Amanda Palmer @ Highline Ballroom

Thursday, 11 June 2009 11:09

Upon entering the Highline Ballroom Friday night, nearly an hour before the show was supposed to start, a large percent of the crowd were gathered around the entrance to the men’s bathroom. The reason? Amanda Palmer who has more than any other single artist leveraged the power of Twitter, organized a spontaneous "Bathroom Confessional," the results of which have yet to make it to YouTube, despite promises that they would, as only 25 of the hundreds of gathered actually made it inside.

Two hours after doors opened Anna Almond took the stage for a short 3-song set with her acoustic guitar. She was followed by local act The Lisps, a folk trio who played an energetic set interspersed with witty banter. After a half hour set and a short change over time, Ms. Palmer appeared on the balcony of the venue, ukulele in hand, and performed a cover of Bright Eye’s “Lua” and then walked through the crowd to the stage where she took up position behind the piano and went through a mix of music off of her solo album as well as a number of classic songs from her former band the Dresden Dolls as well as a few covers.

The energy which with Palmer played the piano was if anything more similar to the sort of raw energy seen from a drummer. She plays with a remarkable speed and energy—you can see—even after more than a year of touring, every note she plays is filled with passion. The set also included a few numbers—“Trout Heart Replica” and “I Google You”—lyrics by Newbery award winner Neil Gaiman. Members of The Lisps joined Palmer as well as local performer and often-opener Emilyn Brodsky on stage for a rousing performance of controversial single “Oasis” as well as a cover of 1950s classic “Yakety Yak”—before which Palmer said sheepishly “I’m not very good at rock ’n roll,” a statement quickly proven wrong.

For the last song of her encore she brought onstage her father with whom she performed a cover of Leonard Cohen’s “One of Us Can Not Be Wrong.” Overall Palmer put on one of the most memorable shows I have seen in recent memory.

Words by: TJ Olsen

Photo by: Des'rae Stage (courtesy of Brooklyn Vegan)

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