Amanda Palmer, Jason Webley and Jherek Bischoff at The Studios
Book signing to follow at Books & Books
It’s hard to exactly pinpoint entertainer Amanda Palmer, simpler to check the box “all of the above.” Singer, songwriter, playwright, pianist, street performer, author and popular blogger, Palmer excels at being a Jack of all trades. She pushes her art into a weird and wonderful spectrum of creative performances and lifetime choices, all while engaging in a constant conversation with her fans via her blog, Tumblr, and Twitter (800,000-plus followers).
Palmer loves direct connection with people. From humble beginnings as a street performer and singer, she explains the creative dialogue with her fans in her wildly popular 2013 Ted Talk. The talk has garnered over 8 million online views and become the catalyst for her book, “The Art of Asking: How I Learned to Stop Worrying and Let People Help.”
Coming to the Studios’ theater on Tuesday, Dec. 13 at 7 p.m., Palmer will showcase her singing, songwriting and entertaining skills with fellow musicians Jason Webley and Jherek Bischoff. Following, she will have a book signing for her biography, “The Art Of Asking,” a New York Times bestseller.
“I’ve never played a show in Key West before, and am so excited to be coming with a whole troupe of merry music-makers!” said Palmer, “It looks like we are rustling up an excellent local string quartet. Anytime you get me, Jason and Jherek on the same stage, it’s always a funny, magical night filled with stories and spontaneity. Then … skinny dipping?”
Palmer’s husband is Neil Gaiman, whose notable works include the comic book series “The Sandman“ and novels “Stardust,“ “American Gods,“ “Coraline,” and “The Graveyard Book.” She teased: “Neil may appear to read a surprise.”
Palmer’s illustrious career includes the punk cabaret duo, The Dresden Dolls, debut solo album, “Who Killed Amanda Palmer,” produced by Ben Folds, self-released two EPs: “Amanda Palmer Performs The Popular Hits of Radiohead On Her Magical Ukelele” and “Amanda Palmer Goes Down Under.” Her most notable achievement was utilizing crowd funding to raise an epic $1.2 million dollars for her album, “Theatre Is Evil.“ (Palmer’s philosophy believes artists should use social and digital media for funding.) Both criticized and praised for demystifying the artistic process, regardless of her critics and fans, Palmer is a creative tour de force.
This is not the only reason for Palmer’s visit, she will be bringing her son to meet friend, local legend and author Judy Blume and will donate her profits to the local Key West ACLU.
“I am thrilled Amanda is coming,” said author Judy Blume. “She is a fabulous performer! I am lucky to call her a friend.”