Amanda Fucking Palmer

I don't often type swears but that is in fact her middle name - ask the internet - and even if it wasn't... Amanda Fucking Palmer!

Friday night I rushed out of work, gathered a friend up in my whirlwind of excitement, stopped only long enough to have dinner and then tumbled headlong into the Forum and an amazing night of music.

It started off great and only got better from there.

Anyone who has gone to a few concerts will know that some performers pick their support acts to make themselves look better by comparison *coff Nine Inch Nails coff* but Amanda Palmer picks amazing artists she admires and wants to share with you.

The Jane Austen Argument played lovely, humorous and deeply Aussie songs. They drew more laughs and applause in a short opening performance than some top billing acts I've seen have warranted. I hope they get great crowds at the Adelaide Fringe Festival because they deserve them.

Mikelangelo and his band for the evening - The One and a Half Night Stand - introduced me to a particular brand of sleazy, Eastern European reminiscent style cabaret that I want to immerse myself in, roll about in and never tell my parents about. The lyrics are shocking, the music divine, Mikelangelo's hair perfect.

St Clare and her Go Go Gadget Girls added some flavour and awesome 60s dance moves to the night.
Lindon Chester led a four piece string quartet* to provide the strings which made songs I already found beautiful almost painfully breathtaking to witness in person.
Then all of a sudden Paul Kelly appeared to duet his song 'Winter Coat' with Amanda closely followed by Mick Harvey from the Bad Seeds joining the growing crowd of musicians to play on a song my brain was too busy geeking out to recall.

This was one of the best night's out I have ever had and I am telling you now, life is too short to say no to live music, some of the best experiences I have ever had have come from taking a chance.
No matter how the night turns out you will always have a story and sometimes those stories are glorious.

Here I leave you with just one example of why I will always adore Amanda Palmer.
Oh beg pardon, Amanda Fucking Palmer.





*I'm sorry ladies, she introduced you all so quickly that I missed your names, you were all superb!