O. Dear. God.
!!!
Final Fantasy
received two standing ovations from a full- Sweaty Even Though Seated But Exhilarated- house- well deservedly, too. Owen begins with a song about how "all the boys I've ever loved were...," well, everyone in that room, whether boy or girl or both or neither, fell in love with Owen Pallet, aka Final Fantasy. Instantly. Even the floors were sighing with adoration. I'm surprised the universe didn't crumble into stardust. Damn Owen and his effortless charm. Damn his genius, musical and artistic. Damn him and his huge sampler (?: the size of a small refrigerator).
I want to cancel all my other tickets- they pale in comparison. Everything else will, I presume, maybe except for the Justice show. But even Justice... that is a different kind of movement.
If you never read anything here or take any of it seriously, I forgive you if nothing else, you heed the following:
SEE FINAL FANTASY.
Only a fascist would not go. You (points to you) have absolutely no excuse. Call in sick. Tell your friends you've found religion. Quit your job. This is the best thing you will ever do. Ever.
The old album, 'he poos clouds' does not do justice (oh dear), especially if you, as I shamefully did, simply assumed he has a band; but no. Owen Pallet did almost everything in this show on his own, and did it to perfection in superhuman proportions and I sound like a school girl gushing don't I but I don't give a shit because I've been annointed. Yes that's right, you heard me.
Then,
what was so great?
Just a few moments will be divulged here, because 1) I can't begin to tell anyone everything that went on, on the stage or on the floor or in my head and heart; and 2) what did I just say? Go see the show.
First, Owen is not a populist musician. I will be using the term 'populist' to describe a breed of players who, rather comfortably, stroll down the well-trodden path: they know it is easy, and they know it still sells. Mediocrity, however, does not sate us all, does it? Owen uses a projector on set. Old school like short tennis shorts with knee socks, yes, but this was of enormous interest to me because this intentional choice in the visual medium set a very jarring but very real dialogue between what was 'narrated' to us with crude fairytale-like pictures and the cutting edge technology of all the real-time looping and sequencing as well as Owen's own 'voices' that laced those gaps.
Owen is to the left, not shown (but pictured below), because of the limitations of my coolpix. Speaking of which, I am next going to gush about particular 'scenes' also not shown because said coolpix died (ie. no batteries).
Stephanie, the girl pictured, is really the second member of Final Fantasy since she has to tell the story with the different layers of film. Of course, Owen's notes 'animate' these figures which dance within the canvas (and the picture parts need to move since it is music manifest)- that is, until later which I will tell you about shortly.
In one scene, owen plays the piano (beautifully), but on the canvas we see piano keys drawn sideways- a mirror image. Stephanie 'plays' these keys in time to Owen's.
Each song has its own fantasy theme. 'Invocation,' 'illusion,' 'transmutation' and so on; yes, Harry Potter can shrivel up and die. Of special note: 'transmutation' ends with birds (look like seagulls) flying on the canvas. Now, these pictures are entirely 2 dimensional and hand-done, and they are on clear film. Stephanie has to move them about. so at the end, true to the name 'transmutation,' Owen's song turns into these birds that soon after- gasp- fly right out of the canvas and into our faces!
Here, a mirror was used to reflect the birds out into the audience, and I loved every minute of it. My mouth was like this: O
My host dashed to interview the blinding star for the popcast and pimp his press pass to its fullest extent at the afterparty, but I couldn't stand any more of it. The...Unbearable Lightness of Being. I am eating humble pie with no cream, ladies and gentlemen. This is serious. What have I done with my life? Is it too late to start? How many kids are running back home to dig out their violins and blow the dust off the cases?
Owen performed two more songs after the first standing ovation, the last of which was a cover of Mariah Carey's 'Sweet Sweet Fantasy': beyond Vanessa-Mae-crazy violin playing. Did I mention he picks, strums, taps, and jitters along those strings like nobody's business?
He is so 'human' in his manner, unpretentious with his boyish laugh, his carefree attitude even when a bit has not recorded, and how he can engage the audience before, during, and after each song, sprinkled with anecdotes and casual jokes. His relationship with Patrick Wolf may have ended, but this is clear: Owen Pallet ain't a fantasy.
Patrick Wolf has nothing on Owen Pallet.
Actually, Patrick does have a lot, but, still,
Patrick < Owen
I won't say why until I've seen dear Mr. Wolf... tomorrow.
That is odd. Intentional, probably. Wolf and Pallet getting back together, may-be?
Oh, there were two other bands before Final Fantasy: Ohbijou and Basia Bulat. Ohbijou was very pretty in sound (the lead vocalist reminds me of a Bjork, but who doesn't nowadays) except after the first song, they all sound the same. Bulat has energy and a shy but endearing stage presence and all the boys were fantasizing about wooing her. Purchased Ohbijou and Final Fantasy music to take home with me, happily.
My heart is heavy.
In a very good way.
