Double the Evelyn, Double the Fun

Sxip Shirey @ Showbox at the Market

Wednesday night at the Showbox was an experience to behold. Headlining was Amanda Palmer with Sxip Shirey, Evelyn Evelyn, and Jason Webley rounding out the bill. I knew of the Dresden Dolls and Amanda Palmer's gothic, over-the-top style, and I'm a huge fan of the song "Coin Operated Boy," but that was about the extent of my preconceptions. A friend at the show explained that this tour was one big act, despite the seriousness with which Palmer talked about Evelyn Evelyn.

The emcee, Sxip Shirey, started out the evening with an act of his own. He's a puppeteer by trade, having done a children's show out of New York for many years, but in this show he's a one-man orchestra extraordinaire. He doesn't take the typical cymbals-on-knees route, but instead has a case full of distortion pedals, so the only instruments he needs are his mouth and the array of small plastic noisemakers on the table beside him. The best way to describe is to say it's a combination of hip hop, rap, and children's rock music. His insane salt-and-pepper fro, red-and-black-pinstripe suit, and gravelly voice come together in an almost Tim Burton style.

Evelyn Evelyn @ Showbox at the Market

Evelyn Evelyn was the strangest (and funniest) part of the evening. Two ladies shyly made their way on stage wearing one huge dress whose material resembled a Victorian couch. They both had straight black hair held back by a headband and very pale skin. Something seemed a little funny about these two, especially since one of them had an adam's apple. They regaled us with several amusing tunes all having to do with their sister Evelyn, which Sxip had already told us happen to be both of their names, hence the band's name. Of course, it was Amanda Palmer and Jason Webley under that big dress and their voices in unison were ham and cheese (really great by themselves, but fireworks when put together).

Jason Webley @ Showbox at the Market

Webley, having stripped out of the dress, hair, and makeup and changed back into his own clothes, made his way up on stage. The hometown boy jumped right into his music by strapping on an accordion and throwing on a dapper hat circa 1950s Ed Norton. From that moment on, I was riveted. Webley has a voice like thick sandpaper rubbing over asphalt, his enthusiasm was insane--he didn't stop moving for the entire set.

He'd brought in a stomp stage, a small platform about as high as a two-by-four on its side rigged with microphones underneath. Every time he stomped or jumped, it sounded like a booming bass drum, and he did it frequently with fantastic rhythm. By the end, he'd been running around, stomping, and flipping his hat vaudville-style so enthusiastically that he was pouring sweat, all with a smile on his face. I had to take a deep breath after his performance, having been on the edge of my seat the whole time.

Amanda Palmer @ Showbox at the Market

Palmer joined Webley before he left the stage singing a couple of duets as themselves this time. Her voice rang through the Showbox like I've rarely heard before. She has a lower register, making her sound sultry and a little more dirty (in that oh-so-good kind of way). She's able to fill the entire space with just one note, and I was floored for the third time that night. She came onstage in her typical bra, corset, and combat boots, pulling the look off with a strong grace. I think a lot of that has to do with the confidence she exudes and how comfortable she is in her own skin.

The rest of the evening she took requests and sang with passion.  She also spoke candidly and honestly about herself, love for her fans, her upcoming nuptuals with Neil Gaiman, and her relief at being recently released from her record contract. The show went on late (well past midnight) but no one seemed bothered by that. I usually leave a show feeling like there were better parts than others, or that one of the openers was lousy. But the entirety of this show left me feeling fully enwrapped in the experience. It's been a while since that's happened, and I've gotta tell you, it felt good.

Amanda Palmer & Jason Webley @ Showbox at the Market