Just wanted to tell you that "8 balls" picture of you and Jason had me nearly in tears. Huzzah for taking the seriousness of the region down a few pegs, if only for a minute.
I see pictures/videos of people crowdsurfing, and it looks awesome, and makes for some great photo ops, but damn...I'd be terrified folks would drop me on my melon. I tense up with nerves just looking at the pictures. You're a brave one.
Also..that's a LOT of vodka..and I'm sure there was much more where that came from. I do not envy you the aforementioned hangover...
quantuminsanity
· 4 months ago
I guess the statue-horses must all be girls or gelded...? Otherwise it should have been 16 balls bridge...
7weeksresurface
· 4 months ago
I've never seen such close-up pics of Jason, just blurry Youtube. He's freaking hot.
I totally get your weirdness at the Uber Celebrity Treatment thing. I see it here in Australia with some bands - not with you, cause your fans here are the bloggy type, but a few American pop-punk bands I know, when I see them while working in the States it's like, they just hang out with fans, they're not 'famous' but when they come over here, kids who know of them treat them like U2, swarming them, waiting at airports and stuff.
I. Skorokhodov
· 4 months ago
Was trying to make an eye contact with you, but, well, one (maybe ten or fifteen) in 12 000? Too much, I guess. But screw this, the next year I'll take all my friends to your concert and we shall make for you our show, with blackjack and hookers. So come back, you'll surely like it.
Waitig for you, Ivan
bookandbroom
· 4 months ago
That COAT! The red one! In the first picture! I am feeling deeply covetous. Where does one get a coat like that?
(Also, these pictures are made of awesomesauce.)
Sally
· 4 months ago
The interview was fantastic, I've downloaded it to play again. Awesome photos...and my god, how did your head not fall off after all that vodka.
ozma
· 4 months ago
You know, Amanda, Russia is a cold country and Moscow is a stern city as you could notice. And also our country has a long history full of hardship. People never smile on the streets and only close friends could give you a hug. There's no shores of California here. If you stayed here for a longer period, you would understand better russian mentality besides drinking vodka all the time. We are used to having a czar and you became a czar in our eyes like on the first photo. Never mind. It doesn't mean that we don't love you. We adore you.
NoirMuse
· 4 months ago
Amanda, I'm sorry this is a very shallow comment as I haven't read the whole text yet, because actually I'm in too much a hurry to do this (should be at least) but - where did you get that military-esque jacket you're wearing in the pictures with Jason?
It terribly looks like one I recently bought.
Argentum
· 4 months ago
Ah, but you are quite wrong! Firstly, people in your russian audience tend to know english fairly well, they are just not used to musicians being friendly and talkative. Secondly, I dunno about other people, but during the ikra gig i was there at the front smiling at you all the time and singing along (sometimes :)
That sounds a bit too serious. Anyway, I wanted to tell you that your both gigs in Moscow were amazing, and the ikra one was possibly the best i've ever seen. You are the most open and friendly person that ever took stage in this city.
xxx
Shiny
· 4 months ago
you look really small with the 3 bodyguards (they look scary)
have you ever been accidentally injured by a fan while in the signing line?
& can you be in a movie please? one day? perhaps as a baddie (they're cooler than those boring goodies, and get dramatic entrance music)
dtoffee
· 4 months ago
So close yet so far... Finland wants you!
drwimages
· 4 months ago
Great Photos.. how could i get a photo pass for one of the london shows or edinburgh??
Seriously, I probably wouldn't know what to do/say/how to act would you be standing in front of me... I usually don't get red, so that's out of the question. But for some freak reason I always have trouble to talk to people whom I admire & highly appreciate. Sucks, but you'll know now and might help me out should the day come. I will look you in the eyes, though! :)
bre_anachronism
· 4 months ago
Well, if you were GOING to drink copious amounts of alcohol, there are far less appropriate places to do it than Russia...
Zabet
· 4 months ago
Ooh, I feel you on the vodka. My worst hangover ever was after drinking vodka in Russia. I never really knew where my kidneys were before that... and I never want to feel them again!
lucife
· 4 months ago
it's kind of hard to remember how to speak English at autograph sessions sometimes :) But your blog and twitter certainly help, they give a feeling of already being acquainted. do join vkontakte, we'll be happy to see you there :)
about "8 balls", you probably lucky you haven't seen much Tsereteli's work (at least I hope you didn't). Now that is some seriously screwed up sculptures all across the Moscow.
anyway, thanks for yours and Jason's performance at Afisha's Picnic, it was the most fun I've had in months!
Flor
· 4 months ago
Dear, you ARE Evita. You quietly, secretly take things over when no one's looking because we're busy adoring you. But don't actually *be* Evita, kay? She died not much older than you are.
Recently made a similar decision to drink a wee bit less thanks to an epic hangover. I thought I drank a lot but failed to notice that I'm good with wine but had not kept up my processing strength for liquors. Oddly enough, it was a night of vodka martinis that did it.
Name
· 4 months ago
Argh, I'm on a different compy than normal and I forgot my password. So it's RaqsSaideh on a guest account. :D
Anywoo, it looks like you're having so much fun in Russia! The live photos are some of my faves I've seen so far, the one with your skirt tucked up is priceless xD I'd pick a fave but well... they're all too wicked for that. Crowd surfing + vodka + accordion pics are in the top, though Loving the photos of you and Jason as well, you both look very much like you're enjoying yourselves! OHHH! That first photo. The only word for it is epic. Kudos to yourself and the photographer.
Sorry to hear that your fans weren't as interactive, though it would have been an interesting break. The bouncers sound intense to say the least...
Well, can't wait to hear more bout teh trip if you end up making a longer blog about it (you mentioned doing so at the top, right..?) and I really want to hear about twitter ninja gigs in Edinburgh! The twitter gigs always look like so much fun, I love the aftermath of creativity! Warmest wishes from WI as always... and Copper County, MI since I'm currently situated in a cafe there-- hoping for the best for yourself and your mates in your upcoming touring! -Greta
lucife
· 4 months ago
also, I forgot to mention. Do you know what these security guys told us before you shown up? No talking. No hanging around. Just take your autograph and go away. Seriously, it's like they didn't know who you are at all. So all things considered, autograph session was quite awesome.
Then, if I had the chance, I would ask Neil to tell me some secrets, because I know for sure that he knows a lot of them. And afterwards, I would ask you to sing, silently, thunderously, vehemently. And I would sing a little lower, remembering all the things I never said, and why life is so beautifully red.
1easy
· 4 months ago
I make! but at the time you catch me I just wanted to know what happens with mr.Big. That's all. ok I just kidding. actually this part about eyes contact made me sad and in the fact that it's after 3.5+ gigs.. bad case anyway, I'll join I.Skorokhodov come back soon
p.s. I hope THE LOVE will be at part duo ..and Moscow'10 -)
Vayda
· 4 months ago
I agree with your madness at getting treated oddly by fans... I don't think that is how it should be. That's one of the reason's I like you, Amanda, because you're a real person, not an 'icon' that everyone loves but no one can look at. That stuff bothers me. :)
Chris
· 4 months ago
Dear Amanda Fucking Palmer
I just wanted to say that if you covered a Lady GaGa song that would pretty much complete my life. Just for the record.
Love Chris
eepshyes
· 4 months ago
I am so incredibly jealous of your life.
Why do you have to be so awesome all the time?
orsondeau
· 4 months ago
Actually, Lady Gaga cites the Dolls as an influence. So, yeah. I would love if you covered a Gaga song, unless it was Brown Eyes, which is all piano anyway. Just do it stateside, so I can come see it. (Wow, that kind of sounds reeeaaally demanding.)
I adore the Fauvist reference painting. It's one of my favorite movements.
That being said, I'm really happy you're getting to enjoy Russia. It's a truly beautiful place and so steeped in gloriously complex history. I'm also glad you're hanging with Jason again. (Speaking of which, I can't wait for the rumored Evelyn Evelyn album. It'll be spectacular. :) )
Joo
· 4 months ago
Hey, Amanda, just to tell you: You blogged about your book possibly being in Forbidden Planet? Well, obviously it's in the one in Edinburgh however they don't sell it in London. He said point blank they weren't selling it. However, he faired better than other shop I went to who didn't know who you were and apparently couldn't quite grasp that you had a book out. The conversation confused me and I actually knew what I was talking about.
Ryan_Anas
· 4 months ago
Seeing you and Jason being crazy together always makes me smile. I'm so happy that your first Russian tour was such an amazing success. I kind of had a feeling that you would go over wel there, but wow! A very awesome people, I would say. Sorry for you hangover. Cutting down on drinkingis always a good idea, as a type with a fuzzy head ;) Much love, and as always thank you for all of these amantastic photos and pictures XOXOXO
suzanna
· 4 months ago
yesterday i came across your Out.com interview - and i just want to say: i love you. you're incredible
"Nostrovia"----->Na zdrovye/na zdrovie. I'm sorry, the Slavic grammarian in me will not put up with such an odd translit. "Nostrovia" makes it sound like you're talking about a state of some sort, like the far off kingdom of Toyourhealth-ia.
I also would agree with the comments that Russians have a different relationship to celebrities than Americans do. Moreover, you're a foreign celebrity and that also impacts the way they will treat you.
And St. Petersburg is serious only if you haven't gotten down and experienced the absurdity of the place. All of that structured, stern architecture becomes terribly ironic in juxtaposition with 1. Soviet history/traces of the Soviet and 2. daily life there. My favorite club in St. Petersburg was in a museum and used to hold early metal shows followed immediately by disco nights. As in, the people in all black would give way to people geared up for disco dancing. If we tried this in America, I'm pretty sure there'd be a fight in the parking lot. When I lived there, I saw drunken soccer fans dancing and singing in some of those ornate fountains. Sure, Russians culturally do not get up and smile at everyone who walks by [there are deep-seated historical reasons for this] and eye-contact with strangers is generally considered pretty aggressive behavior...but Russians are, as they would say, ochen dobre ljudi. uh. i fail at translation, and i mean it in an extra-literal sense...
oh, and those glasses of vodka are standard Russian-issue for what I can tell. I'm surprised they didn't bring you 4 of them for good measure.
The_Jools
· 4 months ago
Hey Amanda ! I'm glad people wrote to you explaining the weird-vibe no-eye-contact thing during your shows in Russiaa. It is a different culture, but I think music is fundamentely international, it communicates feelings, and even if people don't understand your lyrics completely you really illustrate them (in lack of a better word). And on stage too, you bond with the audience and not just with words, your warmth emanates from you. The pick of you made me think of this very very funny sketch that you should watch if you have the time (it's only 2 minutes long), it's the english comedians from Smack the Pony. http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=qbUvQKFpYkA Can't wait for you to come back to France! Come to Lyooonnn if you can, it's a great city and it's different from Paris! XXxxx
All Comments
I see pictures/videos of people crowdsurfing, and it looks awesome, and makes for some great photo ops, but damn...I'd be terrified folks would drop me on my melon. I tense up with nerves just looking at the pictures. You're a brave one.
Also..that's a LOT of vodka..and I'm sure there was much more where that came from. I do not envy you the aforementioned hangover...
I totally get your weirdness at the Uber Celebrity Treatment thing. I see it here in Australia with some bands - not with you, cause your fans here are the bloggy type, but a few American pop-punk bands I know, when I see them while working in the States it's like, they just hang out with fans, they're not 'famous' but when they come over here, kids who know of them treat them like U2, swarming them, waiting at airports and stuff.
Waitig for you,
Ivan
(Also, these pictures are made of awesomesauce.)
There's no shores of California here. If you stayed here for a longer period, you would understand better russian mentality besides drinking vodka all the time.
We are used to having a czar and you became a czar in our eyes like on the first photo. Never mind. It doesn't mean that we don't love you. We adore you.
It terribly looks like one I recently bought.
Firstly, people in your russian audience tend to know english fairly well, they are just not used to musicians being friendly and talkative.
Secondly, I dunno about other people, but during the ikra gig i was there at the front smiling at you all the time and singing along (sometimes :)
That sounds a bit too serious.
Anyway, I wanted to tell you that your both gigs in Moscow were amazing, and the ikra one was possibly the best i've ever seen. You are the most open and friendly person that ever took stage in this city.
xxx
have you ever been accidentally injured by a fan while in the signing line?
&
can you be in a movie please? one day? perhaps as a baddie (they're cooler than those boring goodies, and get dramatic entrance music)
take a look at some of my work here
www.drw-images.co.uk
and here
http://www.flickr.com/photos/drw-images/sets/
Im a fan of your music and would love to capture some of the beauty of your art in picture
Andy
http://twitter.com/Drw_Images
do join vkontakte, we'll be happy to see you there :)
about "8 balls", you probably lucky you haven't seen much Tsereteli's work (at least I hope you didn't). Now that is some seriously screwed up sculptures all across the Moscow.
anyway, thanks for yours and Jason's performance at Afisha's Picnic, it was the most fun I've had in months!
Recently made a similar decision to drink a wee bit less thanks to an epic hangover. I thought I drank a lot but failed to notice that I'm good with wine but had not kept up my processing strength for liquors. Oddly enough, it was a night of vodka martinis that did it.
Anywoo, it looks like you're having so much fun in Russia! The live photos are some of my faves I've seen so far, the one with your skirt tucked up is priceless xD I'd pick a fave but well... they're all too wicked for that. Crowd surfing + vodka + accordion pics are in the top, though
Loving the photos of you and Jason as well, you both look very much like you're enjoying yourselves!
OHHH! That first photo. The only word for it is epic. Kudos to yourself and the photographer.
Sorry to hear that your fans weren't as interactive, though it would have been an interesting break. The bouncers sound intense to say the least...
Well, can't wait to hear more bout teh trip if you end up making a longer blog about it (you mentioned doing so at the top, right..?) and I really want to hear about twitter ninja gigs in Edinburgh! The twitter gigs always look like so much fun, I love the aftermath of creativity!
Warmest wishes from WI as always... and Copper County, MI since I'm currently situated in a cafe there-- hoping for the best for yourself and your mates in your upcoming touring!
-Greta
Then, if I had the chance, I would ask Neil to tell me some secrets, because I know for sure that he knows a lot of them.
And afterwards, I would ask you to sing, silently, thunderously, vehemently. And I would sing a little lower, remembering all the things I never said, and why life is so beautifully red.
actually this part about eyes contact made me sad and in the fact that it's after 3.5+ gigs.. bad case
anyway, I'll join I.Skorokhodov
come back soon
p.s. I hope THE LOVE will be at part duo ..and Moscow'10 -)
I just wanted to say that if you covered a Lady GaGa song that would pretty much complete my life. Just for the record.
Love Chris
Why do you have to be so awesome all the time?
I adore the Fauvist reference painting. It's one of my favorite movements.
That being said, I'm really happy you're getting to enjoy Russia. It's a truly beautiful place and so steeped in gloriously complex history. I'm also glad you're hanging with Jason again. (Speaking of which, I can't wait for the rumored Evelyn Evelyn album. It'll be spectacular. :) )
You blogged about your book possibly being in Forbidden Planet? Well, obviously it's in the one in Edinburgh however they don't sell it in London. He said point blank they weren't selling it. However, he faired better than other shop I went to who didn't know who you were and apparently couldn't quite grasp that you had a book out. The conversation confused me and I actually knew what I was talking about.
http://www.out.com/video/index.asp?catID=112511...
I'm sorry, the Slavic grammarian in me will not put up with such an odd translit. "Nostrovia" makes it sound like you're talking about a state of some sort, like the far off kingdom of Toyourhealth-ia.
I also would agree with the comments that Russians have a different relationship to celebrities than Americans do. Moreover, you're a foreign celebrity and that also impacts the way they will treat you.
And St. Petersburg is serious only if you haven't gotten down and experienced the absurdity of the place. All of that structured, stern architecture becomes terribly ironic in juxtaposition with 1. Soviet history/traces of the Soviet and 2. daily life there. My favorite club in St. Petersburg was in a museum and used to hold early metal shows followed immediately by disco nights. As in, the people in all black would give way to people geared up for disco dancing. If we tried this in America, I'm pretty sure there'd be a fight in the parking lot. When I lived there, I saw drunken soccer fans dancing and singing in some of those ornate fountains. Sure, Russians culturally do not get up and smile at everyone who walks by [there are deep-seated historical reasons for this] and eye-contact with strangers is generally considered pretty aggressive behavior...but Russians are, as they would say, ochen dobre ljudi. uh. i fail at translation, and i mean it in an extra-literal sense...
oh, and those glasses of vodka are standard Russian-issue for what I can tell. I'm surprised they didn't bring you 4 of them for good measure.
I'm glad people wrote to you explaining the weird-vibe no-eye-contact thing during your shows in Russiaa. It is a different culture, but I think music is fundamentely international, it communicates feelings, and even if people don't understand your lyrics completely you really illustrate them (in lack of a better word). And on stage too, you bond with the audience and not just with words, your warmth emanates from you.
The pick of you made me think of this very very funny sketch that you should watch if you have the time (it's only 2 minutes long), it's the english comedians from Smack the Pony.
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=qbUvQKFpYkA
Can't wait for you to come back to France! Come to Lyooonnn if you can, it's a great city and it's different from Paris!
XXxxx