Patrick Wolf, Our New Favorite Diva

The highlight of last night’s Patrick Wolf show at the Bowery Ballroom: After yanking his black wig off to reveal a shock of orange hair, playing the theremin (which he called his “only friend”), smearing glitter all over his face, crooning “Moon River,” apologizing for being on “stackers” (steroids), quoting 2 Live Crew’s “Me So Horny,” nearly yodeling through his feel-good summer hit “The Magic Position,” going through five costume changes (including one super-gay Uncle Sam outfit), and absolutely nailing a chilling piano-ballad version of Kate Bush’s “Hounds of Love,” a voice from the crowd asked the baroque British singer-songwriter, “Patrick, what are you thinking?” And without missing a beat, Wolf delivered his best over-the-shoulder silent-movie glance, shouting: “NOT WHAT YOU WOULD HAVE THUNK!”

Patrick Wolf, “The Magic Position” [YouTube]