There’s a way in which the Boston band Jaggery walks a tightrope between a number of musical worlds, notably classical on one side and a dark, gothic sort of alternative rock on the other. A song such as “Hostage Heart” is both lovely and deeply saddening, whereas “No Sympathy” takes on a slow-sizzle jazz feel. What remains consistent with the band is that there are deeper and deeper caverns to explore within the music, dark wells of sound and emotion to excavate, or to get lost in entirely. (Victor D. Infante)
This past September, I was fortunate enough to have the opportunity to realize a lifelong dream ~ I got the chance to go to Australia. I attended a conference in Voice Movement Therapy, and was a special guest at Amanda Palmer and The Grand Theft Orchestra’s concerts in Sydney and Brisbane. I also played sets at a couple of house parties with Amanda.
The experience was incredible.
First ~ a week in the bush, working with and on myself using voice and movement to move through some of the psychological troughs I’d found myself in over the summer, then witnessing and being a part of huge celebrations of art, music, and life itself that are Amanda Palmer concerts. Amanda had requested that I play ‘7 stone’ and the GTO backed me up, which was totally thrilling. (You can see video from the Brisbane concert here). The welcoming and enthusiastic reception I received has spurred me into planning a return a solo tour for mid-February. I plan to play Sydney and Brisbane again, as well as Melbourne, Adelaide, and Perth.
I can’t wait!
Here are some photos from AFP’s Sydney show (I think it was Sydney) ~ all taken by Monica Sellars:
Here’s a video from backstage at the Sydney Enmore show, care of Moshcam ~ members of the GTO and myself get interviewed by Otto and Ingrid of Die Roten Punkte, Amanda’s adorably and creatively fun and sweet support band:
And if you thought you could get through a blog about Australia without something nature-y, you’re wrong ~ check out this sky I witnessed from the Manly Ferry:
I’m excited to begin creating a solo set for this tour!
I’ll be updating this site as everything comes together and I appreciate your help in getting the word about the shows.
My hopes are that this solo tour will lay a foundation for me to bring the band, or at least some of it, back for festivals in winter (Australia’s summer) of 2015.
We play our first ever show in Worcester, MA this Sunday, October 27th ~ as part of Cirque du Noir, a Halloween celebration of art, music, and community, with all proceeds going to the Worcester County Food Bank.
Cirque du Noir includes a silent art auction which includes this stunning work by John Pagano:
http://johnpagano.info/home.html
Read this to learn what you’re in store for, and this about our involvement.
the following Sunday, November 3rd gets even scarier, with:
Singer Mali produces, bringing together performers to raise and express their artistic voices around the concept of free speech and the suppression thereof. From reinterpretations of banned works to revelations on self-censorship to experiences of making art in lands less free, performers will be pushing the acceptability envelope and exploring the idea of what should ~ or should not ~ be seen, heard, and spoken. In keeping with the end of this year’s Halloween weekend, we will be presenting an original live score to a segment of the 1922 banned film, Häxan: Witchcraft through the Ages, plus putting a darkwave jazz spin on the “Devil’s internal”, and throwing in a dose of Disney.
