Amanda Palmer at The Pops

Last Thursday night Katie and I took the rare opportunity to see Amanda Palmer perform in Boston with with Boston Pops.

Her Set List:
Missed Me
Astronaut
The Point of It All
Cain't Say No (from Oklahoma)
Brick (Ben Folds Cover)
Strength Through Music
Had to Drive
Coin-Operated Boy
Wonderful World (with Brian Viglione)

ENCORES:
Don't Tell Mama (from Caberet)
Sing (with Brian Viglione)

I am a big fan of Amanda. I am a big fan of The Dresden Dolls. That alone was enough for me to really enjoy this show, part of a series The Boston Pops calls its "Edgefest". It was great to hear Amanda's songs backed by the Pops orchestra. The arrangements were o.k. Not exactly how I would have written them, but they were solid. Maybe "safe" is the best word. The music of the Dresden Dolls and Palmer's solo work (both of which are mostly written by her) is adventurous, creatvie, edgy - it's too bad the orchestration didn't live up to that. A lot of effort was put into the opener, "Missed Me", with a percussionist on tambourine and a violinist following Amanda as she weaved through the audience, and a trombone player leaning over the lower balcony playing to her. It was a great opener, as theatrical as you'd expect from Ms. Palmer. A few of the tunes - "Astronaut" and "The Point of it All" were beautiful with the string underscoring. And, as is always the case, Amanda looked as if she were having the time of her life.

























Katie and I took these pictures from our great seats, in the first balcony overlooking the stage.


Afterwards, the Luminescent Orchestrii performed in one of Symphony Hall's function rooms. Let by Sxip Shirey, a friend of Amanda's, this hip NYC group puts a unique spin on eastern European folk music. It was a great night.