A few from the media front.

Friday 20 November 2009 at 00:44.
Tags: adaptation, amanda_fucking_palmer, announcement, charts, concert, cruxshadows, global_frequency, graphic_novel, music, quicksilver, single, television, warren_ellis

Earlier today, Lyssa and I arranged to reserve a couple of tables just behind the dance floor at The State Theatre in Fairfax to have dinner and catch a double-header concert which we and the usual suspects been anxiously awaiting since October. Amanda Palmer returned to NOVA, performing with and backed by the Nervous Cabaret out of Brooklyn, New York. Lyssa and I arrived first, following a madcap search for parking which Lyssa could comfortably walk from and a few last-minute arrangements earlier today. A generous soul at the front of the line let Lyssa (who is still on crutches following the replacement of her fibreglass cast with a walking brace this morning) and I cut in front, and the staff of the State Theatre was kind enough to show us to our tables up front. Laurelinde, Mika, and Hasufin joined us later in the evening after everyone got off of work.

One thing I noticed about the State Theatre is that it's really difficult to take a good picture in there when the house lights are down. My camera, at least, kept trying to adapt to the lighting conditions but wasn't able to get any really good pictures. Strangely enough, my cellphone's camera took a few good shots because it just captured images without trying any fancy autofocus or face detection tricks.

The food at the State Theatre isn't bad, but it's nothing to write home about, either. It's also pretty cramped in there; I nearly spayed two people just trying to pull my wallet out to pay for something at the merchandise tables before the concert began. After paying and sitting back down with Lyssa the evening's festivities began with Amanda Palmer fielding questions by way of her net.presences on stage, as she is wont to do. You have to love the new generation of musical acts; they're not shy about interacting with their fans. The Q&A went on for the better part of an hour. I wasn't really paying attention to how long it ran as I was face-down in my chicken caesar salad wrap along with the rest of the table. The Nervous Cabaret took the stage first and put on a show with a big band feel, featuring trumpet and trombone in addition to electric and bass guitar, and acoustic drums. It isn't often that you hear contemporary music of that style, let alone done well with a catchy beat. After their set was over (they finished with a song called Mel Gibson, evoking everything they love and loathe about American cinema) they left the stage to set up for AFP's appearance.

Amanda's set began with a New Orleans-style funeral procession performed by the Nervous Cabaret, who entered from the back of the Theatre. Around the same time that they reached the stage, Amanda appeared (I know not from where) and they began the set with Kiss Me from Who Killed Amanda Palmer, followed by a couple of classic Dresden Dolls songs. At the midway point, Amanda did a shorter Q&A with the audience for everyone who arrived late, and then picked up with some of her newer work. They did an awesome version of Guitar Hero which seems to work well with brass instruments followed by Coin Operated Boy, a cover of House of the Rising Sun, and a classic Leonard Cohen song sung as a duet by Amanda and her father (which is something of a tradition whenever she's in the DC metroplex).

I'll get the pictues (such as they are) up soon. In other news before I fall asleep for the night, the Cruxshadows have announced that their latest single has soared to the top of the Billboard charts. Quicksilver is ranked #1 on the Hot Dance Single charts and #2 on the Hot Single Sales charts, bumping Lady Gaga. I think this makes a hat trick for the crew from Tallahassee, Florida (the other two songs being Sophia and Birthday). Congratulations and safe travels, folks.

Yesterday on his blog, Warren Ellis (the man for whom the term NSFW was invented) announced that another attempt was being made to turn one of his graphic novels into a television series. As you may recall, about six years ago someone adapted the first story from Global Frequency: Planet Ablaze into the pilot for a show based on the comic that never made it past an unaired pilot. The pilot episode was leaked onto the Net (which you can still find on BitTorrent trackers if you hunt a little) which ensured that the series would never be picked up for legal reasons.

Mr. Ellis says that he's not in a position to discuss this endeavor. Those of us on the Frequency wish both him and Scott Nimerfro the best of luck, and we hope that it takes off this time.

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