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Last night I went to see The Tiger Lillies with Alexander Hacke performing "Mountains of Madness", a tribute to H.P. Lovecraft with visuals by Danielle Picciotto. First though, we had to sit through K&A, who were the second most dreadful support act I've seen in my life (at least they weren't as loud as Final, who supported Jarboe in November). They consisted of seemingly random electronic noises and effects with a backdrop of kitsch, possibly ironic, 70s interiors and catalogue shots with K&As heads superimposed on the models' bodies. It was truly, deeply awful. It was actually quite funny, but that was more to do with the piss taking going on in the audience than any intended humour.
But enough about them. I don't really know Tiger Lillies' work beyond "Banging in the Nails", which Alasdair put on a compilation for me, nor had I heard much of Hacke's solo work, so I didn't really know what to expect. It opened with a projection of a snow covered peak, sinister and icy. Hacke walked on first to a subdued reaction and started some wonderful swooshy noises, then the Tiger Lillies joined him to only a slightly greater reaction and they started playing.
It was fabulous! Hacke told stories about and of Lovecraft in between the most wonderful, quirky, humorous and yet sinister songs sung castrati that somehow didn't grate, accompanied by accordion or piano, electric double bass or musical saw and toy drum kit, complete with rubber chickens. The visuals were just perfect too, and were sometimes projected in waves to create movement. They played for maybe an hour before going off, only to be called back on for encore after encore and eventually a standing ovation. They actually played the same songs again for the encore, presumably not having anything else to play that would include Hacke.
Afterwards they all signed DVDs and CDs and I got to thank Hacke and tell him I thought it was wonderful! I'm slightly regretting not buying a DVD of the show now.
They're playing again tonight. It's returns only, but it would be worth trying for a ticket.
http://arts.guardian.co.uk/reviews/story/0,,1735433,00.html
But enough about them. I don't really know Tiger Lillies' work beyond "Banging in the Nails", which Alasdair put on a compilation for me, nor had I heard much of Hacke's solo work, so I didn't really know what to expect. It opened with a projection of a snow covered peak, sinister and icy. Hacke walked on first to a subdued reaction and started some wonderful swooshy noises, then the Tiger Lillies joined him to only a slightly greater reaction and they started playing.
It was fabulous! Hacke told stories about and of Lovecraft in between the most wonderful, quirky, humorous and yet sinister songs sung castrati that somehow didn't grate, accompanied by accordion or piano, electric double bass or musical saw and toy drum kit, complete with rubber chickens. The visuals were just perfect too, and were sometimes projected in waves to create movement. They played for maybe an hour before going off, only to be called back on for encore after encore and eventually a standing ovation. They actually played the same songs again for the encore, presumably not having anything else to play that would include Hacke.
Afterwards they all signed DVDs and CDs and I got to thank Hacke and tell him I thought it was wonderful! I'm slightly regretting not buying a DVD of the show now.
They're playing again tonight. It's returns only, but it would be worth trying for a ticket.
http://arts.guardian.co.uk/reviews/story/0,,1735433,00.html
