Old Photo of the Day

Long term readers here will remember the post I made a long time ago on my blog's previous incarnatio on Piczo when I was 17 in 2010, about my first meeting with the one and only Voltaire during his epic beard stage, who remains to this day my idol and inspiration. Anyway, I didn't have a camera that day so I didn't manage to get any photos. 

BUT, recently I did find this little gem of a photo... (I know it's super derpy, but I probably wasn't even aware I was being photographed until afterwards!) It was in a small Alternative Melbourne shop called Peril Underground and was a day time underage show, since at that stage I was too young to go to bars... 

Photo by Gerard Meehan

This was taken by Gerard Meehan, the Editior in Chief of Fiend Magazine, and has been with Voltaire on all of his Australian tours (which I have been to all of so far...) and I'm assuming he also works as a tour manager or something. I'm just speculating here mind you...

Anyway, I presently getting my brain organised for an exciting make up series for this blog. Details will be soon! XD

xxx Lilly

Liebster Award

I was tagged by the lovely Laura from Roses and Vellum. Thank you sweetie!

Laura's Questions

1. What book, movie or real life person most influences or inspires you? How?
I shall answer all three independently. The book The Steampunk Bible, which was a gift from my father is an inspiration to me. Steampunk is an aesthetic that I enjoy but rarely incorporate into outfits or my attire. I have been meaning to explore it more and more of late.
The film Chicago influences and inspires me as a performer, dancer and musician. I adore this film and it's setting, music and culture.
The real life person who is my idol and biggest inspiration and influence ever is Voltaire. (surprise surprise!) He is the single most influential being on the planet for me and everything I aspire to achieve my life.
 
2. What is your favourite wild animal? (Not dog, cat, etc.) and why.
My favourite wild animal at the moment would probably be the jellyfish. I don't understand much of their anatomy, but I find their movement so incredibly soothing and intoxicating to watch. They are so beautiful and deadly.

3. If you had to choose between not sleeping ever again or not using the internet ever again (not even for research, email or assignments) which would you choose?
I could not complete my degree without the internet, so the obvious choice would be to go without sleeping. Provided that tiredness was not an issue, I quite like the idea of not sleeping... XD

4. What is your favourite outfit? Put a picture here or describe it.
My favourite outfit currently would be my Neo-Victorian boots, tights with suspenders underneath a black dress cinched with my new corset. What I wore last night in fact, and received many compliments. (The most surprising and charming comment that wasn't from my boyfriend was a blunt 'But seriously, you're hot' from a rather drunk girl I met, before immediately turning around to continue dancing away from me. Thanks, dear, my ego didn't really need that little boost. XD)

5. What is the best book you ever read and why?
I've read so many books I struggle to choose just one. For now I'll just say the Collected Works of William Shakespeare, for obvious reasons.

6. If you could live in any era  (past and present only) what would it be and why?
Ancient Egypt, preferable sometime late in the Middle Kingdom.

7. Do you have a hobby? What is it? 
Apart from music, which I have chosen to dedicate my whole life to, my hobbies are drawing and writing.
 
8. Do you prefer skirts or pants?
I like to think that I am allergic to pants. ;)

9. You are given a ticket to go to one city in the world. Which one would it be and why?
Prague, for it's Classical music, dance and beauty.

10. You fall down a hole in the pavement and end up in Wonderland. What do you do?
Think to myself 'Welcome home.'

11. Who is your favourite blogger and why? (I don't expect you to say me :P I am interested in discovering interesting blogs!)

My favourite blogger is Amy from Stripy Tights and Dark Delights as she was the first blog I ever followed, back in this blog's previous incarnation over on Piczo, when I was but a wee baby bat. Amy continues to post interesting, charming posts, and she is the only blogger in existence where I have read every single blog post. =) 

My questions
1. What is your favourite colour? You can only choose one.

2. What is your favourite non-alcoholic drink?
3. What is your favourite alcoholic drink?
4. Who is your fashion inspiration currently?
5. What is your favourite pet? You don't necessarily have owned this animal, but it needs to be possible.
6.  Describe your ideal date.
7. What is your favourite song at the moment? 
8. What is your natural hair colour?
9. What is your most hated pet peeve?
10. Do you collect anything? If so, what is it and for how long have you been collecting? Why did you start to collect this item?
11. What is your most treasured piece of jewellry?

I am not going to tag anyone, becuase I'm lazy. Please tag yourselves and post a comment with a link to your answers.
Enjoy my dears!

xxx Lilly 

Voltaire on Saturday night

I've already posted about the Voltaire show in Melbourne. That show has now been, and it was one of the best live, 1 person shows I have seen, and there have been many of those.
Voltaire is my favourite song writer, and my favourite 'non-classical' musician/ composer. (How very un-musical of me to say that... =P), so I may be a bit biased when I talk about the quality of the performance.
I saw the show with the Green Fairy from If I Only Were a Goth and Kitty Lovett from Bloggery of a Gothcat and her boyfriend, and saw many other friends there as well.
Despite the heat, (It was a cool summer day, so we had all rugged up a fair bit. The problem was the show was in a sunken part of the bar and the temperature was about 10* warmer, at least...) he was incredibly energetic, humorous and natural on stage.
I purchased three CDs beforehand, which was a good idea as one sold out in mere minutes afterwards, as well as a Deady 'Not Bootleg' toy. I got them signed, and that resulted in one being crotch-rubbed from the influence of a friend (I didn't complain, mind you XD). Apparantly, that CD needed to be buffed before writing...
Rouge Fonce opened the show. They're a Melbourne dark carabet gothic rock band. I wasn't too crazy about their music, but they played a few songs that I loved. They were also high energy, and I felt that they were a fitting, if not somewhat contrasting, beginning to the evening.

After the show, Voltaire stayed out in the bar for hours, signing CDs, having photos taken and talking to fans. He only disappeared for a few minutes to change clothes, which really is one of the reasons he is my favourite. Many rock stars avoid their fans and spend time after the show backstage, but Voltaire was interacting with his fans and generally making them feel more appreciated.
Of course, we asked for photos, and he obliged us all.

Photo by Kitty from Bloggery of a Gothcat

While in the photo I look rather uncomfortable, I am most certainly not. (Maybe freaking out slightly...) Just after the photo, he commented I 'smelt really good, like good enough to eat', which was followed by a rather awkward referenece to him being a creepy old man. I didn't exactly think it was creepy, but it was certainly unexpected. =)
I didn't want to tell him I was wearing a men's perfume at that point... XD

After some time of chatting to people and drinking (red wine in my case), we said goodbye. He hugged each of us, followed by some rather, ahem, interesting behaviour regarding Shaun and Steph (seperatly), and kissed on each of our cheeks. Then we left the venue. It was a fantastic night, and I encourage everyone who has the opporturninty to see him live. While his recordings are so good, Voltaire comes alive as a performer. Also, the person he is on stage and in recordings is the person he is off stage. There's no change or contrast to his personality or actions, which is so good to see.

xxx Lilly

Voltaire

Two days until Voltaire! I am one excited lady. I have seen Voltaire before, in 2010 in a shop called Peril Underground, Melbourne. It was a small, intimate thing with only about 10 people, but I had a good time, despite leaving school early off sick, nearly getting ran over by a car and being hit on by the barista. It was an off day, yet it has remained in my memory as a highlight. I was 1m away from him! And got a signed CD!
Hopefully Saturday will be filled with photos, many more CDs and a general good time.

xxx Lilly

Voltaire and Cellos

I have been plagued with a rather nasty case of tonsillitis, a head cold and something that has made me throw up and am just on the tail end of it all, so really haven't been able to do anything much except shiver under my doona for the last three days. I did see Pirates of the Caribbean IV last night and The Art of The Brick earlier this afternoon so I haven't entirely missed out, but I'm not looking forward to that massive pile of year 12 holiday homework that's waiting for me when I am 100%. I'm going to be adding to this post in short chunks so it seems so it may take a while. I must watch Donnie Darko again with my mum sometime soon, too...

Oh yeah, everyone should go and head over to Voltaire's website now and listen to the sneak peek of one of his new songs on his new album. I have to say I'm very excited by what I hear. Drums are by Brian Viglione of The Dresden Dolls, Cello is by Melora from Rasputina, the bassist is David J. from Bauhaus and the horns are from the Red Hook Ramblers for goodness sake! All are great musicians and from that short little excerpt it sounds HOT! And probably not the sort of music you'd show your mother XD

Oh and I recently purchased the game Alice: Madness Returns for PC. Unfortunately it has to run on my sister's laptop as every other one isn't powerful enough to run it properly. I wrote about the game earlier in the year and you can read that here. The score is just amazing and the art is fantastic. That in itself made the game a favourite for me and I haven't even finished it yet.



This is my favourite piece from the soundtrack so far. I just love those lush low cellos. I used to play cello but I stopped and let my flute playing develop more. It's one of my favourite instruments.

Me playing a friends cello when I was 16

That's all sorry guys. I'll write a proper post when I have time. Maybe a photo one of the Lego thing. Being sick sucks, and I just have so much homework to do. Oh well, only like, 10 weeks of school EVER!!!

xxx Lilly