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Emilie Autumn


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TEA WILL ROCK YOU!

I've never taken part in a performance so peculiar as the one of Emilie Autumn and her Crumpets. I'm using the word performance being fully aware of its meaning, since no other word would fit here. Although there were some parts of a classic concert- first of all, it started with 20 mins delay, just as most concerts do. But it's ok, even in the philharmonic they wait till all the spectators arrive before beginning. But this time, at the planned hour, there was merely 1/3 of the club filled, which was frugally as for the shows which miss Emilie is famous for. But true fans have forgiven her that symbolic delay.

What were other connections with the term concert? Well, Emilie was singing. How was she singing, we will say soon.

And here are when all resemblances to a conventional concert end.

Spectacle, show, burlesque, vaudeville, circus, musical- every word describes what happened on the stage in Progresja Club better than the word concert. I swear- all we were missing was the elephant on a bicycle... Stunning decorations, total overdose of Crumpets' clothing, skulls, gratings, masks... why am I even writing this- just take a look in the gallery. All of this just emphasized the characteristic climate.

Well, Emilie's got so much of a stage presence, that she could bestow most of alternative artists and she won't lose even a bit.
It's the presence itself that covered most of the shortcomings during the show. First of all a small appeal -CORSET! There can be no steel baleens when you're singing. They damage your diaphragm and cause shortness of breath, and Emilie was a victim of this- she didn't meet tones, falsettos sounded really high, almost no low tones. And she has a really deep, sensual and low voice. It was sorry to see her not even follow the rhythm. Good luck for all who wants to sing a fast piece like Fight like a girl with short breaths. It's a waste of potential at the expense of just showing off. Ok, showing off from the sign of Autumn is incredible, but let's not exaggerate- she can be a performer, but she is in the first place a vocalist. I missed that most of all.
... until she changed her clothes into a male outfit. Second part of the concert, vaudeville-style Girls Girls Girls. No corset and..? Sensual, energetic and crazy vocalist came back. Not Emilie sensual, energetic and barely breathing. Masterpiece.



When it comes to the music part. Well... fans love it. I personally prefer to hear music played live, or at least not pretending being played live. But I just made facepalm when I saw her playing electric violin or harpsichord totally not in the right register, missing the notes. And I won't say a word about missing amplifier cables. Oh c'mon, miss. What is it all for? Ok, fans like it. Other arguments are invalid ;)

I am still amazed with the energy she was sharing with the public. Most part of the most dedicated fans was dressed in way that none of the crumpets or Emilie herself would be ashamed of. The best was when the odeon started to chant TEA WILL ROCK YOU, making Emilie truly stunned and amazed. That was the point when the climate of the concert changed, all artist probably started to put more efforts in singing than a while before. It became more...genuine.

Finally- the Crumpets. All ladies so similar, yet so different. Women looking like that could have almost every man they wanted, but it's Emilie's crew- they prefer their own company, which only enhances the decadent atmoshpere of whole show. They did not fail this time too- a constant part of every show is either tossing the cookies and spitting tea on the public, as well as picking random female fans out of the audience (this time they were two of them, usually it's only one) and teaching them a lesbian kiss. Fans go mad! And let them go mad- they all have a good reason to. All of those tricks fit perfectly, it's just the way that Emilie's crew expresses itself and all kind of disgust here would be just funny. Bit of laughter, bit of tears and scrambling wounds, all followed up with a psychotropes, washed down with good alcohol drunk from a belly of a random girl. In brief- that is what climate Emilie's girls try to create. And believe me, they definitely achieve it. Once we will take a look on the show- if someone will ever try to use a combination like this- it will be secondary to Emilie's creation.

I think that (ok, let's use this word) the concert, where music is just a tertiary thing, is an experience that everyone should pass through. If not for the cognitive- influential reason, then let it be just curiosty. And if that's not enough motivaton- four foxy ladies should make the impression. It's worth it!
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Translator: Lady Dragon
Add date: 2012-04-02 / Live reports


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