Listening:
"Bachlelorette," Bjork
"Medication," Garbage
"Yes, Anastasia," Tori Amos
"Every Ghetto, Every City," Lauryn Hill
Mentally Replaying: last night's concert
I'd rather be hangin wid Tori };>
Aches and Complaints: exhaustion
Enjoying: a cup of OJ

This was a blast even if it was bittersweet. I was supposed to go with Marienne but hours after I had sold her ticket to her, her purse was stolen! She got to go last night with other friends but that meant I was alone tonight. }:<

Security was really tight. I've never walked through metal detectors to get to a concert before.

So I liked Howie Day alright. Nothing spectacular, but pretty fun. Considering the horrible opening acts I've heard before, being "okey" is really very good. It was just this scrawny Aussie with really big hair and his guitar but the two songs I caught were really cool as he did a lot of looping so he was effectively a one-man band.

Then the theatre was lit up a little more brightly while people streamed in and soft adult contemporary-ish music played and nearly lulled me to sleep a couple of times. It's always a trip to watch the people who come to Tori shows, but while there were several scrawny faux-gay white guys, there was a decided dearth of fairy-girls with butterfly hairclips and extra, extra sparkly make up. So I was nodding off every now and then, fortunately I had the tourbook to keep my attention. I was reading the journal in it and thought it was fabulously written and relishing the thought of some anonymous person writing about Scarlett...Then I read the end note and saw it was written by Neil Gaiman. No wonder it was so good.

Anyway when the lights went out I was surprised by how fast Tori started singing (or the recorded track started, kinda hard to say, but then I'm *very* sure she did '97 Bonnie and Clyde live last time around) and Wampum Prayer was halfway through before people were quiet and settled.

Then the curtain lifted and Jon and Matt were happily going at it when Tori walked - no, strutted - in. After a little waving and bowing over the Bösey she launched into A Sorta Fairytale. It was very fun, but she had this odd pronounciation thing going that was very nearly nasal so that closed-mouth vowels came out sharper - "this" sounded like "these" - and many of the chords were done in a much lower pitch than on the album. I imagined it was so she could save her voice but still...it was slightly alienating.

Then came Little Earthquakes which was quite a surprise. I don't think I've heard that one live. Though I could be wrong.

She stood for a little bit and then came Caught a Lite Sneeze that had definately been reworked. She straddled her bench for a bit of it to play both the piano and the organ.

When we had calmed down after that she said Hi at which point we all went crazy again. And she grinned at us and said it's that time again isn't it? She looked so cute with a huge grin that looked like she was trying to keep something a secret and then she began playing a playful tune on the piano - old-time stream of conciousness Tori! - and she sang something about the time for Christmas when Tashya spins in circles and is so happy and it's a great time to be two years old and how she wishes she was two and then she looked into the house and sang, with the biggest grin I've ever seen, "and I am."

Then they jumped into Sweet Sangria which is quickly becoming my favorite off SW. She started on one of the the synths, the black one that I've arbitrarily decided is an organ and am calling it that from now on. (The red one will be "the synth.") and then switched to the Bösey and back again.

Then she introduced Jon and Matt and they started this snippet of a song that I still don't know that serves as the intro for Mrs. Jesus. It's a very nicely constructed song and the words always grab my attention, but as a whole the song doesn't do much for me. But that's alright cause Tori had a huge old blast playing it.

At the end she stood up and bowed a little and then they started playing something very rockin, but I couldn't place it until the melody came out. Bliss had a great deal of drive and was quite fun to listen to after all this time.

She then stood up and had a swig or two of water and began beating out January Girl on the organ. This also swapped back and forth from the organ to piano and back and I found it interesting that she made a point of rubbing her tummy, or maybe her womb, with both hands when she sang "all my kin."

Without warning she jumped to her Bösey and it must have caught the techies off-guard cause we missed the first line or two of Wednesday as the mic was totally dead and then came on with a shout. I was mildly surprised that they didn't start over again, Tori's not shy of fixing mistakes rather than pretending they didn't happen.

Then came The Roadside Cafe which was very cute. This is when Jon and Matt leave the stage and it's just Tori. A sign is flown in that is this lit square like you'd see hanging out in front of a bar and it reads "Roadside Café" in a slightly western font. After the boys left Tori whispered "So it's just us for a couple of minutes." We went crazy. };> Then she told us what was really crazy:

"You know the craziest thing? The craziest thing is this is just like you know when you do a little coffee shop thing and you beg all your friends to come, you say, 'please come I don't want to look stupid.' And so I begged you all to come and you showed up! So thank you for coming!" (paraphrased of course, but more or less what she said) Then we went crazy some more.

She sat down and composed herself and began Baker, Baker. Oh, my it was so beautiful. People were holding up their lighters and I think I've heard it live maybe once but it seemed to drag then. It's never been one of my favorites but tonight she was gorgeous in a soft flowey blue dress.

Then came Famous Blue Raincoat. The first time I heard this song was as the B-side to Twinkle (actually it's on Glory of the 80s, I was really tired when I wrote this the first time) and it quickly became one of my favorite B-sides. But it took a long time before I realized it was a Cole Porter song. And I've only heard one other version of it, which I didn't think much of. So I really like this song, but this particular rendition was *really* something else. It really opened the song up for me and showed me all the lovely hidden corners of it. Maybe between the brilliant lyrics and Tori looking like she was ready to cry it really tore me up and made me want to laugh and cry at the same time.

Next Jackie's Strength took a turn and it was quite interesting, at times fun and grooving and at times heartbreaking. Though I can't be sure, I think Tori dropped the line about licking stickers on lunchboxes and worshipping David Cassidy. Or maybe I passed out for just a second?

Then the band came back for Strange which Tori only used the synth for. The bass was cranked way up and I don't know if Jon knew it or not. It was going crazy and I could feel the reverb in my chest.

Then Roadhouse Cafe ended - we knew this cause the sign was flown back up - and the boys started riffing as Tori did a little dance before surprising the pants off of all of us as she started Someone Else's Girl (ok, the actual title is just "Girl"). I have *definately* not heard that song live before and it was just fabulous to hear tonight.

While we went crazy Tori got up and put something to her face. I thought it was the mic and was very confused, but when some light returned I saw the mic in place and realized the object had to have been much smaller. Lipstick or lip balm (I know how she loves her balm), and then started in on Cornflake Girl. More craziness from us, her adoring fans and she must have had a blast playing as she really went all out on the piano solo, writhing on the bench, smacking the soundboard, and even doing the little "rrr" tongue roll she does on TVAB: Still Orbiting. The only thing was her range was weird again, going lower than I'm used to for this particular song. It was less disruptive though.

Then she really made *me* personally go crazy as she jumped into Take to the Sky. And she really did it proper-like, rockin out and taking beats on "take it" to grab the mic.

Precious Things was up next which made me nearly melt as it is my favorite Tori song, bar none. She didn't do the usual antics that I've seen her do (run her middle finger on the soundboard at "so you can make me cum" or drag her nails on her crotch at "grrrrrrrrrrrrrrllllll!!!") But it was still extremely fun. She did lightly slap the mic on "cum" and at "grrrrrrrrrrrrrllllllllll" she put both hands on her knees and ran them up to her crotch and then up to her torso.

When we calmed down she went straight into I Can't See New York which was mildly jarring after so much rock, but it was all gorgeous and very hard to resist. And talk about beautiful! Tori had been wearing this white flowy top that went down to her knees and flaps hung down the back covering her arms if she left them at her side. When she straddled the bench it looked like she kept stepping on them and had to keep kicking them back. But during this tune the lights were mostly blue and green so they hung down behind her and totally looked like delicate blue fairy's wings. Lovely!

Finally Spring Haze took the stage and left us mad from the beauty. At its end she stepped forward and waved with both hands and summoned the boys up to bow with her. She hugged them and they waved too.

Between the set and the encores lots of people came down into the aisles to get closer. It was mildly annoying, but not easy to fault. They were at least fans.

But I will add, I was seriously, and I mean *Seriously* weirded out when the two seats to my right (of which only the second one from me was occupied by some guy; the closer one was supposed to be Marienne, so I guess no one sold/bought her ticket) were suddenly occupied by two ladies who were very touchy feely. The one that was closer to me was smaller and had a shaved head. She reminded *VERY* strongly of Northern Lad and it totally freaked me out that it might be her. I tried to avoid looking at her, but it was kinda tough. I still don't know if it was her as the guy who had been seated in the further of the two seats returned and ejected them. I have no idea what I would have done if the lights had turned to me and said my name. The thought of spitting or even violence came to mind. That was very startling. The things we learn....

When they came back on Tori all but danced her way in and stood in front of the synth and the organ and played both on Taxi Ride. We remained standing and sang along.

Then she sat at the Bosey, and most of us sat as well for Amber Waves. During this the ushers got people out of the aisles. Also, during the first half of the chorus Tori switched over to the organ, then back for the second half.

Finally she stood again and played Talula split between the organ and the Bösey. It was very interesting. Had a strong drive almost like Tori was mad which made the high notes hit very hard. I think I saw something in the way she sang "what you want is in the blood" in that knowing way (a reference to Sen. Lott?).

Then they exited again and came back and we all were getting crazy demanding our own favorites. I was surprised she only did Hey, Jupiter but maybe her voice really was getting tired. The audience was also beginning to lose focus, people were leaving and I could smell pot.

But all in all it was an excellent show. Because I'm poor I can usually only make it to one show/tour. But I'm very glad this was it for me. Cause of the Dent's advanced notice I knew to ask for tickets on the 18th for myself and was rewarded with excellent seats. Not pit, but then the sightlines in the pit would have sucked since anything behind the piano would have been totally hidden and there would be no option to watch stuff on the two screens off to the side. I was in the fourth row in the orchestra, off house right and what I missed behind the piano I caught on the screens.

Oh and it totally rules to go on the second night. The first night always has industry people as well the folks who win tickets on radio giveaways. The second has far less of that. Way more "true" fans. Which I think is part of why Tori seemed more relaxed tonight than she did last night (according to their posts).

Ok so that's it for me. I'd love to hear other people input.