come and visit as soon as I possibly can. Ms. Worden, I am waiting for my second My Brightest Diamond show. Thank you for a night of inspiration. The songs I recall hearing are: Golden Star. Inside Out. Dragonfly. Disappear. Gone Away. From the Top of the World. Pluto's Moon. Freak Out. Apple. Feeling Good. Inside a Boy. Tainted Love. Gentlest Gentleman. Hymne a L'Amour.
Monday, January 18, 2010
2010
Words like, "Lose, No more, Never, Stop", are the operative words normally found in a resolution, & they always seem to fail.
I believe that I know why. I think resolutions CAN really work for you as long as you keep a positive spin on them. How do I know this? Because it's worked for me for the last 3 years. Try it out. Let me know how it works out. In the meantime, here's my music oriented Revolutionary Resolutions!
1. Attend at least 1 concert a month.
2. Expose myself to as much new music as I can.
3. Broaden the scope of musically oriented activities. i.e. free shows, albums, subway musicians... where ever there's a tune- there's m'ear!
I'm excited- are you?
Happy 2010!
XO~ Madame K
Tuesday, January 12, 2010
The Long Island Rail Road; Apparently the SOURCE for world music!
I can barely hear this what with the earmuffs on my head & the dull roar of the slobbering drunk people surrounding me... but the little I did hear, that I could hear, made me walk with a little rumba in my step. Thanks LIRR.
T
Thursday, December 31, 2009
2009: The Year of the K
2009 was one hell of a year for me. It was as if on that fateful new years eve exactly one year ago I pulled "The Tower" and "Death" cards from the tarot deck & saw my future laid out before me. I lost some old friends and I gained some new ones. I lost some weight, I gained some weight. I stuck to my resolution and managed to make it to at LEAST one concert a month and consistently wrote reviews for them on this humble little blog.
I also had experiences I never even dreamed were possible, some were personal, some public, often, it was a mix of the two. This isn't a tell-all forum, but it is a place where I like to share my experiences & personal responses, for sure. The point and purpose of this blog was to attempt to improve my creative non-fiction writing abilities while doing and talking about something I love- music. I am not a music genius, nor am I an expert and GOD KNOWS I am too enthusiastic and positive to be a critic but that wasn't ever the idea. I wanted to communicate a true fan's point of view on the concert experience. In this, I think I succeeded.
I opened myself up to some amazing experiences, this blog being the reason behind it. It made me really think about the music I am drawn to, and the artists behind that sound. It made me gain a little confidence as a writer, and it even got me thinking about art again, something I used to do religiously that I have lost touch with in the last few years. The experiences I encountered were what make 2009 stand out from the rest of the years I've spend here on Planet Earth. They were experiences I never DREAMED could ever happen to me, let alone in sequential order!
I guess it all started in Spring, with the first time I ever saw Patrick Wolf in concert. It was a very special and intimate acoustic performance at the Le Poussin Rouge in NYC. I was right behind the grand piano as that beautiful man belted out the lines and played the notes of "Augustine" and I openly wept. Within hours of this life altering performance, I learned that there was an open call to Patrick Wolf fans to be an extra in his new music video for Hard Times. I figured there was no shot in hell that I would get in- but a motto I adopted at the beginning of 2009 was "you can't win the lotto if you don't buy a ticket". Well, I won the lotto. I was one of the lucky 30 some-odd people that got to go to the video shoot, and I spent the day experiencing what goes into the making of a music video as well as having a few choice moments with Mr. Wolf!
Something else that happened to me I actually never wrote about in this blog. I could TRY to get into an explanation of this, but, it would be impossible to make you understand unless you had some sort of similar experience. After 16 years of devout fandom, obsession, and unrequited love, an opportunity arose that I never dreamed possible...
I hugged Trent Reznor.
There was a charity to try to raise funds for Eric DeLaCruz a young man in desperate need of a heart transplant and was in denial of it because of the demonic bureaucracy of our health care system. Trent Reznor, and Nine Inch Nails decided to try to raise funds for him by offering a very rare opportunity. For $300, you got to go to a meet and greet with the band, get an autograph and picture, and watch an intimate special "sound check" performance. There was a second tier, for $1000, which included all of the above but would also provide dinner, as well as an opportunity to watch Nine Inch Nails perform backstage. I had no choice but to opt for the $300 tier. Well, the 3rd miracle of the year happened. I met a nice young Aussie while waiting on line who was flying solo for the show and opted for the 1G ticket...and he had a spare, and he gave it to me.
After that, I experienced everything in a altered dream state sort of way. The meet and greet happened first. I actually made the man himself sign a giant purple fuzzy heart shaped pillow! Then, the photo happened. The whole NIN wave goodbye crew was there- Robin Finck, Justin Meldal-Johnson, Ilan Rubin, and of course, Trent Reznor. I worked up the audacity to gently thrust Trent into the center of the shot between me and the awesome Aussie who gave me the spare. It was right after that infamous shot that the most riveting 10 seconds of my LIFE occurred. I turned to Trent and asked if I could come in for a hug. His response?
"Absolutely".
If only you could see my face as I type this. If only you could feel what I STILL feel the second before, during, and immediately after. Still radiating from the glow of the hug, we eventually commenced to the sound check. It was one of the most awes-inspiring and amazing things I ever got to witness. Only one thing tops it, and that was being backstage to watch nin perform its last live performance on Long Island, and then, to hear the Becoming & I Do Not Want This- and witness Robin Finck smash a guitar-like, 10 feet from me- I - I - there are no words. I got to see Nine Inch Nails 2 more times after those 2 NIN|JA shows, but really, that day was the perfect parting gift for nearly two decades of fandom.
A few weeks later, I got to see Patrick Wolf perform a more “proper” show here in NYC. Again, the universe was on my side. I ended up front row, center, directly below Patrick. He was as always quite the show man- but the most wonderfully illuminating moment for me, was, when he looked down, recognized me, acknowledged me, and even spoke to me and my fellow video buddy through the microphone. The magic of Patrick Wolf continues to this very day.
The summer of ‘09 was legendary. It was a summer brimming with positive energy, hell, I even got to see a Beatle in concert! It was the first summer I ever really loved and enjoyed. The friends were plentiful, the shows memorable, the nights exciting, and the beach, perfect. I have so much to be thankful for. Autumn ‘09 was just as good. It gave me the Renaissance Faire, Rasputina, a trip to London, which included the greatest Patrick Wolf performance I’ve ever had the opportunity to see, and let us not forget Paris... As if I could ever forget Paris (more details on THAT excursion to come).
By writing all this down, it feels like I’m hammering a nail in a coffin, but the finality of these adventures are something I am still in denial of. These experiences forever changed the face of my year, of my life- their reverberations still shuddering inside of me everyday.
2009, you were phenomenal. Sure, you had your ups and downs, but your Ups were exceptional, while the Downs were manageable.
Let’s see how 2010 will top you. I have faith that it will.
XO
(mis)K
I also had experiences I never even dreamed were possible, some were personal, some public, often, it was a mix of the two. This isn't a tell-all forum, but it is a place where I like to share my experiences & personal responses, for sure. The point and purpose of this blog was to attempt to improve my creative non-fiction writing abilities while doing and talking about something I love- music. I am not a music genius, nor am I an expert and GOD KNOWS I am too enthusiastic and positive to be a critic but that wasn't ever the idea. I wanted to communicate a true fan's point of view on the concert experience. In this, I think I succeeded.
I opened myself up to some amazing experiences, this blog being the reason behind it. It made me really think about the music I am drawn to, and the artists behind that sound. It made me gain a little confidence as a writer, and it even got me thinking about art again, something I used to do religiously that I have lost touch with in the last few years. The experiences I encountered were what make 2009 stand out from the rest of the years I've spend here on Planet Earth. They were experiences I never DREAMED could ever happen to me, let alone in sequential order!
I guess it all started in Spring, with the first time I ever saw Patrick Wolf in concert. It was a very special and intimate acoustic performance at the Le Poussin Rouge in NYC. I was right behind the grand piano as that beautiful man belted out the lines and played the notes of "Augustine" and I openly wept. Within hours of this life altering performance, I learned that there was an open call to Patrick Wolf fans to be an extra in his new music video for Hard Times. I figured there was no shot in hell that I would get in- but a motto I adopted at the beginning of 2009 was "you can't win the lotto if you don't buy a ticket". Well, I won the lotto. I was one of the lucky 30 some-odd people that got to go to the video shoot, and I spent the day experiencing what goes into the making of a music video as well as having a few choice moments with Mr. Wolf!
Something else that happened to me I actually never wrote about in this blog. I could TRY to get into an explanation of this, but, it would be impossible to make you understand unless you had some sort of similar experience. After 16 years of devout fandom, obsession, and unrequited love, an opportunity arose that I never dreamed possible...
I hugged Trent Reznor.
There was a charity to try to raise funds for Eric DeLaCruz a young man in desperate need of a heart transplant and was in denial of it because of the demonic bureaucracy of our health care system. Trent Reznor, and Nine Inch Nails decided to try to raise funds for him by offering a very rare opportunity. For $300, you got to go to a meet and greet with the band, get an autograph and picture, and watch an intimate special "sound check" performance. There was a second tier, for $1000, which included all of the above but would also provide dinner, as well as an opportunity to watch Nine Inch Nails perform backstage. I had no choice but to opt for the $300 tier. Well, the 3rd miracle of the year happened. I met a nice young Aussie while waiting on line who was flying solo for the show and opted for the 1G ticket...and he had a spare, and he gave it to me.
After that, I experienced everything in a altered dream state sort of way. The meet and greet happened first. I actually made the man himself sign a giant purple fuzzy heart shaped pillow! Then, the photo happened. The whole NIN wave goodbye crew was there- Robin Finck, Justin Meldal-Johnson, Ilan Rubin, and of course, Trent Reznor. I worked up the audacity to gently thrust Trent into the center of the shot between me and the awesome Aussie who gave me the spare. It was right after that infamous shot that the most riveting 10 seconds of my LIFE occurred. I turned to Trent and asked if I could come in for a hug. His response?
"Absolutely".
If only you could see my face as I type this. If only you could feel what I STILL feel the second before, during, and immediately after. Still radiating from the glow of the hug, we eventually commenced to the sound check. It was one of the most awes-inspiring and amazing things I ever got to witness. Only one thing tops it, and that was being backstage to watch nin perform its last live performance on Long Island, and then, to hear the Becoming & I Do Not Want This- and witness Robin Finck smash a guitar-like, 10 feet from me- I - I - there are no words. I got to see Nine Inch Nails 2 more times after those 2 NIN|JA shows, but really, that day was the perfect parting gift for nearly two decades of fandom.
A few weeks later, I got to see Patrick Wolf perform a more “proper” show here in NYC. Again, the universe was on my side. I ended up front row, center, directly below Patrick. He was as always quite the show man- but the most wonderfully illuminating moment for me, was, when he looked down, recognized me, acknowledged me, and even spoke to me and my fellow video buddy through the microphone. The magic of Patrick Wolf continues to this very day.
The summer of ‘09 was legendary. It was a summer brimming with positive energy, hell, I even got to see a Beatle in concert! It was the first summer I ever really loved and enjoyed. The friends were plentiful, the shows memorable, the nights exciting, and the beach, perfect. I have so much to be thankful for. Autumn ‘09 was just as good. It gave me the Renaissance Faire, Rasputina, a trip to London, which included the greatest Patrick Wolf performance I’ve ever had the opportunity to see, and let us not forget Paris... As if I could ever forget Paris (more details on THAT excursion to come).
By writing all this down, it feels like I’m hammering a nail in a coffin, but the finality of these adventures are something I am still in denial of. These experiences forever changed the face of my year, of my life- their reverberations still shuddering inside of me everyday.
2009, you were phenomenal. Sure, you had your ups and downs, but your Ups were exceptional, while the Downs were manageable.
Let’s see how 2010 will top you. I have faith that it will.
XO
(mis)K
Thursday, November 19, 2009
Patrick Wolf at the London Palladium!
I. London
I've never done anything like this before. I've always wanted to, but, I never had the money to do it. I STILL don't have the money, but.. I felt this sense of urgency. I wanted to have this experience. I wanted the chance to show my support. After some financial planning and discussion I booked two tickets to London. I scored two 11th row center stall seats for Patrick Wolf at the London Palladium! I'm going to England!
The trip over was easy and exciting. I'd never been to England- and Dave, my love of SEVEN YEARS has never been outside the US- hell- he's never been on a plane! This trip was about new beginnings and celebrations. That's the terms Dave and I agreed upon. This trip was a gift to each other celebrating our births, our 7 year anniversary, and our holidays. We would give each other what we wanted...
We went for a stroll in the infamous English rain. We ate copious amounts of delicious pub food. We saw Westminster Abbey, the House of Parliament, Big Ben, The London Eye, Buckingham Palace, and Tower Bridge. We went to record shops where I bought some rare nine inch nails vinyls. We saw the Rosetta Stone, and the fine art of Michelangelo, DaVinci, Klimt, Titian, and Reubans... we even discovered a new artist- Jose Guadalupe Posada. I shared a new experience in a new land with the love of my life and it only got better from there.
After a day of seeing Tower Bridge and exploring the impressively creative Spitafields in the East End (Brooklyn EAT YOUR HEART OUT) we hopped on the Tube and headed to the Palladium Theatre just outside Oxford Circus. We were weary from a long fun-filled day... but I couldn't help but be excited!!
We stepped inside the building and I was immediately entranced by its regal beauty. It was as if I was transported back in time to a nobler era where more interesting and well dressed people roamed! The swells of avant garde androgynist people commingled with extravagant feathered dames were all about me, drinking cocktails and jabbering away excitedly. The anticipation was palpable. We finally made our way to our seats and I had a moment of sheer euphoria when I realized how close we were.
"I hope he sees me" is all I kept thinking to myself as the lights went down and the sound of Patrick Wolf's music began.
II. Patrick Wolf at the London Palladium
The sound of "Divine Intervention" and Patrick's haunting voice filled the Palladium. The curtains drawn and I take a breath- I hadn't realized I'd been holding it! There are countless musicians surrounding the Gypsy Boy who is beautifully adorned in all his couture finery this evening. There are two cellists, four violinists, 3 choir girls, a sound tech, drummer, bassist, guitarists, and also some VERY special guests this evening. As they all took position and began to play- tears immediately sprung in tiny diamond shaped drops upon my eyes... "Overture" one of the greatest opening songs of my lifetime is what he chose to open with! With the tears welling up, my lips silently mouthing out the words, a hand upon my heart, and by body moving towards the edge of my seat I absorbed every note like a flower to sunlight. Simply put, this song in this gilded antique theatre with my lover at my side in this ancient yet progressively modern city was the best opening song of my life!
Then, like the ocean, the second wave of song came. "Wolfsong". I have a strange bond with this particular tune. For its love and worship of Artemis and her Luna-tics is something I identify with greatly. The tears continued to flow and my hand stayed firmly upon my heart and neck. I wept that much harder as "and don't be afraid of the dark because the darkness is simply a womb for the lonely" was bellowed out. The mark of a great songwriter, for me, is when their words are the very thing I've been trying to say all these years and their music is the complexity of my emotions that can never be put into prose. Patrick Wolf is the voice in my head and the feelings within me fully formed and articulated into a beautiful young man and spirit. He is also my teacher and colleague.
I say all this, because "Wind in the Wires" was the first song of Patrick's that both broke and mended my heart simultaneously... and it came on immediately following "Wolfsong". Clearly, he was trying to make me ruin my makeup! The tears just keep flowing out of me, my emotions too great for my body to bear. I've never been so wistful in all of my life at a concert! Now, I've been an hysterical WRECK and I pull that off with panache- but WISTFUL? It's not usually my style, it's not even something that even looks appropriate with my overbearing personality... or so I thought. Thank you, Patrick, for teaching me that I can be wistfully romantic and not feel like a fool.
After that triad of emotional songs, my heart was on the mend as Patrick picked up the tempo with one of my favorite tracks from his album The Bachelor, "Oblivion". With this set list, I displayed classic signs of schizophrenia- merely one song ago I was wistful and nostalgic- now I find myself pounding away at my chest and attempting desperately NOT to growl or shout! This song has too much energy and fury to contain... it felt so odd to sit and thrash about but I felt strange enough being a New Yorker in London without adding the awkward obviousness of my physical energy plus- if I stood and danced I would've spoiled the view of the person behind me and concert etiquette overrules any rash impulse I might have been feeling.
Luckily, we didn't stay seated for the entire show. The familiar electronic drones of "Hard Times" commenced a little past the halfway mark of the set and I knew then and there that this was the opportunity to stand and give back some of the energy Patrick bequeathed upon me! The crowd responded milliseconds after a few girls and I stood and with that ovation- the tempo of the show IMMEDIATELY transformed. It was as if the show finally disrobed itself of it's stuffy waspy upbringing and it quickly became a true rock concert.
The show played songs that are quintessential to Patrick's short though prolific career. All tracks were glorious whether morose, active, romantic, or playful. The special appearances only further contributed to the charm of the performance. The title track of his most recent album "The Bachelor" is perhaps one of the most powerful ballads of the record and was meant to be a duet. I am glad to say that it was performed as it was intended when the enigmatic Florence Welch of Florence + The Machine took the stage and belted out the lines of "The Spinster" with gusto. It was undoubtedly one of the greatest performances of the evening.
Not to be ignored is the enchantingly beautiful "Voice of Hope" as performed by the leggy beauty Gwendoline Christie, her rich and throaty voice was the live superior version Tilda Swinton's vocal performances in such tracks as "Oblivion" and "Theseus", and her silent breathtaking performance with Patrick during "Damaris" had the longing tears coming back again to my weary eyes. The addition of the incredibly handsome Alec Empire made this one of the most diverse and eccentric shows of my concert going life. With every rash throng of electro-clash competing against the harmony of the string section I felt like I was first witnessing a war of sound, then immediately transported into a rowdy peace rally!
Like a shot of adrenalin to my already overactive heart, Patrick's costume changes were the VERY touch of the dramatic that I needed! There was an adorable yet dark & foreboding leather wolf hood, the playful glittery black cloak- which later revealed a porcupine spiked top, then on to a brilliant white pair of spats with a matching Manray-esque cello piece (I think...?) ALL covered in glitter, and my personal favorite- a reflective mirrored top hat with a side of ULTRA reflective fringe~! The show was feel good and feel melancholic, and very much the very nature of love for me. It ended with the "Magic Position" and Patrick at the grand piano, recalling that, 10 years ago, he was outside the London Palladium hysterically crying because he couldn't get in to see Bjork. Now, Patrick is the one on stage at the famous London institution with his family in the boxes (he even pointed and they waved) and his dear friends and fans in the stalls and rafters. He got choked up and said something like "I'm going to cry!!" which made ME feel better about being so weepy. The sentiment was well appreciated, especially by my love and aspiring musician, Dave, who leaned over and whispered into my ear "Wow, that gives me hope..." Hope was the word etched into my heart that night. I am happy to tell you it's still there.
III. Waiting
The glorious show finally ended. We waited for the crowds to dissipate before we began to make our trek back to the hotel. We stood outside, talking about the show and what we thought. We started to walk towards the Tube... when I slowed in my tracks and asked Dave for a favor. "Do you mind if we go towards the back stage entrance and check things out? I know Patrick comes out and greets the fans that wait out there..." This is how I know I picked the right guy- jet-lagged beyond BELIEF and ACHING for bed, he sighed once, and said something like, "OK, it's your vacation too- if that's what you want to do..." So, we walked over to the side entrance where there were about 75 people in various "wolf-ian" fashion waiting excitedly. I always wanted to wait after a show to try to catch a glimpse of a musician, maybe get an autograph- but I never had the chance- there was always work or school or some absurd responsibility holding me back from doing it. I was on VACATION I had no where to I had to go the next day- this was my only chance to do something like this! So... we waited.
and waited.
It got colder. The crowd dissipated. Dave found a folding chair, bundled up, and attempted to sleep. I left him be, moving anxiously from foot to foot. We saw a lot of activity, the stage hands breaking the set down, the musicians slowly filtering out and heading home... Victoria Sutherland, Patrick's right hand lady and violinist popping in and out of the door for a smoke and a chat... but no Mr. Wolf. About an hour in I began to get gnawed away by guilt. "This is SO selfish of me. Look at Dave- he's freezing and exhausted and I am making him SIT HERE just so I can catch a glimpse of one of my favorite musicians! We should just go..." but my interior monologue couldn't budge me from that stairwell. My mind was losing hope, but my body was resolute. My guilt clashed wildly with my interest. "It's already been an hour and fifteen minutes... what's fifteen more, really?"
Then, as I was about to abandon hope, the door opened, and a tall lean man with a mop of platinum blonde hair, wearing a black leather wolf hood emerged with a sharpie in one hand and a glass of white wine in the other, smiling brightly and saying "Hello!". I was SO glad I waited.
As he came closer, he looked each person in the eye... and when his eyes met mine, I was pleasantly surprised to see recognition in his stare- he smiled sheepishly and said, "Hi!". I won't lie to you, it made me feel warm and fuzzy. Everyone cued up and an impromptu meet and greet began. A hearty handshake, and a beaming smile was given to every fan Patrick came in contact with- his graciousness tangible. That's the thing about Patrick Wolf that will undoubtedly carry him directly into the arms of superstardom- anyone who comes into direct contact with him automatically feels like the most special person on Earth, when he looks at you and smiles and asks how you are and where you're from- it makes you feel that you mean something to him and that he cares about you and is interested in what you have to say, all of it genuine, all of it so incredibly pleasing.
I stood off to the side, waiting patiently for my opportunity to say hello and take a picture. I heard a little chat about how he FINALLY found a well made ukulele, and surprisingly, there was a lot of people from Belgium! A very nice young man next to me, said, "After you" and I moved in towards Patrick. The recognition from the music video, the concerts, and twitter all accumulated into this one moment... for as I approached I was met with his big beaming smile.
Without any hesitation Patrick swooped in- wrapped his arms around me and in an exasperatied whisper said "KRISSY!!!". I didn't know what sheer GLEE felt like until that very moment. I'm blushing even now from the kindness of his hug! He managed to make ME feel like the rock star- something that I got to say, felt pretty damn good. From there we launched straight away into a nice little chat. The formalities of "How are you?" turned quickly into a brief review about mine and Dave's first trip to London. We also talked about the show- and how much I loved it, incidentally I asked if it got recorded- and YAY it did, here's hoping it gets released! Patrick recommended we go to the London Dungeon apparently one of his favorite tourist traps in the city... there's more but I kind of went deaf and had "Dream Weaver" playing in my head while he spoke. The night ended with photographic evidence of the encounter and one more electro-charged Patrick Wolf hug before Dave and I hailed a cab and made our journey home to Kensington.
Euphoria from this memorable night, and this incredible trip is still humming through my whole nervous system. This entire year was no doubt the Year of Madame K, and as Patrick Wolf said as we departed, "Happy Christmas, and see you in 2010!".
IV. The Setlist
Divine Intervention
Overture
Wolf Song
Wind In The Wires
Oblivion
Paris
Theseus
Who Will?
The Shadowsea
Bluebells
Pigeon Song
Thickets
The Bachelor
Epilogue
Noise Interlude
Count Of Casualty
Battle
Hard Times
Damaris
The Libertine
Tristan
Eulogy
The Magic Position
The Sun Is Often Out
Vulture
I've never done anything like this before. I've always wanted to, but, I never had the money to do it. I STILL don't have the money, but.. I felt this sense of urgency. I wanted to have this experience. I wanted the chance to show my support. After some financial planning and discussion I booked two tickets to London. I scored two 11th row center stall seats for Patrick Wolf at the London Palladium! I'm going to England! The trip over was easy and exciting. I'd never been to England- and Dave, my love of SEVEN YEARS has never been outside the US- hell- he's never been on a plane! This trip was about new beginnings and celebrations. That's the terms Dave and I agreed upon. This trip was a gift to each other celebrating our births, our 7 year anniversary, and our holidays. We would give each other what we wanted...
We went for a stroll in the infamous English rain. We ate copious amounts of delicious pub food. We saw Westminster Abbey, the House of Parliament, Big Ben, The London Eye, Buckingham Palace, and Tower Bridge. We went to record shops where I bought some rare nine inch nails vinyls. We saw the Rosetta Stone, and the fine art of Michelangelo, DaVinci, Klimt, Titian, and Reubans... we even discovered a new artist- Jose Guadalupe Posada. I shared a new experience in a new land with the love of my life and it only got better from there.
After a day of seeing Tower Bridge and exploring the impressively creative Spitafields in the East End (Brooklyn EAT YOUR HEART OUT) we hopped on the Tube and headed to the Palladium Theatre just outside Oxford Circus. We were weary from a long fun-filled day... but I couldn't help but be excited!!
We stepped inside the building and I was immediately entranced by its regal beauty. It was as if I was transported back in time to a nobler era where more interesting and well dressed people roamed! The swells of avant garde androgynist people commingled with extravagant feathered dames were all about me, drinking cocktails and jabbering away excitedly. The anticipation was palpable. We finally made our way to our seats and I had a moment of sheer euphoria when I realized how close we were.
"I hope he sees me" is all I kept thinking to myself as the lights went down and the sound of Patrick Wolf's music began.
II. Patrick Wolf at the London Palladium
The sound of "Divine Intervention" and Patrick's haunting voice filled the Palladium. The curtains drawn and I take a breath- I hadn't realized I'd been holding it! There are countless musicians surrounding the Gypsy Boy who is beautifully adorned in all his couture finery this evening. There are two cellists, four violinists, 3 choir girls, a sound tech, drummer, bassist, guitarists, and also some VERY special guests this evening. As they all took position and began to play- tears immediately sprung in tiny diamond shaped drops upon my eyes... "Overture" one of the greatest opening songs of my lifetime is what he chose to open with! With the tears welling up, my lips silently mouthing out the words, a hand upon my heart, and by body moving towards the edge of my seat I absorbed every note like a flower to sunlight. Simply put, this song in this gilded antique theatre with my lover at my side in this ancient yet progressively modern city was the best opening song of my life!
Then, like the ocean, the second wave of song came. "Wolfsong". I have a strange bond with this particular tune. For its love and worship of Artemis and her Luna-tics is something I identify with greatly. The tears continued to flow and my hand stayed firmly upon my heart and neck. I wept that much harder as "and don't be afraid of the dark because the darkness is simply a womb for the lonely" was bellowed out. The mark of a great songwriter, for me, is when their words are the very thing I've been trying to say all these years and their music is the complexity of my emotions that can never be put into prose. Patrick Wolf is the voice in my head and the feelings within me fully formed and articulated into a beautiful young man and spirit. He is also my teacher and colleague.
I say all this, because "Wind in the Wires" was the first song of Patrick's that both broke and mended my heart simultaneously... and it came on immediately following "Wolfsong". Clearly, he was trying to make me ruin my makeup! The tears just keep flowing out of me, my emotions too great for my body to bear. I've never been so wistful in all of my life at a concert! Now, I've been an hysterical WRECK and I pull that off with panache- but WISTFUL? It's not usually my style, it's not even something that even looks appropriate with my overbearing personality... or so I thought. Thank you, Patrick, for teaching me that I can be wistfully romantic and not feel like a fool. After that triad of emotional songs, my heart was on the mend as Patrick picked up the tempo with one of my favorite tracks from his album The Bachelor, "Oblivion". With this set list, I displayed classic signs of schizophrenia- merely one song ago I was wistful and nostalgic- now I find myself pounding away at my chest and attempting desperately NOT to growl or shout! This song has too much energy and fury to contain... it felt so odd to sit and thrash about but I felt strange enough being a New Yorker in London without adding the awkward obviousness of my physical energy plus- if I stood and danced I would've spoiled the view of the person behind me and concert etiquette overrules any rash impulse I might have been feeling.
Luckily, we didn't stay seated for the entire show. The familiar electronic drones of "Hard Times" commenced a little past the halfway mark of the set and I knew then and there that this was the opportunity to stand and give back some of the energy Patrick bequeathed upon me! The crowd responded milliseconds after a few girls and I stood and with that ovation- the tempo of the show IMMEDIATELY transformed. It was as if the show finally disrobed itself of it's stuffy waspy upbringing and it quickly became a true rock concert.The show played songs that are quintessential to Patrick's short though prolific career. All tracks were glorious whether morose, active, romantic, or playful. The special appearances only further contributed to the charm of the performance. The title track of his most recent album "The Bachelor" is perhaps one of the most powerful ballads of the record and was meant to be a duet. I am glad to say that it was performed as it was intended when the enigmatic Florence Welch of Florence + The Machine took the stage and belted out the lines of "The Spinster" with gusto. It was undoubtedly one of the greatest performances of the evening.
Not to be ignored is the enchantingly beautiful "Voice of Hope" as performed by the leggy beauty Gwendoline Christie, her rich and throaty voice was the live superior version Tilda Swinton's vocal performances in such tracks as "Oblivion" and "Theseus", and her silent breathtaking performance with Patrick during "Damaris" had the longing tears coming back again to my weary eyes. The addition of the incredibly handsome Alec Empire made this one of the most diverse and eccentric shows of my concert going life. With every rash throng of electro-clash competing against the harmony of the string section I felt like I was first witnessing a war of sound, then immediately transported into a rowdy peace rally!
Like a shot of adrenalin to my already overactive heart, Patrick's costume changes were the VERY touch of the dramatic that I needed! There was an adorable yet dark & foreboding leather wolf hood, the playful glittery black cloak- which later revealed a porcupine spiked top, then on to a brilliant white pair of spats with a matching Manray-esque cello piece (I think...?) ALL covered in glitter, and my personal favorite- a reflective mirrored top hat with a side of ULTRA reflective fringe~! The show was feel good and feel melancholic, and very much the very nature of love for me. It ended with the "Magic Position" and Patrick at the grand piano, recalling that, 10 years ago, he was outside the London Palladium hysterically crying because he couldn't get in to see Bjork. Now, Patrick is the one on stage at the famous London institution with his family in the boxes (he even pointed and they waved) and his dear friends and fans in the stalls and rafters. He got choked up and said something like "I'm going to cry!!" which made ME feel better about being so weepy. The sentiment was well appreciated, especially by my love and aspiring musician, Dave, who leaned over and whispered into my ear "Wow, that gives me hope..." Hope was the word etched into my heart that night. I am happy to tell you it's still there. 
III. Waiting
The glorious show finally ended. We waited for the crowds to dissipate before we began to make our trek back to the hotel. We stood outside, talking about the show and what we thought. We started to walk towards the Tube... when I slowed in my tracks and asked Dave for a favor. "Do you mind if we go towards the back stage entrance and check things out? I know Patrick comes out and greets the fans that wait out there..." This is how I know I picked the right guy- jet-lagged beyond BELIEF and ACHING for bed, he sighed once, and said something like, "OK, it's your vacation too- if that's what you want to do..." So, we walked over to the side entrance where there were about 75 people in various "wolf-ian" fashion waiting excitedly. I always wanted to wait after a show to try to catch a glimpse of a musician, maybe get an autograph- but I never had the chance- there was always work or school or some absurd responsibility holding me back from doing it. I was on VACATION I had no where to I had to go the next day- this was my only chance to do something like this! So... we waited.
and waited.
It got colder. The crowd dissipated. Dave found a folding chair, bundled up, and attempted to sleep. I left him be, moving anxiously from foot to foot. We saw a lot of activity, the stage hands breaking the set down, the musicians slowly filtering out and heading home... Victoria Sutherland, Patrick's right hand lady and violinist popping in and out of the door for a smoke and a chat... but no Mr. Wolf. About an hour in I began to get gnawed away by guilt. "This is SO selfish of me. Look at Dave- he's freezing and exhausted and I am making him SIT HERE just so I can catch a glimpse of one of my favorite musicians! We should just go..." but my interior monologue couldn't budge me from that stairwell. My mind was losing hope, but my body was resolute. My guilt clashed wildly with my interest. "It's already been an hour and fifteen minutes... what's fifteen more, really?"
Then, as I was about to abandon hope, the door opened, and a tall lean man with a mop of platinum blonde hair, wearing a black leather wolf hood emerged with a sharpie in one hand and a glass of white wine in the other, smiling brightly and saying "Hello!". I was SO glad I waited. As he came closer, he looked each person in the eye... and when his eyes met mine, I was pleasantly surprised to see recognition in his stare- he smiled sheepishly and said, "Hi!". I won't lie to you, it made me feel warm and fuzzy. Everyone cued up and an impromptu meet and greet began. A hearty handshake, and a beaming smile was given to every fan Patrick came in contact with- his graciousness tangible. That's the thing about Patrick Wolf that will undoubtedly carry him directly into the arms of superstardom- anyone who comes into direct contact with him automatically feels like the most special person on Earth, when he looks at you and smiles and asks how you are and where you're from- it makes you feel that you mean something to him and that he cares about you and is interested in what you have to say, all of it genuine, all of it so incredibly pleasing.
I stood off to the side, waiting patiently for my opportunity to say hello and take a picture. I heard a little chat about how he FINALLY found a well made ukulele, and surprisingly, there was a lot of people from Belgium! A very nice young man next to me, said, "After you" and I moved in towards Patrick. The recognition from the music video, the concerts, and twitter all accumulated into this one moment... for as I approached I was met with his big beaming smile.
Without any hesitation Patrick swooped in- wrapped his arms around me and in an exasperatied whisper said "KRISSY!!!". I didn't know what sheer GLEE felt like until that very moment. I'm blushing even now from the kindness of his hug! He managed to make ME feel like the rock star- something that I got to say, felt pretty damn good. From there we launched straight away into a nice little chat. The formalities of "How are you?" turned quickly into a brief review about mine and Dave's first trip to London. We also talked about the show- and how much I loved it, incidentally I asked if it got recorded- and YAY it did, here's hoping it gets released! Patrick recommended we go to the London Dungeon apparently one of his favorite tourist traps in the city... there's more but I kind of went deaf and had "Dream Weaver" playing in my head while he spoke. The night ended with photographic evidence of the encounter and one more electro-charged Patrick Wolf hug before Dave and I hailed a cab and made our journey home to Kensington.
Euphoria from this memorable night, and this incredible trip is still humming through my whole nervous system. This entire year was no doubt the Year of Madame K, and as Patrick Wolf said as we departed, "Happy Christmas, and see you in 2010!".IV. The Setlist
Divine Intervention
Overture
Wolf Song
Wind In The Wires
Oblivion
Paris
Theseus
Who Will?
The Shadowsea
Bluebells
Pigeon Song
Thickets
The Bachelor
Epilogue
Noise Interlude
Count Of Casualty
Battle
Hard Times
Damaris
The Libertine
Tristan
Eulogy
The Magic Position
The Sun Is Often Out
Vulture
Thursday, October 22, 2009
A Crime Against My Car and the Radio
It was late Monday night when the train I was on pulled into my train station in Long Island. My bags were heavy, and I was weary from a long day at work, and even more weary from a long weekend guest starring as "booth babe" at the Comic Convention in support of My Dear Man, Dave Fox.My car, a 99 Red Volkwagon I've lovingly nicknamed Lucy, was sitting in the lot over the long weekend, just waiting for her owner to take her home. I was wary of leaving her there all weekend, but I chalked it up to paranoia. As I descended the staircase and began my brief journey to the car, I slowly began to feel a strange overturning in my stomach. I began to shake a little, and again, chalked it up to paranoia. I kept my keys out, the point sticking out between my balled up fingers like a little switch blade (a technique my also-paranoid mother taught me) and began to approach my lonely
little wagon. The closer I got, the more apparent it became...
Fragments of broken glass was scattered all around the passenger side of the car, a damp and dirty towel had been stuck into the door, there was a gaping hole where my passenger side window should've been. As I slowly began to piece together what had happened, I realized, my Sirius XM Radio had been stolen. My car was violated and I had been robbed!
I began tearing up on the spot, and repeated "Oh MAN" (and several various profanities) several THOUSAND times as I attempted to let the reality of the occurrence sink in. As I walked over to the driver's side, I saw a note by a police officer had been written to me, saying that they had taken a report. It gave me a little comfort. I opened the door first checking for broken
shards of glass and collapsed in a miserable heap inside my car. (I know this is dramatic, but, I'd never had anything this shitty happen to me before!)
It was then that I noticed all the broken bits of glass commingled with the emptied contents of my glove compartment, all my silly little chachkies strewn about, my dashboard Ganesha ripped off it's shrine and discarded, and all the wires attached to my Sirius Radio ripped and sticking out at odd angles throughout my car. The bastards.
There is literally only ONE thing of any remote value in my pathetic ride, and that was my radio. I received it as a VERY considerate gift less than a year ago for my birthday AND Christmas. I am in my car everyday for short spurts, but whenever I am, I'm sure to have my Sirius on and blasting, noting any new awesome tunes on the XMU indie channel, getting nostalgic on
the all 90's station Lithium, or rocking out to the 80's new wave station First Wave. What those sons of bitches have stolen from me, is the one little luxury I could actually afford (after, of course receiving the initial unit it as a gift).
I felt violated, betrayed, and let down. My own little home town has idiotic criminals running about! On top of everything else, my poor car Lucy has been put through A LOT this year- with over 125,000 miles on her, she's been falling apart both cosmetically AND internally. SHE didn't deserve this! WE DIDN'T deserve this!! And, honestly, what did this idiots think they'd FIND in a busted up 99 Volks? I want to know! She's got TWO missing hubcaps, a huge scratch up the drivers side door, missing cup holders, and TOYS inside!
You know what you WON'T find in there? ANYTHING OF ANY REAL VALUE! Even the Sirius radio- or at least the parts they took- won't function properly because they didn't take the whole thing! MORONS!
There is a happy ending for my little red lady bug and your humble narrator, however. I called Sirius to cancel my subscription, since, obviously I couldn't listen anymore. When they got around to asking me WHY I was canceling the service, I told them, "well my car got broken into and it was stolen". The customer service rep gasped and apologized for my misfortune, then offered me a brand new unit plus installation and 2 months free service if I would keep my subscription. Uhhh... YES PLEASE. The new unit came within 2 days! It's not as fancy as my original unit, but, I appreciate it none the less (and this one is BLACK!). Even better, it turns out my insurance has full glass coverage. Thank you Geico.
So, in the very end, this cost me nothing but momentary heartache, and a little bit of inconvenience... But it brought up an interesting point for me. I never realized how much I really care about the ambient noise playing on in the background of my car, or how much I really DO love Car Kareoke! Or how I revel at the thrill and rush of excitement when one of my favorite songs, whether new or old comes on the radio. My car is a quintessential part of my music experience, and to have it taken away from me, albeit momentary, made me realize the true value of it.
So, dear friends, show some love and care for your car. Always remember that your car, no matter how low-end or first class it is- that it brings you to new exciting places, takes you home, it makes important runs to the 7-11 all while keeping you thoroughly entertained with the gift of music. Your car is an extension of your home, of your own personality, not just simply a giant radio on wheels (as I had previously treated it).
Subscribe to:
Posts (Atom)