The show started with the Sxip Shirey, a guy from New York who is an actor, puppeteer, and musician. He's creating catchy sounds and rhythms using all sort of implements, like a glass bowl with a marble inside. In that sense he made me think of Stomp, although not style-wise. His music has an imaginative and inventive style that is not easy to place but definitely pleasant to listen to.
Evelyn Evelyn as in Amanda Palmer and Jason Webley were next. I've read some of the critiques online and I certainly didn't get the impression that they were trying to mock anyone. The show started on a vague feeling of unease on both sides (them on stage, me in the audience). As it went on, they became more and more comfortable on stage and the effect was passed on. It was well thought of and researched, quite touching on the whole. The interaction of the "girls" was what you expect from twins or close siblings - the wordless understanding, gestures and language that only the two of them share.
Their story is told by Mr. Mefisto with the help of back light projection puppeteering, which was a lot of fun despite how tragic it all sounded. It's not that obvious to make the audience laugh every time someone dies.
The twins ended up connecting pretty well with the audience and by the time they answered questions everyone was participating. When they got their chocolate back everyone cheered. I think Amanda and Jason are doing a good job of making the audience see the disabled people for what they are - just people.
After a dramatic ending, that part of the show was over and we got a few more songs from just Jason and just Amanda. I did not expect to enjoy someone playing the accordion so much, nor that I would be singing my tuba part (or trombone, whatever it was) with so much conviction. He is charismatic, convincing, engaging. It was fun seeing him use the stage itself as a drum - not sure if there was an actual implement that resonated or just the stage itself. I wasn't close enough to see.
Amanda came in through the audience and played a few more songs more or less with him (she might have done one or two just by herself). I could definitely relate to the one about betting your sweet black ass that she's going to do what she wants - I was also lame as a kid and there were times no one would talk to me for example, I also like to be alone around people sometimes, though I'm not gonna marry a writer (everyone there knew who she meant, everyone cheered).
Her music seems like something my grandma would enjoy while at the same time not sounding outdated at all. And no, this is not a veiled critique, my grandma is awesome. Especially the last song (while the cup is full, drink up, drink up - by which I don't mean that my grandma likes to drink) for which she made the audience spin a few times to get fucked up so they could enjoy it properly. I skipped the spinning part myself - sorry, I can still get motion sick occasionally, it didn't seem prudent.
After the show I went by the exit to distribute flyers for another show when Amanda came out completely nonchalantly, right through the audience, still singing the last song. She saw me and I thought it would be fun to give her a flyer. She kind of hesitated but took it anyway. She seemed relieved that I wasn't doing any kind of ideological advertising (I'm guessing). I knew, of course, that she would not come to the show, but it's good for a musician to know what else is happening on the scene, right?
So to conclude all this, her music is not exactly something I'd listen to every day but for an occasional live show I enjoyed it quite a lot.
Dana from the Greater Chicago Area
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