I didn't mention this before because I didn't want to jinx my chances at seeing the Tiger Lillies. I happen to be in Munich for a month and they happen to be performing a few nights at one of the christmas markets.

Last night, I saw their production of Hans Christian Anderson's "The Little Matchgirl". What can I say? It was all so beautiful that I was actually verklemnt. The band was stage right dressed in deep red velvet suits with top hats. Stage left was a small rundown apartment set with three young women dressed as chimneysweeps playing violin, viola and cello. In the middle were a set of cascading stages, each getting progressively higher and smaller.

The only players were the girl and her father, but the variations they went through (including, at one point exchanging clothes and playing out their opposite roles). The music wasn't as raucous as I expected, but the show was being billed as for 12 and older. That just meant they had to make up for it with lyrics that rip your heart out and play that against the action unfolding (which sometimes doesn't fit the words making it seem like a play for kids, but not really).

I guess it wasn't for everyone because people had the gall to leave in the middle of the show which meant they had to pass in front of the stage for all to see. After the fourth couple passed the band, Martyn expressed his opinion, by continuing to play accordion with one hand, falsely smiling wide, and wildly waving them good-bye. The rest of us clapped and cheered.

From start to finish, it was just wonderful. For the ending, it seemed like they were going to pull out some kind of happy ending. If you know the story of the matchgirl, you know she freezes to death, but the idea is that she might be happy in heaven. Well, as they are wrapping up the "happy in heaven" bit, the girl makes a final act that had someone in the audience behind me saying, "O, ne!". It was a right proper Tiger Lillies ending.

So afterwards, I approached the band telling them that I came all the way from San Francisco to see them and now they need to go to San Francisco. They blamed their agent for the east coast only bookings. Martyn said one of his favorite shows was at Bimbos and proclaimed "Next year for sure!". They were good natured about it so maybe with some extra writing to the agent there's a chance.

As penance for this bit of bragging, the first person in the San Francisco Bay Area to reply gets a copy of The Little Matchgirl CD to be delivered sometime after Dec 29th when I get back.