Amanda Palmer has had a hell of a year. Sure, Hurricane Sandy destroyed New York, but her self-released album, Theatre Is Evil, debuted at #10 on the Billboard charts – and #3 on the Alternative Charts and #2 on the Independent Charts – following a well-publicized Kickstarter campaign that raised nearly $1.2 million to produce and promote the album, released Sept. 11 on her own label, 8ft records. The album, featuring her killer band The Grand Theft Orchestra, has received rave reviews from dozens of magazines and newspapers worldwide, and rose to #6 on the CMJ charts, remaining in the CMJ Top 20 for several weeks.
Wrapping up a year of excitement, cataclysmic weather and year round international touring for what is arguably her most pop-influenced album yet, Amanda Palmer & GTO will play a very special New Year’s show at Terminal 5 in NYC. Openers Jherek Bischoff, Simple Pleasure + a super secret guest will perform before Amanda Palmer & The Grand Theft Orchestra hit the stage for a set of original songs leading into a performance of Prince’s classic album PURPLE RAIN from beginning to end! Always one to bring an exciting and colorful party to any stage, there will be surprises at every turn. The band performed The Rocky Horror Picture Show classic track “Time Warp” joined by the famed creator of the cult classic Richard O’Brien on their recent tour. Watch the energized live video of the performance above.
Explaining why they chose to perform Purple Rain this New Year’s, Palmer shares, “The members of the Grand Theft Orchestra (me, Chad, Michael and Jherek) all come from very different musical backgrounds and have wildly different tastes, but there is ONE THING on our venn diagram that overlaps in the “perfect album” department, and that’s PURPLE RAIN. We all grew up worshipping this record. Everybody already knows the songs cold (Jherek used to actually be IN A PRINCE COVER BAND) and we’re all going to take turns singing and swapping instruments. The band will, of course, be dressed in our finest Prince-esque finery, covering all aspects of Prince, his facial hair, and his various eras of nudity. We’re also encouraging the entire audience to “come as your favorite era of prince”. I want to run around counting people in ASSLESS CHAPS, and maybe give them door prizes for bravery. New Years Eve is cold.”
Theatre Is Evil showcases Amanda’s powerful vocals and talented songwriting in ways that may surprise even her most ardent fans. Written over the course of several years (since the release of her last studio album, Who Killed Amanda Palmer), the album offers a collection of sounds and rhythms heavily influenced by the music Palmer grew up listening to – most notably 80s synth rock and Brit Pop. Recorded in Melbourne with producer John Congleton, the new album is her first time working with a full band: The Grand Theft Orchestra, featuring Michael McQuilken, Chad Raines and Jherek Bischoff.
