Dean and Britta and other beautiful people

Geneva, as far as I've noticed, isn't a hot spot for touring bands. On the other hand, it is a city that likes arts and culture festivals...A LOT. The latest festival that caught my eye was the Bâtie Festival. Actually, if I'm honest, what caught my eye were the posters for the Bâtie Festival. The posters featured a variety of close-up shots of delectable-looking desserts and pastries. I was a little disappointed when I looked up the festival web site only to find out it wasn't a baking festival, but a dance/theatre/music festival. Still, I bought tickets to two events and I attended them last weekend.

On Friday I took the chartered bus across the French border to Annemasse. My first event was an opera written by The Knife and performed by the Danish theatre/dance group, Hotel Pro Forma. The choreography was done by someone with a Japanese name, so basically this performance included some of my favourite countries! Too bad there wasn't food! So, this opera was based on Darwin's The Origin of Species and it was...well...it was kind of weird and at first a little boring. But it picked up and ended up being mostly enjoyable. In particular, forgive me for sounding like a gigantic dork, I thought that the lighting design and set were pretty spectacular. A various points in the performance words were written and projected onto a screen with a green lazer! It looked really cool. Some of the dancing went over my head and the mezzo-soprano, while amazing, sang in a way that I couldn't understand. Still, it was pretty much how I expected an opera by The Knife to sound.

My second event was on Saturday and I nearly skipped it because I was feeling a little bummy. Seeing all the people my age dressed up and having fun together on Friday night really made me miss my friends. However, I'm so glad that I didn't end up bailing because I loved it and had a great time on my solo date.

When Dean and Britta stopped in Vancouver while touring their 13 Most Beautiful...Songs for Andy Warhol's Screentests project I missed it. I can't remember why, but it most likely had something to do with school or not having any money or school and not having any money. Regardless, I missed it and I was a little disappointed. I don't know much about Galaxie 500, but I did really like Luna for a while there and I enjoy Dean Wareham's voice immensely. And I had no idea that Britta Phillips was the singing voice for JEM! She was. Anyhow...This was a really lovely concert. Behind the band, as you can see from my fuzzy photo, was a screen upon which 13 of Warhol's screen tests were projected. While the films screened the band played accompanying songs---basically, the band provided a live soundtrack. I loved the way the music, some original songs and some covers, complemented the films. I can't really put it more succinctly, it was just lovely. After the show they were in the lobby of the Forum Meyrin selling the DVD of the project and doing a brief signing. I felt like a bit of a geek but I had my copy signed anyway telling them I thought it was wonderful and that I loved Britta's dress (she told me her sister got it at the Goodwill in LA). Speaking of the most beautiful, these two are pretty gorgeous up close. All in all, I had a really good time. I even bought myself a beer before the show. I'm a pretty good date to myself.