My name is Aleisha, and I am an addict...

I am completely and utterly enamored with Amanda Fucking Palmer.


If you weren't already aware, (which I'm sure you are) I discovered the wonders of Amanda Palmer about 2.5 years ago, I was hypnotized by this mysterious, bold, amazing woman with painted on eyebrows and fearless attitude. Her spirit captured me. She is bold and powerful, and utterly amazing.

And that's not even her music, that's just HER.

To Me, Amanda is the epitome of 'be yourself'. I think her music made me stronger. It made me excited. It made me HAPPY. Which is funny, because so much of her music is dark and sad.

Unlike many, I got into Amanda's solo album first. I listened to it to death, for months, screaming her tunes in my car, loving every second of it. I don't think any of my family really 'got it' but I didn't really care.... I had found my idol in this 30 something American queen of punk cabaret.

I also got into the Dresden Dolls, obviously, and have since grown to love them just as much if not more than Amanda's solo material.

The Dresden Dolls have not been playing together for quite a while. They needed a break from each other after touring together solidly for a couple of years - but they have reunited and next week, they will be performing in Australia and I will get to see them for the first time!

I cannot express how excited this makes me - not only do I get to see Amanda again, a couple of times - as we're once again following her to Sydney and back to the Forum in Melbourne - but I get to see the Dresden Dolls side of her. Which from what I've seen of their live performances, will be mind blowing.

I honestly don't think you can really 'get' Amanda until you see her live, though. I don't think the love I felt for her was as strong until I dragged Phil to her show at the Forum the year before last. She played her opening number, Sex Changes, A dresden dolls song - and one of our favourites, and we were both just awestruck. We sat and cheered and fell madly in love with this amazing madwoman.

Early this year we flew to Sydney for her Australia day concert, missed parties and changed flights to attend an intimate show at a stranger's house (now one of our best friends) saw her again in Melbourne, even though we had tickets to see Tim Minchin the same night, and then, I ended up flying to Adelaide at the last minute to see her perform as part of a set of 'conjoined twins' - Evelyn Evelyn (look them up too, if you haven't heard the buzz - they are just freaking brilliant)

It is because of Amanda that I have discovered Kim Boekbinder, The Jane Austen Argument, Jason Webley, Mikelangelo and the Tin Star/Saint Clare, The General Assembly(go listen to their album and I BET you won't be able to NOT buy it), and a renewed love of live music. I have been to more gigs this year than in the last 5. it has been a fucking great year.

It is also because of Amanda that I've met some of the people I would now call my best friends - Karina, Ian, Marianne and Helen - All of whom I met at Karina's intimate BBQ gig in Sydney. I am so thankful for that night.

So now It is my wish for the new year to be able to make you all see what I see - I wish you could all experience this amazing woman in the flesh. This brilliant band. These people that feed off each others' energy and leave you buzzing from head to toe.

The Dresden Dolls:
Come see them and let me know if you're going! I will be at the Sydney and Melbourne shows!

Australian Tour info:
http://www.dresdendolls.com/shows.html

Brisbane - Tivoli - 5th Jan
Sydney - The Enmore - 7th Jan
Melbourne - Forum Theatre - 8th Jan
Adelaide - The Gov - 11th Jan
Perth - The Astor Theatre - 12th Jan
Tasmania - Mona Foma - 19th Jan

Here are a few of my favourite Dresden Dolls bits and pieces to whet your appetite

Dresden Dolls - Girl Anachronism


Dresden Dolls - Sex Changes


This video is from the first time we ever saw Amanda - At the Forum - and the first time she ever played this song - The Black Death


Amanda Palmer - Missed me - at St.Kilda BBQ early 2011 - I post because we're in it.


Dresden Dolls - Coin-Operated Boy
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=j4gPZPKJc0s (it won't let me embed, how RUDE.)

Amanda Palmer - In my mind



I believe that will do. Go forth. Buy tickets, I will see you in either Sydney or Melbourne this weekend if you liked any of the above. if you didn't, well then, that's your loss :P

Leish
xoxo

And so it begins....

Well Hellooo...

I used to be a consistent blogger. Before they even called it blogging, when it was just, ya know, having an LJ... You can find the last 10 years of my life here on LiveJournal - http://leishpod.livejournal.com but dear GOD don't read too far back, it's vaguely horrifying reading the ramblings of my teenage self.

A friend inspired me to start anew. Build a blogspot. I came to blogspot and realised OH HEY, I ALREADY HAVE ONE, I just never ever started it. Laaaazy.

So Who am I? Well, I'm glad you asked, Me.

I'm 27 years old. I live in a little town called Hastings, in Victoria Australia. I got married a month ago tomorrow (oh how time flies!) to the greatest man in the world - his name is Phil, and he's by far the best thing that's ever happened to me.

We have a dog (Molly) and 4 cats (annoying) and are thinking of starting a family of tiny humans (who I'm sure will eventually grow to full size) soon, though I dunno when, we'll have to wait and see I guess.

I suppose you could say I've done a lot in my life. But at the same time it feels like so very little. I have been to the USA 3 times; all 3 for convention type events.
I lived in Sydney for 2 years and was engaged to someone there completely and utterly wrong for me, for about 3 months I think, after being together for 4 years. It was messy, and I got the cats in the 'divorce' which is not so awesome these days. I wonder if I can give them back. Surely it's his turn for custody by now.

I went to an amazing private school that I think prepared me to be an outgoing, friendly, kinda cool (albeit only to a select few) adult, but it did not succeed in making me get a fancy-pants career or anything. I do believe, however, that it made me realise you can do whatever you want to do, and should - as long as you're happy. I never went to uni. I started working for my parents straight after High school; we're picture framers. And then I moved to sydney and worked as an admin/typist person for a huge engineering firm (where I got paid a lot to do easy-peasy work) and then when I moved home, I went back to working with my parents again. Now I'm kinda trapped here, hoping that the business will get back on track, fully expecting one day to have the reigns completely handed to me and my sister, and to have to battle with all the crap my folks do to survive. I feel obliged to stay, but at the same time I like it - I like that it's easy, I like that it's casual and that it doesn't matter if I'm 30 minutes late almost every day, or that I faff around on the internet about 80% of the time. You don't (always) get away with that stuff at normal jobs. I hated the last one I had.

I have had a dream for a few years now though, I would desperately love to become a makeup artist. Originally I wanted to do it so I could go and meet movie and TV stars, but now - I kinda feel more like I'd like to do it to make people beautiful for their weddings, make people look crazy-awesome for photoshoots, and just pretty much for fun. I'm trying to book in to do a course early next year but they're not getting back to me. It's a bit frustrating, but hopefully it'll happen and it'll be a decent course, as it's cheaper than most and short - but all i really want/need is the basics, I think so much of it is just practice and talent.

I would go on, and did intend to, but I just realized that a party I'm supposed to be at started at 3pm and I'm not dressed to leave the house yet. oopsie. I shall return later to bore you further!

Leish out.

"Always be yourself, unless you suck" - Joss Whedon