You Need To Get Off Facebook

This is one of sweetest things I have ever seen, and so true.
This has empowered me to take definitely steps toward being FaceBook free.
Those who do not wish to stay in contact were never really friends in the first place.

What's so wrong with only having 4 people to talk to? At least they are real friends.

Alestorm & Voyager (Wed 11th May 2011 @ Enigma Bar, Adelaide)

[Voyager]

I'd never heard of Voyager before this gig, and I'm struggling to think of a good reason why I did not know about them. What can I say. Voyager are FREAKING AMAZING. Progressive metal from Perth, they boast a long curly haired, lead singer and keys player, an attractive AND talented female guitarist who did epic solos, two awesome male guitarists and back up vocalists and a kick-ass drummer. All together a pretty sexy package both in the flesh and in talent.

Truly the highlight of this gig for me. A few songs toward the end of the setlist they played "something silly" a melody mash-up of a bunch of different random songs including Michael Jackson, the Ship to Shore theme, and my personal favourite, a metal cover of "You're The Voice" from John Farnham. How lucky am I for having seen two fo my favourite artists cover this amazing song in the last month? Pretty freakin' lucky.

Voyager *****

"Hi, I'm Gavin, and I'm an alcoholic". With every second song being virtually an ode to their collective love of rum, Alestorm's "Pure Scottish Pirate Metal" really showed Adelaide what we've been missing out on in terms of memorable gigs.

Our last piss-poor metal concert was Cradle of Filth where Dani Filth was on and off stage all gig chucking his guts up cos he was high on something. Then he simply walked out on the gig, and the band was left to do a 20 minute instrumental on their own, which truly was the highlight of the show.

Alestorm prove that you can get yourself in a state but still put on a good show - because the fans should come first (especially when they paid x amount of money to see the damn show). Gavin passes around his bottle of "Captain Morgan" rum and then announces to those who took a swig that 'you realise you all now have hepatitis". 

"We all know Alestorm gigs are massive sausage feasts". Well with the amount of testosterone in the room - yeah, you're right - wanna be anymore exclusive? You have female fans too, y'know. 

I'd been front row since the opening act, but as soon as Alestorm started I was jousted out of my prime position by a crowd of drunk, rowdy, testosterone-charged males who, eager to get close to their pirate idols, and in pursuit of their own enjoyment, sabotaged the enjoyment of others. Perhaps y'all don't see it like me, but if you don't stake out a spot in the front row at the beginning of the gig, then you suck it up - you don't joust other fans out of the way so you can act like a drunk dickhead.

This is by far the roughest mosh pit I've been in, and don't get me wrong, it thrills me that Alestorm are able to rouse that sort of enthusiasm from a crowd. However, I strongly believe in not being a dickhead in the moshpit by not flipping moshpit etiquette the bird. 

Next time I'm bringing burly pirates with me to ensure that my front row stakeout isn't sabotaged by filthy landlubbers.

Alestorm *****

Geraldine Quinn's "You're The Voice: Songs for the Ordinary by an Anthemaniac"

Geraldine Quinn "You're The Voice: Songs for the Ordinary by an Anthemaniac" MICF 2011

Geraldine Quinn sang this song at me the night I was front row for "You're The Voice"
and then tweeted about it. WINNING!

Moosehead Recipient and Golden Gibbo winner for the Melbourne International Comedy Festival of 2011, Geraldine Quinn presents "You're The Voice: Songs for the Ordinary by an Anthemaniac" under the direction of Casey Bennetto (Keating!)

In the words of Geraldine Quinn herself, "there's not much anyone can do to make me seem more than ordinary" (and while she is, in and of herself, quite extraordinary) she embraces being ordinary and catapults it to new heights in a series of high-octane rock numbers.

Backyard parties being hit on by the sleazy older brothers of your friends, stuck in time on a roadtrip with adult siblings, and struggling with the realisation at 35 moving home to live with your parents is not exactly her idea of fulfilling the Australian Dream.


Cynically optimistic, gleefully misanthropic.


I agree with Cameron Woodhead, why Geraldine Quinn does not have the profile of Tim Minchin or Eddie Perfect is a mystery, she is at least their equal. Geraldine Quinn IS the female Tim Minchin.


You're the Voice, Geraldine. Rock on!
 *****

Sound and Fury's "Spaceship Man" and The Jane Austen Argument's "The Space Between" reviews

Sound and Fury's "Spaceship Man"

Adelaide College of Arts

Sun 7th March, 8pm

Fringe veteran Richard Maritzer is joined by Ryan Wells and Patrick Hercamp (the latest additions to the Sound and Fury troupe replacing Vinnie Cardinale and Shelby Bond) to take on Adelaide with their show "Spaceship Man" which parodies just about everything sci-fi in existence and offers math jokes, bad puns, alliteration, cross dressing, even Martian bunnies, to delight and titillate you as our protagonists trek across Mars in search of Colonel Quartz. 


The show starts in the lobby where the audience is greeted by Richard, Ryan and Patrick who rouse the crowd to inspire the level of enthusiasm they wanted the audience to exhibit during the show before running into the theatre.


Performing on a large stage inhibited the usually intimate nature of their shows, however, with crowd encouragement and their ability to break down the fourth wall and engage directly with the audience throughout, Sound and Fury masterfully overcame this disadvantage.

*****

The Jane Austen Argument's "The Spaces Between"

Arcade Lane - Regent One

Sun 7th March, 10pm

Described by Australian Stage as "an ultra-talented hybrid of Tori Amos and Tim Minchin", The  Jane Austen Argument are a force to be reckoned with. 


"The Spaces Between" by The Jane Austen Argument (Tom Dickins and Jen Kingwell) paints a portrait of two young artists and their relationship to the space in their lives. Emotional, physical and temporal.


Trudging through heartbreak, loneliness, love and lust, Dickins and Jen lament and celebrate what life has thrown at them in such a way that encourages and inspires others to be courageous, with a timely reminder that it is okay to take time out for yourself.


Performed on the stairs of what used to be the Regency Cinema, the low lighting created creepy shadows, and the acoustics created an all-encompassing sensory experience. Minimal props, black angel wings worn by Dickins' and Kingwell's top with attached 'heart on the sleeve' seemed to be personal talismans. Tom and Jen's voices are individually amazing and combined wrap around you, embracing you like a warm hug telling you that everything will be alright.


During their final song "The Debt Collector" they discuss the boxes they have in their respective houses containing things they don't want to read or look at that create a 'blackhole of doom' in their lives. Tom passes a box of envelopes into the audiences and invites audience members to take an envelope each, explaining that they contain a handcrafted, personalised gift. This gift is the gift of freedom, the courage to let go of what has come before and being open to what is to come next. Following Dickins' instruction, the audience tore up the envelopes and threw them into the air.


Intimate, cathartic, everything that is to love about theatrical cabaret performances. Go buy tickets now! I promise you that you won’t be disappointed.


The Jane Austen Argument's EP "The Birthing Pyre" is available now at gigs for $15 or on Bandcamp.
*****


Happy Fringing,
Ladyx Chronowire xx

Amanda Fucking Palmer Frinja gig at the Tuxedo Cat

Amanda Palmer secret 'frinja' show
Tuxedo Cat, Electra House (131 King William Street)
Fri 4th March
around midnight

At first it looked like those of us waiting outside wouldn't get in at all, due to the venue being at capacity, but then Amanda Palmer arrived in a taxi and told security to let us in (which they did after a further delay).

Tuxedo Cat's main downstairs room was PACKED with Amanda Palmer fans. Amanda Palmer was now joined by The Jane Austen Argument as she performed her set on ukulele because the piano available to her was unsuitable to play any of her songs, she was accompanied at times by Jen Kingwell of The Jane Austen Argument. She spend a lot of time talking, which was disappointing, but not nearly as disappointing as constantly having to move out of the doorway to let indecisive folk in and out of the room only for them to come back after a short while or try to push in front where they had not previously been.

I really enjoyed hearing Tom Dickins and Jen Kingwell of The Jane Austen Argument perform their own song "Bad Wine and Lemon Cake".

Highlights included meeting Amanda Palmer again (properly) and having my picture taken with her (again). She later hugged me (at my request, 'can I trouble you for a hug?'). As she walked away she caressed my face, it was a beautifully intimate moment. She also signed my chest because some random girl told her that my boobs were hiding and needed to be signed, to which Amanda asked me "why are your boobs hiding?" to which I responded "unfortunate choice of clothing". Not realising at the time, but my choice of clothing was quite apt. I had worn my 2010 Feast Festival volunteer shirt which, as part of the design, features something akin in shape to a 'Map of Tasmania'. Just before getting my picture taken, Amanda told me that she liked my 'Map of Tasmania' which was amusing.

The Jane Austen Argument are performing 'The Spaces Between' at Arcade Lane on Sun 6th Mar and Wed 9th Mar - Sun 12th Mar at 10pm. $20/$15 at the door, or through Fringetix (plus booking fees).

Happy Fringing,
Ladyx Chronowire xx

Evelyn Evelyn + Amanda Fucking Palmer Goes Down Under reviews

Evelyn Evelyn
Wed 2nd March, 2011
The Spiegeltent, The Garden Of Unearthly Delights.
7pm

Evelyn Evelyn (Eva and Lyn aka Evelyn and Evelyn Neville) are conjoined twins raised on a chicken farm following the 'Tragic Events of September 11' in which their mother and father are killed by the evil doctor delivering them, who is subsequently killed by a truck, discovered by the truck's driver, who is then killed by a farmer who hits him with his car. The twins are then taken back to the farmer's farm where they are to be raised.

Evelyn Evelyn are portrayed by Jason Webley and Amanda Palmer.There is no attempt to conceal Webley's moustache but this adds to the novelty of the show. Usually supported by MC Sxip Shirey, they were, this evening, MC'd by The Danger Ensemble's Steven Mitchell Wright who engaged with his witty stage presence and innate ability to involve the audience and inspire us to encourage Evelyn Evelyn at appropriate times during the show.

Excruciatingly shy, but exceptionally talented Evelyn Evelyn play shows from their namesake album, answer questions from the Chalice of Infinite Wisdom and perform their black comedy puppetry which detail "The Tragic Events of September 11" explaining how they came to be raised by chickens and then consequently the after-effects of having grown up around chickens in "Chicken Man".

*****

Amanda Palmer Goes Down Under
Wed 2nd March, 2011
The Spiegeltent, The Garden of Unearthly Delights.
7pm

Scoring seats at the end of the front row, my friend Tahlia and I eagerly awaited Amanda Palmer's entrance which, true to form, was not from the stage door, but rather from the back of the venue. Dressed in a corset sporting an Australian flag, a black bra and a bustle made from streamers, playing "Makin' Whoopie" from the album "Amanda Palmer Goes Down Under". With absolute comic timing, a string on her ukulele breaks and she remarks 'there goes 5 songs from my repertoire'. Someone in the audience offered to fix it after the song as she took the stage behind her piano to play "Sex Changes" and "Missed Me" which she played in the dramatic, theatrical way that she is known and loved for, before getting straight back into songs from "Amanda Palmer Goes Down Under".

My friend had told me that at a previous gig, Palmer had told the audience that she was going to be playing mostly new songs and those expecting a "Best Of The Dresden Dolls" were fucked. This time around she informs us that she is not going to talk very much (as she only has an hour to play) and that she was just going to 'rock our shit', thrusting rock horns in the air. Amanda didn't play any songs off her album "Who Killed Amanda Palmer" (which wasn't even for sale at the merchandise table). She played two The Dresden Dolls songs and the rest were songs from "Amanda Palmer Goes Down Under", a parody of an Evelyn Evelyn song called "Bacteria Bacteria" which she played with Jason Webley, a few songs that I'd not heard of before with Jason Webley and a haunting acapella version of "The Drover's Boy". Her performance of "Map of Tasmania" featuring Jason Webley on Piano Accordian and herself on ukuele and their friend "Cat Boy" was entertaining.

Since I got into The Dresden Dolls several years ago, I have respected Amanda Palmer as a serious musician with serious talent. The songs she did play for this concert where amazing and flawless, but I was really hoping to hear some of her more serious pieces like "Astronaut (A Short History of Nearly Nothing)" or "On An Unknown Beach" which really showcase her talent as an immaculate and highly accomplished composer and musician.

"Amanda Palmer Goes Down Under" is an amazing album in and of itself, I just hope that she doesn't stray too far from her serious musical leanings in favour of silly songs penned on the ukulele in twenty minutes on a dare.

Amanda Palmer and Jason Webley performed a free, impromptu Frinja gig in the Garden of Unearthly Delights following the gig where they took requests, and tag-teamed playing their own songs. Though Jason played an original, Amanda did her version of "Creep" by Radiohead from her Radiohead cover album. Highlights included Amanda conducting the crowd in the same way that Ben Folds does at his gigs and Amanda and Jason mounting respective boxes that make up
Niets is echt moeilijk for the finale.

Both Webley and Palmer are extremely down to earth performers with little to no ego and have absolutely no issues with hanging with fans as though they were friends of theirs.

*****

Happy Fringing,
Ladyx Chronowire xx

REPENT TO THE GAGA + Deanne Smith "About Freakin' Time" review

It seems apt that in a show about time that Deanne Smith be an organised and timely comedian. The show ran exactly on time in all aspects and there was never a dull moment. Drawing together God, vengeful Navy dolphins, time travel, being a lesbian and a six minute section where she took suggestions from the audience about what they wanted to hear her crack jokes about, Smith has written an engaging and hilarious show that appeals to just about everyone. Probably not a show for die-hard Christians who can't take a joke, but if you have a good sense of humour, this show is for you!

Deanne Smith's "About Freakin' Time" is continuing at Rhino Room from Mar 5th and on Mar 8-12. Tix through Fringetix, or at the door for $23.30 ($20 conc).

*****

Following "About Freakin' Time", my friend Eddie and I ventured into the Garden of Unearthly Delights for a wander. When we emerged, we stopped to take in what the 'God Hates Fags' preachers had to say and offer a rebuttal to what we saw to be flawed logic and that of brainwashed religious converts who weren't comfortable receiving what they were dishing out. An accomplished, very funny female performer drew a crowd of passers by with her engaging wit and spruiking skills to highlight the message of her 'friend' who had a message to impart straight from Fred Phelps. While the spruiker was talking about repenting to God, a guy yelled out "REPENT TO THE GAGA" which was met with a rousing chorus of support. I'm pretty open minded and pretty much subscribe to the idea that we all have our own ideas about the world and our own beliefs and if we wanted to know about someone else's beliefs we'd ask. Also that we shouldn't force our beliefs on others and expect them not to be upset when we do. 

Happy Fringing, 

Ladyx Chronowire xx