There are some people out there who’d readily agree that the words “Radiohead” and ukulele should never be uttered in the same sentence. Not so if you’re Amanda Palmer of The Dresden Dolls and Evelyn Evelyn fame. There was the potential for Palmer’s covers EP to be career suicide or simply oh-so-bad as diehard purists murmur things about sacred cows and masterpieces best left untouched but in her hands it is simply a collection reflecting her own effervescent personality – it’s full of theatrics, a DIY attitude and is brimming with creativity.
It is fitting that this is also Palmer’s first release after a less than amicable split with her record label. She adopted a Radiohead-esque user-pays-what-they-like system (save the 84 cent donation to cover administrative costs like filling Radiohead and PayPal’s coffers). But ultimately Palmer is the one that’s laughing after selling $15,000 worth of merchandise in the first three minutes of sale, in what was a perfect way to stick it to the former label and celebrate her newfound freedom and independence. Continue reading Amanda Palmer Performs the Popular Hits of Radiohead on Her Magical Ukulele – EP Review→
“Amanda Palmer Performs the Popular Hits of Radiohead on her Magical Ukulele” 2.0 is on sale via
Bandcamp.
On July 20th, Amanda Palmer and her business collective – Sean Francis, Beth Hommel, and Hayley Rosenblum (lovingly dubbed “Team Chaos”) – released “Amanda Palmer Performs the Popular Hits of Radiohead on her Magical Ukulele” via Bandcamp to remarkable success. This was Palmer’s first experimental digital-and-vinyl only release independent of a record label, and strong proof that Palmer’s vision of “moving towards a patronage society” is indeed a workable – and profitable – solution for unsigned mid-level bands.
Available for a minimum donation of 84 cents (to cover Radiohead’s royalties and PayPal fees), the EP sold more than $15,000 worth in downloads and merchandise in under three minutes, but it didn’t stop there. Several different “bundle options” (including 450+ vinyl/t-shirt/button bundles, 100 packages that included hand-painted ukuleles, a one-on-one call with Amanda and more) and one thousand limited-edition vinyl LPs were sold out in under 24 hours. Less than a week later, all but one of the highest-end packages are gone.
The demand for vinyl is far more than the team expected & Palmer will be pressing another 1,000 copies – this time on transparent orange vinyl (the first edition of 1,000 were red). When those sell out, Palmer will field the fans’ demand and print another thousand on yellow, then green, going through the colors of the rainbow until they retire the project with a standard black release. The team will also, due to demand, unveil a new collection of bundles (including a new t-shirt design created by a fan, as well as digital download of a new music video of “No Surprises”, live performance footage, and more). In true DIY fashion, should a fan wish to add one of these new items to their pre-existing first-run-orders, Palmer’s team will be facilitating this personally via her message board, Twitter, and e-mail.
“Amanda Palmer Performs the Popular Hits of Radiohead on her Magical Ukulele” 2.0 is on sale via Bandcamp.
Amanda Palmer news & updates Twitter profile, @AFPwire.
Much-loved and lauded performer Amanda Palmer is returning to Australia in February and March to wow fans in Melbourne, Adelaide, Sydney, Byron Bay and Brisbane.
Last here in early 2009 Amanda toured our shores with shows that left critics and fans raving.
Time Off Brisbane wrote “Palmer is an amazing lyricist and composer. One of the best shows that The Tivoli has seen in a long time.”
Rip It Up in Adelaide echoed the sentiment adding “The entire night was an intimate sharing of stories and jokes…Have To Drive and Strength Through Music left the crowd speechless until their very end, some on the verge of tears as they applauded as loudly as possible.” Continue reading Tour News: Amanda Palmer returns to Australia in 2010→
Amanda Palmer embarked on a rock star journey from the age of four when her mother sat her on her lap and taught her to play piano by ear. With no formal musical training and a strong interest in drama, she explored dark cabaret, gothic burlesque and surreal musical theatre as the lead singer of The Dresden Dolls. Then embarked on a solo album, Who Killed Amanda Palmer, which pays homage to David Lynch (Twin Peaks) from a girl who doesn’t watch TV. She is a walking contradiction, part truth, part fiction and always entertaining. Her shows are not so much gigs as an experience and once the audience have the “experience” they are happy to spread the word.
It’s with delight The Frontier Touring Company confirms Amanda Palmer will tour Australia and New Zealand in March. Following 2007’s maiden solo voyage to Australia, Amanda will return along with The Danger Ensemble to perform in Brisbane and Melbourne, in addition to playing her first ever official shows in Adelaide, Perth and Auckland.
A one-woman machine, The Dresden Dolls’ Amanda Palmer is a rock musician, artist, writer, political activist and more. With a penchant for the complicated, Amanda Palmer’s debut solo outing Who Killed Amanda Palmer (out now through Roadrunner) snowballed from a small idea into a project that’s nothing short of brilliant.