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Tori performed in Indianapolis, IN on October 25, 2001 at the Murat Theater during the 2001 StrangeLittleTour.
Set List
I, Mikewhy, attended this show and recorded the set list.
'97 Bonnie & Clyde
Siren
Rattlesnakes
Ghosts and Spooks and Maybe You (improv)
Caught A Lite Sneeze
River
Spring Haze
Cool On Your Island
Cooling
Little Earthquakes
Upside Down
Playboy Mommy
Tear In Your Hand
Me and a Gun
Twinkle
1st Encore:
Daniel
1000 Oceans
2nd Encore:
Silent All These Years
Frog On My Toe
Pandora's Aquarium
Reviews
Latest reviews are added to the bottom of the page.
Be sure to check the Tori Concert Reviews Forum for reviews as well!
From Mikewhy
Added October 26, 2001 - This was the third day in a row that I saw Tori perform, and the third time that she amazed me with with a special show. It seens like Tori performs something unique during every show of this tour. Tonight it was the Joni Mitchell cover "River", which she has done only once before in December 1999 in Denver. Watching Tori perform this cover will always be one of the more potent and amazing moments of the tour for me. The song was so beautiful and the lyrics are so powerful. The song seems to incorporate Jingle Bells, but in a really effective way. My girlfriend was in tears during this song and I was nearly there. I felt really privileged to see Tori sing this rare cover. Prior to that, Tori did a long version of Caught A Lite Sneeze solely on the piano. Her versions of Spring Haze, Pandora's Aquarium, Cooling, and Daniel were also stellar moments.
When Tori first spoke to the crowd, she called them sonthing. I thought she said that they were "chirpy". Amanda thought Tori said "chipper". In any case, she then playfully told the audience that if they were bored they could follow her to other shows and she would see to it that they got in. She then mentiioned Halloween and said it was her favorite day. This led to another original and classic improv that I have given the title "Ghosts and Spooks and Maybe You", because that is a line she used a lot during it. I don't remember the lyrics to the improv, but it was very entertaining. If anyone wrote them down, please email me. Before Cooling she mentioned that car racing was really big in Cornwall like it is in Indianapolis and dedicated Cooling to the racing folks.
I wish I had more time to comment on this wonderful show. Tori always does a super performance in Indianapolis, and tonight continued that trend. I am enjoying this tour so very much, and hate the thought that St. Louis this Saturday will be the final show for me.
From Amanda Lindsey
Added October 27, 2001 - Hi there! i too was at the show in Indy and thought
it was amazing!! (it was my first ever tori show). I
thought that the set list was incredible...i never
expected her to play playboy mommy or caught a lite
sneeze. the reason im writing is because i happen to
copy down some of the lyrics to the ghosts and spooks
song because i didn't recognize it. ok one of the
lines went like this, "ghosts and spooks and maybe
you..or maybe you are trick or treating me"...and
thats all i wrote down. hope it helps! i too am sad
about the st. louis show because it will be my last
time seeing her as well.
From Kim
Added October 27, 2001 - Tori was amazing tonight, bringing me to tears with just about every
song.
When '97 Bonnie and Clyde began, I thought it was a recording, but
towards the end it sounded different from the album version, so I
assumed she was singing behind that curtain, but my friend Zach just
says I'm crazy.
She told the audience we were awfully chipper, then proceeded to say
something along the lines of "Wouldn't it be nice to just put you all in
a bottle and take you to the next shows? I could get you in, you know."
She played Rattlesnakes, which really thrilled me It was truly
beautiful. She then said that Halloween was her favorite day and did a
nice little improv that led into Caught a Light Sneeze. Time went by too
fast before I heard my favorite "tour song", Cooling. She said something
like "'Tash just loves this stuff, she calls it Vroom Vroom. Everything
just stops in Cornwall for the Formula 500." That's a poor job
remembering exact words... Next she did possibly her best performance of
Little Earthquakes, and then another great surprise with Upside Down.
During Me and A Gun I could hear people crying... it so touching. She
did two encores, playing a very nice Pandora's Aquarium.
The set list for this show was superb. The only thing I didn't like
about the show were the people who got up in the middle of songs
(particularly Me and A Gun) to get beer. I know Tori herself is a fan of
good wine, but this wasn't a bar.
Afterwards, we were informed Tori was going to "do something" and if we
wanted to see it we had to wait behind the gaits. After a while, a
security guard said she was eating a pizza. Unfortunately, after an hour
and a half, my ride was impatient, and told me I could meet her another
time. If anybody knows whether she ever came out or not, please inform
me. I was really disappointed, but I got to meet some cool people while
waiting. That's one of the things I love about Tori concerts. The
majority of the people there are so unique and nice. It's such a
pleasant. change from my small town.
Overall, I'd say this was the best show I've seen so far, mostly because
I love Tori solo. I can't for the next tour, hopefully it won't be
another two years!
From the Indianapolis Star
Added October 27, 2001 - Amy Schramm sent me this review from the October 26, 2001 edition of the Indianapolis Star newspaper. I agree with Amy that the review is unpleasant.
Though well-received, show does nothing to broaden fan
base
By David Lindquist
Indianapolis Star
Tori Amos may have her devoted fan base in a
comfortable grasp, but she's doing little to expand
the club.
Her sold-out performance Thursday at the Murat Theatre
was a well-rehearsed love-in for the biggest fans --
the ones who call out song requests in the middle of
other songs, who randomly shout "I love you, Tori!"
and who can't contain their excitement when she does
finally play their song.
For this, the piano-playing siren commended the crowd
for being "chirpy."
Unfortunately, there was no tangible cause for
excitement as the star stuck to a song-by-song formula
of delicate introduction, predictable crescendo,
repeat.
There's no disputing that Amos is an original talent
who attacks her playing like an explosive tailback in
midstride.
With early-career classics such as Silent All These
Years and Me and a Gun, she passed power to her
listeners in admirable fashion.
Her a cappella rendition of Gun essentially rescued
the performance -- silencing every "chirp" with a
harrowing documentary of rape.
And Silent simply towers above anything Amos has
written in recent memory. In that context, the song's
lyric that mocks "really deep thoughts" is painfully
ironic.
Amos is touring in support of her Strange Little Girls
album, an all-covers collection of songs about women
that were written by men.
Surprisingly, the provocative work was neglected in
concert.
The show began with '97 Bonnie & Clyde, in which Amos
twists the ugliest words back into Eminem. But by
(presumably) singing the song offstage as lights
danced through a torn curtain, she seemed just
partially committed to dismantling the wife-murdering
tale.
She sang one other tune from Strange Little Girls:
Lloyd Cole's so-so Rattlesnakes.
Elton John's Daniel -- drenched with emotion and
topically suggestive of a soldier killed in action --
did appear during the first encore.
Earlier, Amos mercifully changed pace with organ
number Cool On Your Island. This was a straightforward
complaint for an inattentive lover.
"I can only take so much," she sang, perhaps unaware
of her own numbing approach.
From John Bonebrake
Added October 27, 2001 - John here...whewwww what a show....first of all the meet and greet turned out to be alright even though i didnt get to meet her....it was so cold and windy..we were told they werent going to rotate the crowd....then the front people were told to move and let others through when they were done (yeah right İlol) which didnt happen....:( tori gave us a wave and was flipping somebody off....who....i dont know...but it was sweet...and we got a pic of it.... [Note from Mikewhy: At meet and greets, the people in front are told to NOT move until Tori leaves. That is a rule from Tori's security.]
the show.....
B&C- excellent i was so excited about seeing the curtain and the pic of Bonnies Mother....and luckily it didnt fall....it was nice and really started the night off right.,
Siren- i had yet to hear this performed live and it was amazing.....
Ghost...(improv)- really special
Caught a Lite Sneeze- piano only.....this was my highlight of the evening....i'm not sure but i think this was its first night on the tour?
River-(joni mitchell)-another special treat....tori should have just pulled my heart out and sang to it.....which was what i was feeling.....i knew this was rare....and i was feeling so special that she brought it tonight.... :)
Spring Haze- really nice İİ
Cool on your Island- sweet as sin.....her vocals were so great on this...
Cooling- what can i say....its always great....
Little Earthquakes- another precious earthquake that came to the party....very nice..
Upside Down- okay okay i completely lose it everytime i hear this live and for some reason this was no different...oh la la
Playboy Mommy- ::i cant find those churchbells:: İİİanother highlight
tear in your hand- another earthquake....another great performance...
Me and a Gun- so good and so chilling except for the fact that this drunken guy in the balcony close to me was humming on the......dooooo you know carolina....
he was quickly told to shut up by a friend.....other than that it was amazing....
twinkle- beautiful....it was weird cause i had been hanging out at the coffee shop down the road called İThe Abbey.....i had been singing this all day....lol
1st encore...Daniel- nice...nice...nice.....
1000 oceans- gorgeous....and so well sung....
2nd encore- silent all thses years- another great...so many earthquakes...i was really excited
Frog on my Toe- he he so good
pandoras aquarium- such a good wrap up....a perfect goodbye...
all in all i loved this show.....my first on the tour....i'm going to st.louis and new orleans and thats all....but as far as tori goes.....shes done it again...
From krista
Added Oct 28, 2001 - i went to the indianapolis show and thought it was just spectacular. without a doubt the best show i have ever seen. i've never seen tori in concert before and i was lucky enough to have met her during the meet and greet.
after an agonizing hour and a half, tori came out. she started on the other side of the gate (opposite the side i was on) and was talking to people and signing things. she was so sweet and kept asking people "how are you?" i didn't think i was going to have the chance to talk to her, but the next thing i new she was standing right in front of me. She said "HI. how are you?" i told her i was cold! she then said "Well you go get warm." i was so on cloud 9. she then signed my slg cd and gave the man beside me a hug and unfortunatley went back inside. she wasn't out long and the people in front were moving so that those of us behind could see, but she wasn't out long on account of the chilly weather i believe. i want to say hello to the wonderful people i was around. i didn't get any of their names, but they made the time go quickly and were very cool.
From the weekly paper Nuvo
Added November 5, 2001 - BellsForPele sent me this review of the Indianapolis show, that appeared in the local weekly newspaper Nuvo. It was posted to the Nuvo web site on October 31, 2001. I am not sure which issue of the paper itself carried the review.
Of Tori, monkeys and shadows
[Note from Mikewhy: The paper includes a review of 3 shows: Tori's, Cruxshadows, and The Blue Monkey Sideshow. I only include the part about Tori below. Read the entire review at the Nuvo web site. ]
Tori Amos
The Murat Theatre
Oct. 25
Whether you adore or abhor Tori Amos, few people will argue that she is not a singular presence in contemporary music. Fans flock to her as though she was a piano-playing pied piper, while critics tend to dismiss or demonize her large, and largely difficult, body of work - seven albums and countless other releases in the past 10 years.
This schism was in evidence at Ms. Amos' solo performance last week at the Murat, her first unaccompanied outing since 1994. Opener Jake Smith from the Mysteries of Life played a politely tolerated acoustic set, after which the full house grew increasingly restless in anticipation of Amos.
When the stage's curtain finally went up, it revealed nothing but another curtain of black, ripped fabric, and a silkscreened banner of the most hotly debated of Amos' 13 personae from her new album, Strange Little Girls. Amos' disembodied voice floated over the P.A. as she delivered her version of Eminem's wife-killing fantasy "97 Bonnie & Clyde." Amos seemed to rush through the song, and when the curtain dropped at its end and she strode out onto the stage, both audience and performer seemed to breathe a palpable sigh of relief.
Though this tour is ostensibly in support of Strange Little Girls, the opener was one of only two tracks from the album performed during the course of the concert, the other being Lloyd Cole's "Rattlesnakes." Steering clear of the controversial and not entirely successful conceptual record, Amos instead drew from her well-worn and well-loved back catalogue.
She seemed in high spirits, ribbing the noisy, at times overeager crowd for their "chirpiness," and improvising a charming little song about Halloween, from which she segued into "Caught a Lite Sneeze" and then a cover of her musical ancestor, Joni Mitchell's "River." She dedicated "Cooling" to local auto racing fans, following that with a lovely rendition of "Little Earthquakes."
The highlight of the lengthy performance was inarguably an a cappella version of "Me and a Gun" that was absolutely harrowing, Amos sitting perfectly still for once astride her piano bench, lit darkly from behind. As was evidenced from the discernible sobs coming from the audience, it is this blunt, brutal, lyrical honesty that endears Amos to her fans perhaps more than her impressive musicianship.
The first of two encores began with another cover, this time of Elton John's "Daniel," an overly safe and sentimentalized choice, considering the wide array of more daring reinterpretations she has attempted over the years. The second included "Silent All These Years" and ended the evening with "Pandora's Aquarium."
Amos was in constant flux throughout the concert, straddling her bench sideways during one song to pound upon grand piano and Fender simultaneously, and then sitting ramrod straight as a matronly piano teacher for the next number. Her voice ranged from gravelly to siren-sweet, her demeanor from wounded little girl to indomitable Amazon.
Far from performing monotonously as a certain local critic alleged in his review of this concert, Amos embodies the contradictions and dichotomies of emotion and identity that plague us all. This is why fans get her and most critics don't, or refuse to, pegging her a strange little girl and moving on to something more palatable.
Amos remains keenly attuned to why her fans love her and what they need from her: entrance, at least for a few hours, into this fragile, impossibly intricate universe that she summons each night from her piano. Amos is not only an entertainer - she is also a goddess for her audiences to worship and a mother at whose breast they seek solace. She occupied all three roles admirably, if a little perfunctorily, during the course of the evening.
-Summer Wood
From Amanda Damron
Added December 3, 2001 - Here are the lyrics for the improv in Indy:
Ghosts & spooks and maybe you
Maybe you, something for me to do
I said
Ghosts & spooks and maybe you,
ah-Maybe you are trick or treating me
Maybe you
I said,
Maybe you can take this outta my head
I said,
Maybe you, Maybe you
Gives me something to do
From Michelle (MLA)
Added December 7, 2001 - I just want to say that I've just had one of the most incredible experiences of my life. I got to the Meet and Greet with my soul mate/sister Anna around 1 pm and Tracie and Mike (SexyRedHead and Dangus) were graciously saving a place for us in line, having already met Tori in Chicago. The very nice security guard informed us at one point that Tori had called and said if we rushed the barricade, she wouldn't get off the bus. The crowd was pretty small at the time, so we were pretty optimistic (it was, by the way, the first Meet and Greet for both of us and we were trying not to get our hopes up too high). Tracie gave us a stuffed leopard to give to Tori to thank her for playing her request, Silent All These Years, in Chicago, and I ended up being the one to carry it. Meanwhile, Anna quickly wrote a letter to Tori as we got scrunched more and more. It was freezing cold out there and the wind was blowing very hard, but it was still fun because we met all kinds of really cool people (hi Julie, Kim/Beenie, Angeles, Carrie/Medea, and those of you wonderful people whose names I unfortunately do not remember because I was in too much of a daze). I have to say that the crowd was absolutely wonderful and I have no complaints whatsoever. Everyone was surprised to hear that Anna had come all the way from Australia, and they all agreed that she had to meet Tori after making that long trip. Unfortunately, when Steve and the other security people began actually setting up the barricades, the now rather large crowd had to move and we lost our previously good place in the crowd. Finally, near 4 o'clock, Tori's bus drove up. When she got off, it became apparent to me and Anna that we would probably not get to meet her, although she did get really happy upon seeing someone back on our part of the barricade and we thought for a minute she might come back there. But then she disappeared where we couldn't see her and we began losing all hope. But to our shock and amazement, Joel came back to where we were and said "Where's Anna?" Anna said "here!" and he said, "Anna from Australia?" and she said yes, so he said "Come with me." So Anna and I went to the other side of the barricade and followed Joel, although we kept stopping because we couldn't believe we were really meant to keep following him. But he was very nice and he kept saying "Go on" until we got to the part of the barricade by the bus, where we could see Tori signing things for other people. So we waited and after just a minute, Tori came over to us! She went to Anna first and exclaimed, "What a journey!" Then she gave her a big hug and said, "You must be freezing your ass off!" Anna then gave Tori the present she had for her and Tori wrote 'Anna' on the bag and handed it to Joel. Then she turned to me and said "Where are you from?" I felt very silly telling her I was from Illinois, but then I put my hand on Anna's arm and said to her, "This is my sister, my spiritual sister, and I would never have met her if it weren't for you and your music." Tori looked very happy and I'm positive she said something then, but I don't remember what it was! All I remember is that after that she hugged me. My main goal in going to the Meet and Greet was to finally hug Tori, and I was in such a state of shock that I didn't really comprehend I was doing it at first, but then it sunk in a little bit so I hugged her tighter. Then Anna asked her if she could get a picture taken with her and Tori said sure, so Anna handed me her camera and I took a picture of them together. Then Tori took Anna's camera and handed it to someone else in the crowd and said "Can you take another one, of the two of us?" So the girl took a picture of them and then Tori asked for one more just in case and Anna pulled me into the picture too. Then Anna got Tori to sign her Little Earthquakes booklet and requested Upside Down, which Tori wrote on her hand. Tori told Anna she felt bad for not making it to Australia, but that it was just hard with the baby. However, she said she planned on making it there with the next album. I gave her the poem I had written (for those who have the Ears with Stories book, it was the one called For Tori, should you care) and the leopard from Tracie (and I dutifully explained who it was from and what it was for). I know she said something after that, but once again, my poor little brain was too overwhelmed to remember. But then she pulled us both to her and hugged us at the same time, and just before she walked away, she said, "I'm glad you found each other" and moved her fingers together to represent two people coming together. It was very cute! We called thank you to her as we left and walked away in shock. All I could think was that I had to find whoever told Tori about Anna so I could thank them! We then ran into Mikewhy and Amanda, who are also wonderful people, and then encountered several girls who said they had told Tori there was someone from Australia who had to meet her. I just want you girls to know, I will love all of you eternally, and no doubt so will Anna! That's got to be the biggest favour anyone has ever done for us! The Meet and Greet ended not long after that and several of us went to a place called Alcatraz to dinner (Mikewhy was kind enough to give Anna and me a ride there). It was a lot of fun getting to hang around so many other people who love Tori, as I had never gotten to do so before (hi Josh, Carol, Steve, and David).
So, on to the concert itself
'97 Bonnie and Clyde-you've all read about this one, so I won't elaborate, except to say that Tori's voice was definitely NOT a recording. The violin certainly was, but the way Tori said things was quite different from the album version. She sounded a bit angry.
Siren-At the end of the first verse, she said "and you don't need the light on to guide you through her southern lands go you just go" and then at the end of the second verse, she said "and I don't need the light on to guide me through her southern lands go I just go."
Rattlesnakes-one of my very favourites off the album, I was quite pleased to hear it. In the verses, she played the Fender Rhodes with one hand and the piano with the other hand, but the chorus was all on the piano.
After Rattlesnakes, she picked up her mug of tea and stirred it with the spoon, saying "How are you guys?" to which everyone naturally cheered, and then she slurped some tea off the spoon and said, "Um, you're very chirpy, aren't you!" We all laughed and she said "You know the thing about you guys is and trust me on this, we should like bottle you guys up and take you around to the rest of the country because they really need you!" Everyone cheered to that and she said, Ok, so it's like, if you're bored just come visit and I'll get you in!" Then she said, "So anyway, um, couple things. Getting ready for Halloween, it's been a real tough one, because you know that's my favourite day!" Then she grinned at us and did a little improv that went like this:
ghosts and spooks and maybe you
maybe you
something for me to do
I said ghosts and spooks and maybe you
Maybe you are trick or treating me
Maybe you I said
Maybe you can take this out of my head
I said maybe you
Maybe you
Gives me something to do
Then she went into
Caught A Lite Sneeze-beautiful on the piano. Right at the beginning of the second verse, she said, "the fire is in me now, the fire is in me now girls" which I found interesting. Then towards the end, after singing the chorus, she sang "right before our eyes, right before our eyes" and then sang the chorus again, saying "building tumbling down," and I suddenly thought of the World Trade Center
River-I'd never heard or read any version of this, but it was beautiful. Spring Haze Cool On Your Island-she played this entirely on the Fender Rhodes and although I never much liked Y Kant Tori Read, I really liked this version. It has a much different feel, looking back after all these years. Then she began to say "So I just want you guys to know-" but someone yelled something out and she stopped and said "Huh?" which for some reason made a whole bunch of people yell things out. She glanced around the room and then said, "Well, hang on! So you guys have what Tash calls 'brroom brroom' and in Cornwall, everything stops so we can watch Formula One. So this is for all the guys that do 'brroom brroom.'" Then she played Cooling Little Earthquakes
Upside Down-Anna's request! I was so delighted that Tori actually played it! Playboy Mommy-she played this entirely on the Wurlitzer. It's one of my favourites from Choirgirl, so I enjoyed it immensely. I was especially touched by the end, where she sang, "I'll be home, I'm coming home, to take you in my arms" Tear In Your Hand Me And A Gun-had my heart pounding, but she wasn't nearly as alarming with the "flat on your stomach" part as she has been in past recordings I've heard. Twinkle
1st Encore:
Daniel-I'd never heard this before, but I quite liked it. 1000 Oceans-she played this entirely on the Rhodes.
2nd encore:
Silent All These Years-one of the songs I wanted to hear most, and she did not disappoint me. Some people yelled out right after she sang "yes I know what you think of me you never shut up" and she paused before singing very clearly, "yeah I can hear that" and she had a funny look on her face. I wish people would take a hint! She did the bridge a bit different though, she sang something to the effect of, "years go buy will I still will I still be waiting to understand, years go by if I've stripped if I'm stripped of my beauty and the clouds raining in my head, years go by will I choke will I choke on my tears till finally there's nothing left, one more casualty you know we're too easy easy easy." Frog On My Toe-I was glad she played this after hearing how Kim (Beenie) requested it--with difficulty--at the Meet and Greet! Pandora's Aquarium-she belted out the "sound" part with a lot of power, very beautiful.
This is only my second Tori concert in my life (first was in 99) and I thought the crowd was pretty good, except for the people who kept leaving to get more drinks and distracting us from Tori if you don't care about Tori any more than that, don't come to the bloody concert, please. And my very biggest complaint would have to be the guy who was quite unfortunately sitting 2 rows ahead of me and kept yelling things like "You are so beautiful!" and "God bless you!" and "I love you Tori!" while she was singing. There are not words to describe how disruptive this was to everyone in the audience and undoubtedly to Tori too. If you seriously loved her, you would have enough respect to listen to her instead of screaming at her and assuming she's deaf, which this guy must have assumed since he kept repeating himself. Mister, if you are reading this, I just want you to know that Tori KNOWS what you think of her. You never shut up.
But anyway, aside from that it was an absolutely wonderful experience. Me and Anna even got a chance to thank Joel for taking us to Tori when the concert was over, and I just have to say, he is the NICEST man. Anyone who has any bad thoughts about Joel should get rid of them immediately. We felt so fulfilled after the show that we didn't even stay for the after show Meet and Greet.
The reviews below were taken from the concert reviews section of The Dent Forum and added here on January 7, 2002
Review by springhaze999
I was way back iin row 32 and the sound was incredible tonight.
Her voice is so much better than when she played with the band.. I saw her in 1994 at the Murat but her voice is so much better than then too. And she still plays the piano like wow..
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Review by bellsforpele
Tonights Tori show was amazing. I was in the front row of the balcony & the people who sat next to me were great. No one talked during the songs & we had no compulsive screamers. Cool on Your Island was so beautiful. And hearing River & Daniel in the same show was awesome. Tori just played the piano during CALS, she also did a great little improv before it. Frog on My Toe is my favorite b-side so I was so thrilled to hear this one. It was a wonderful show & I just want to thank everyone who was around me for being so respectful.
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Review by kellie
Just a few more notes..
Cooling was dedicated to the men that go vroom vroom around our racetrack :-) She said she knows how we are and in Cornwall, life stops for the F-1 races.
She also told us that she's happy because Halloween, her favorite day of the year, is coming up.
AND .. the very first thing she said to us : "MY aren't you guys chirpy!" Then she said something along the lines of ... I just want to bottle you up and take you with me. No really guys, it's like .. just ask, I can get you in the rest of the tour! I'm paraphrasing, but it was pretty close to that. Adorable.
The crowd, at least from where I was in the balcony, was quite well behaved.
She didn't come out to meet with people after the show until about an hour later. It was 42 and blustery..not fun.
I think that's all.. it was lovely. Obviously =P
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Review by siren65
What an Amazing show!! I felt like a little kid on the night before Christmas all day today. Anyway, enough about me.
Bonnie and Clyde was even cooler than I thought it would be. From the other reviews I had thought that the picture falling in the end was by accident, but when I saw it tonight I realized that that was what was supposed to happen. Very effective.
So glad to hear Siren, Tor always does such a good job with it. Her expressions were priceless.
Could not believe when she started playing CALS. "Buildings tumbling down, didn't know our love was so small, couldn't stand at all"--so powerful in light of recent events. Tori sang "Buildings tumbling down" so strong. It sounded incredible. She crossed her legs and looked "matter of fact" when she sang, "use that fame"...smirked when she said, "rent your wife and kids today, maybe she will."
RIVER!!! Did someone request this at the M&G? It was cute when she sang "Made my baby cry"...she enunciated...I'm not sure if she was thinking of Tash or not.
Right after Rattlesnake, which was wondeful, she said this really cute little thing about the crowd being "Chirpy" and that we should bottle it up and take it around the country" because, as she said, "trust me, they need it." I think she was referencing the Cleveland show, but who knows. She chugged some drink she had up front. She also said something about Halloween and how she was excited about it and then did a little improv about ghosts and goblins before CALS.
I can't remember the whole set list, but ya'll have it somewhere on here. Everything sounded amazing. Upside Down, Cooling, Playboy Mommy was wonderful, Cool on Your Island, Tear in Your Hand....all sooo good.
Me & A Gun seemed pretty raspy tonight, but was really effective. Tori sounded a little choked up. This was the first time I've heard this song live and it was amazing. (I feel like I'm saying that a lot, but oh well.) So glad to hear Twinkle too, even though there was some racket in the back of the theater....??? whoever you are, shame on you!
The first encore was just two songs, Daniel (yay) and I think Silent All these years. I know during that song she enunciated "yeah I can hear that" and "shut up" because there were some disturbances in the back, sounded like someone yelling.
She did a pretty thing on the bridge where she repeated some of the words, "years go by will I still be waiting, still be waiting, to understand, years go by will I choke on my tears, on my tears till there's nothing left"
Finished with a breathtaking Pandora's Aquarium.
I forgot to mention Little Earthquakes. Sounded very cool. Frog on my Toe! Sooo cute!!!
She also mentioned something about here in Indy we have, "as Tash says," the "vroom vroom" and she did Tash's imitation of a Indy race car, and she said in Cornwall they have Formula One, so this one is for Indy. Then she did Cooling (speedracer). She was adorable tonight. I wish I could go to the other shows. I took a (as one of the girl's at the show said) a "Tori virgin" tonight...my roomate who has never seen her live and she was very very impressed. I think I've brought another Toriphile into the world.
Thanks for listening to me yack. (and to the devil bitch who sat 3 seats down from me....well, you know, if I didn't believe in peace your head would have been rolling down the aisle. just kidding. i really do believe in peace.)
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Review by lmdelirium
yeah, uh, this show, wow...
i was at the meet and greet. adam, the sweet boy standing next to me requested cooling. aww, and she played it. and the woman that drove all the way from wisconsin got her request for RIVER - yeah, that's right. that's not all, someone requested twinkle. and a bunch of others, this was just request fulfillment night. she was adorable at the meet and greet, gracious as usual.
hope you had fun backstage julie and the kc gang. i hate you!!!!
and, hey, i'm taking tori up on her offer (that is, IF i'm bored and want to "stop" by)
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Review by *Fiercest Calm*
well gosh lemme just start from the beginning
bonnie and clyde was a great thrilling experience... i loved this song more than i thought i would. she emphasized the words... so chilling.. with her breaths and syllables... awesome
then right into siren
i just remember shaking my head and thinking.. holy shit!
umm... gosh my head is racing
ill think of highlights
oh ...
rattlesnakes. i think i wanted to hear that possibly the most out of anything.. and i indeed heard it. the lites were incredible.. siiigh...
cooling. possibly my favorite tori song ever. when i heard her play those first trickling notes i had to cover my mouth, shake my head, giggle, say "no way", i literally had these convulsions.. on the verge of completely screaming and crying. that was intense.
but i calmed down and sat there motionless.
i was motionless for the whole show i believe. curled up, hands folded, in disbelief.
i dont know.. thats just how i feel about the whole show
river was beautiful. the lites were real soft and pretty... looked like water against the backdrop and other curtain thingamajigs... real pretty.
i was hoping for more improv playing.. got it more towards the end of the show during the encores before the songs.
i dont know.. this was just ... breathtaking.. im at a loss of words
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Review by SexyRedHead
the show was amazing.. i was at the meet and greet too, and i gave up my place in line for my dear dear friend Anna from Australia hoping she could meet Tori.
anyways, didn't look like she would.. but some very nice people in the front told Joel about her and they pulled her from the crowd and she got a few minutes with Tori.. I was very thrilled for her.
and the show.. wow. this was my last of three in a row and it was simply wonderful. a great way to end the week for me...
upside down & frog on my toe *smiles* and siren? *sigh* and i got my song played again... silent all these years. i didn't expect it since she played it in chicago after i requested it at the m&G
anyways.. its late, i'm tired.. it was a long drive home from the show.
ps. it was fantastic meeting everyone. you guys are awesome people
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Review by Medea
Heh. I sent Joel after Anna. I was originally going to ask tori to sign my little paper thingy for my friend mike, who couldn't make it to the meet and greet, but I felt SO bad that Anna got pushed to the back. I asked Tori if she could sign my paper for Anna instead, and told her that she'd come all the way from Australia. Joel asked me where she was, and then she got to meet Tori! I was so excited.
I did my good deed for the year.
Anyway. I'll shut up about that.
I thought this show was good, but the audience was HORRIBLE. On the right side of the orchestra, some stupid guy kept shouting out random nonsense about every five seconds ("god bless you, tori!").
A bunch of people just seemed to KEEP yelling. Tori could barely even get her story out, at one point.
And about five people behind me kept singing really loudly. I did not pay fifty bucks for a seat to have to listen to somebody's out-of-tune butchering of my favorite Tori songs.
Tori was so amazing, though. Still, I thought the Cleveland show was much better. It was akin to a religious experience for me.
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Review by SteveEwf
Great setlist, somewhat chatting crowd. My two favorites from LE were played, LE and Tear In Your Hand. I heard requests for both Siren and Cooling at the M&G and both were played. I so wanted to hear Cooling
Tori sounded wonderful, her voice sounds exceptional these days. Her playing as always brilliant.
The M&G was great, I was in the second row and Tori signed the back cover of my SLG promo I thanked her for the tour and she said they were having a good time on the bus.
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Review by Jen (jserpente)
Tonights show was really fabulous. It was my honor to take my friend Kevin to his first Tori show ever!!
I agree that the audience was rowdy. Someone close to me kept standing up and yelling out untranslationable remarks at Tori...some girls cursed at people behind me...a lot of people would scream in the middle of songs seemingly just so they could hear their own voice. Maybe I was spoiled after such a good crowd in Nashville.
And to you who SANG to ME AND A GUN??? I have nothing to say to you. It's too late to be creatively cruel.
Someone asked about CALS instrument? Piano. Gorgeous crystalline piano. Also of note, hearing Playboy Mommy and 1000 Oceans on the Whurly was a real treat.
Pandora's Aquarium at the end was one of my personal faves. I got chill bumps everywhere when she dragged out that last "Ooooooooooooouuuuuuuuuuuuuuuuuuuuueeeeuuuu uuuuuuuuuuuuuuuuuuuuuuuuuuuuuuuuuuut" That is what it would look like!
That's all for now. SexyRedHead & friends it was great to meet my first Denters! Too bad for no Bachelorette. ::Sighs::
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Review by Riotpoofgirl
Ok, So a few pre comments--
We (me and my friend Coleman) went to the meet and greet which, was pretty croweded (IMHO), and seemed as tho it could have gotten messy, but didn't thankfully. My friend Coleman's friend Ron, (whose appearantly hung out with Tori a few times this tour) yelled to her as she was going in to play voodoo (in the springtime..) and tori playfully flicked him off. And then left blowing kisses to everyone (aw..)May i add that it was absolutly freezing outside (both Tori and Joel had the beanie hats that are onsale for the tour on).
Then we (me, coleman, ron, and his friend carl) got some food and went to the Circle mall in downtown Indy. Well we all needed a bathroom break and went to our respective bathrooms. Anyways as i was comming out and looking for my guy friends, all of a sudden Steve comes past me, with a woman PUSHING A BABY CARRIAGE! I looked at Steve and double blinked and he looked back at me and then they went into a side enterance to the Canterbury Hotel, which presumably is where tori was staying..I was like HOLY SHIT!
Anyways, on to the concert...Tori looked like a pixie tonite. So cute..I was 2nd row on the end...
'97 Bonnie and Cylde- This song is really cool live..I think it is a recording tho.
Siren- Wow. I got to hear this live. I was so excited.
Rattlesnakes- this is my fav. song on the new album, and i wasn't disapointed. She had this red light on her and looked amazing.
Caught a light sneeze- Wow! She played this on the piano. I was not expecting it ..and it was ..soo...wow
So she said "hello everyone" and told us that we were "Chipper" and how she wished everyone was like us and that she wanted to "bottle us up and take us with her" and that if we wanted to go to other shows just talk to her, she'd hook us up :-)
She commented that things have been crazy w/ Halloween comming up and of course "halloween is my favorite holiday".
Ghosts/Spooks improv- this was so cute. I hope someone booted the show so everyone can hear it
River- I didn't recognize this one at first..So beautiful. I was kinda hoping to hear A case of You, but i'm not disapointed.
Spring haze
Cool on your Island- I was waiting and hoping to hear this. It seemed as tho w/ the echo effect thing that the words didn't match the tempo (but maybe thats my opinion). I loved it none the less.
So she paused and started to talk to us and people kept yelling "i love you tori" and she was like "hold on"..and said that "tash called it brggh (i can't really type the sound she made) and that in Cornwall, formula 1 is big, but here we have our own..
Cooling- FUCK YES! I was estatic. This song was great tonite. Simply put, great.
Little earthquakes- I was a lil suprised to hear it, but it was nice none the less. Still one of my favs
Upside down- Yea! I was so happy.
Playboy mommy- so there was another piano thing (sorry for my ignorance) on the other side of the stage and i was wondering what she was gonna play on it, and she got up and started this and wow...very good.
Tear in your hand- yay!
Me and a gun- my. I'd never heard this and after some events last year, its taken on a whole new significance to me. It was so powerful. Tori seemed to be choking on some of the words. I was trying so hard not to start balling.
Twinkle- Having this song after Me and a gun, set me off..and i let a tear or 2 slip. It was so pretty.
Tori does such a cute bow at the end...
ENCORE-
Daniel- Wow. I was hoping we'd get to hear this. Very nicely done.
1000 oceans- this was suberb. I was so swept up by it.
ENCORE 2-
Silent all these years- so everyone in my row mostly left, so i went more center for the last encore--she was great. the crowd went wild, but you can't really blame them.
Frog on my toe- at first i wasn't sure what she was going into and then i realized it was frog and everytime i hear this song i think of one of my friends since she loves it so much and has a frog tattooed on her toe..It was great
Pandora's Aquarium- so i never cared too much for this song, but it blew me away live. A terrific ending.
So great.
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Review by nylorac
I guess I'm the only one so far who doesn't have an amazing review Tori was beyond words though!!!!! & oh my god my seats were amazing (3rd row)!!!!
However, I was sitting next to these girls.......who WOULD NOT sit still, kept yelling stuff to Tori or kept "whoo"ing.....and one of them had to do like a commentary on EVERYTHING TORI DID to her friend sitting next to her!!! These ppl paid $300 for their seats & were "going to have a good time" UGH!!! Then during Me and A Gun...the little girls infront of me had to carry on a conversation about whether they should take a picture....so the girl gets out her camera.......it beeps for quite a while.......then she takes a picture - flash & all! Also the girls next to me were taking pictures....with a flash!!!! Needless to say these girls kind of ruined my great seats & the concert for me But believe me I tried sooooooooo hard to tune them out - but they were so obnoxious you couldn't
Hopefully I'll have better luck in St. Louis!!!!!!
Keeping my fingers crossed.
So far at past Tori shows I've seen.......I've been sooooooo lucky didn't sit next to ppl like that. It's amazing how much that can change a Tori concert in a bad way when there are ppl like that around you!!!
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Review by Angelina
Last night was seriously the most amazing night of my life. I won't bother rehashing what anybody else has said, but I just wanted to say what a moving experince it was. I doubt that Tori could see me, but at times it felt she was looking straight at me...into me. It was intense.
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Review by JessicaErin
Well, I may be the only one commenting on Tori's fashion at the show, but she looked amazing! She was wearing a beautiful brown top with sequins down the middle and on teh cuffs. She had her amazing white "pants" on with slits on the side (Made it look like a dress), white fishnet hose, and awesome black high heels with gold trim.
I sat in the direct middle, 8th row. I can honestly say that out of the numerous Tori shows that I have been to over the years...this won took the prize. I droveover from Columbus Ohio and the drive was more than worth it.
Me and a Gun- I have NEVER seen Tori so choked up when singing this song. Tori also left out the, "I haven't seen Barbados"...the first time around(not really noticable). She had such a twinkle in her eye that I thought the twinkle would turn into a tear.
Upside Down-Some people in the balcony kept yelling their request or this one-and we got an amazing rendition of it.
Cool on Your Island!!!!!! I have been waiting to hear this one live for so long! Near the end she left out a line, but it was nothing that anyone would probably notice unless they knew the song front to back like I do.
Through out the show Tori would give the crowd these little mischevious looks and the crowd absolutely loved her.
The only downfall about the show was two girls behind me that would not keep their damn mouths shut. They keep screaming and yelling, "China! China!" Let me just say one thing. As Tori said in a previous show that I saw her preform, "You see this guys, (pointed to herself) this ain't no jukebox." Peope should realize what a privilage it is to see such an amazing person as Tori at all. If you want to request something then damn it, go to the meet and greet and do it before the show. Do not interupt Tori when she starts to play and yell to her, that's just imature and disrespectful!
Otherwise, the audience was fantastic and extremely quiet. I can't wait to hear about her next shows setlist, they seem to get more amazing as they go on...
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Review by rx_queen02
OK..I was in row BB..and during "silent all these years" there were this large group of people who had a little too much to drink who would not shut up for anything! People kept ssshhhshing them and one guy stood up and yelled "shut the fuck up" I was soo mad. But it was perfect timing because it was right when tori says "yes i know what you think of me you never shut up". and she emphasized the "you never shut up" part..and everyone started cheering who was sitting around them. And they listened to her too. It was hilarious. But really ..drunk people..who just want to go to a concert..totally don't even belong at a tori show. I was so mad..and people kept getting up! I have never seen so many people walk in and out of a concert in my life. People are so rude.
But anyway, other than that it was the best show I have ever seen by far. I cried during "Frog on my Toe" ...it was lovely.
Oh and another thing...earlier in the day (and I am still kicking myself for this) we walked right past Tori and Joel in Circle Center Mall. They were just walking through the mall..no one seemed to notice them...I just kind of stood there with my mouth open for a few seconds..my friend Paul was like..that chick looks like Tori..and I was like in shock..it was her! (she had her hair back, no makeup on and i could tell it was her by her little ears sticking out ..she was so cute and soo tiny!) I was too scared to go up and say anything because I figured I would start crying and I didn't want to draw attention to her. I mean...I know she likes to talk to her fans and all..but I just couldn't. I'm a chicken..I know.
We went to the meet and greet..but you know how those are..if your not up front..you don't have much of a chance. And we got there kind of late. But overall it was a great experience.
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Review by bluberrygirl
Tori never dissappoints in Indianapolis and last night was no exception! Some mentionables:
- Tori had the lyrics to Caught a Lite Sneeze taped to the floor, and she looked at them right before she started singing!
-She had a setlist laying inside the piano, right in front of her. The setlist taped on the floor was quite larger than on previous tours.
-Lots of songs with water in them, for example: River, 1000 Oceans, Pandora, Cool on your Island, Tear
-She played the last song from four of her CDs: Little earthquakes, twinkle, pandora, and 1000 oceans.
-the crowd was quite rowdy and there were many repeated shouters
-yes, there were tapers at the show!
Overall, a great show!
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Review by PastaQueen
You know what the best way is to avoid hearing people talk at a Tori concert? Get seats right in front of the speakers. I was in the first row on the left side and not only did I have killer leg room, I wouldn't have been able to hear the girl next to me unless she was literally screaming in my ear. The speakers were about 8 feet away from me, tops. Luckily I borrowed my little brother's ear plugs (he's in a garage band and is paranoid about losing his hearing) so my hearing wasn't blown out. They were the best seats I've ever had at any concert ever. I could actually see Tori this time! And the set list was killer. Who could ask for a better show?
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Review by angeles
during cals she sang "building tumbling down right before our eyes" x amount of times. Very beautiful. (I think it was a reference about terrorist attacks).
Me, Beenie, and my boyfriend arrived at the Murat around 11. To my surprise, at most, there were only around 10 people there. I started to talk to these 3 cool chicks (Carol, Melissa, and Stacey -hi!). Carol and Stacey were the first people at the M&G, having arrived at 8:30 am. Luckily when we got there it didn't take me more than 5 minutes to sell my extra tori ticket that I had.
So anyway, we waited and waited, and waited. But it didn't really seem that long because we were having so much fun just hanging out I've never had so much fun at a m&g. There was a security guard there (Jeff) and he lied to us, saying that the barricades were going to be set up all the way to the parking lot. Well, when Steve entered the picture, that's not the way the barricades were set up at all. But I'm not complaining. He was probably just misinformed.
Anyway, so ya, Steve tells us to move away from the bike rakes (barricades) so they can set them up. so now everyone is becoming very tense because everyone wants to meet tori. so, they set up the barricades and it is like herding cattle. Everyone ran to get their spot. The only fucked up thing about the m&g (and I know that it is a random thing) is that most of the people up front had already met tori before on this tour and on early tours. I can't say much because I had met tori before, but I just wanted to secure a spot for my best friend (Beenie).
When we were waiting for Steve and crew to fix up the barricades I told Kim to hold my hand so we would get a spot close to Tori. when they were up, I grabbed on tight and "dragged" her to the seconded row. I felt so bad because she fell, and of course I don't want my best friend to get hurt. M&G are not worth getting hurt. Anyway, we got to the second row. Our new friend Melissa was right behind us and that was good because she also got to meet Tori! Yay! Me and Kim wanted to tell the fucking guy that got tori the Prada hat instead of the Prada shoes to go fuck off. He had met her quite a few times, and come on! get a fucking life! Tori has enough money to buy herself prada! Stupid people make me mad! He could have used that money to give to RAINN, ya know, something that actually matters and makes a difference. I think Tori would enjoy that more.
Anyway, So ya, Tori's bus pulls up and the bus just sits there for like 10 minutes without any sign of Tori in there. And then Tori appears and Kim starts bawling and I look at her and say "Kim, you are not allowed to cry. It's okay, it's only Tori" (kinda an inside joke ) I start taking pictures (which I have developed and turned out marvelous, thanks to my camera! yay!) and Tori starts signing things for the people kinda on the side and in front. About two minutes later I say to Tori (while I am passing up Stina's Raining Blood cover) "Hi Tori. I was wondering if you remembered me. I was one of the Nashville RAINN Auction winners." I think she sorta remembered me She asked me who to sign the cover for and I said Stina, and she was like "oh, yay, right!" but I was like nope! I'm getting this signed for a friend (I think she recognized the sound though because my name is Stephanie). So she signed it and I gave her my copy of Elliott Smith's Figure 8 and told her that next time she tours she should have him as her opening act because he kicks ass and she said she would listen to it Whether she did or not, I guess I'll never know.
I asked her to play 1,000 oceans for me and my son. I told her I had written her a letter that I gave to her in Nashville about my son and that's why I wanted her to sing it and she said she would do it (even though I still had my doubts that she wouldn't).
THen she signs and talk to some other people and Kim is bawling her eyes out and Tori sees her and Kim is bawling and Tori is like, "Honey, are you okay?" And Kim is like "Ya" and Tori proceeds to touch Kim's cheek (all so sweet!) and she signs my/her Time cover and Kim give Tori her letter and asks if Tori could play "Frog on my Toe" although it came out "Frog a my..." through the sobs it was so sweet. So ya, then Tori moves on to the other people and we wait for another 5-10 minutes before the ruckus is over.
We went out to eat with our new friend Melissa (what a cool chick!) and we stopped into a neat little cd shop called Luna or something like that and Kim was talking to the clerk about British music because Kim's a great music critic I was hoping to find a used copy of Figure 8 because it is my favorite album in the whole world and I can't live w/out it! They didn't have a copy of it used BUT they did have a copy of Travis' new album which i did buy but haven't listened to yet. So we get back to the venue and instead of waiting inside the lobby, Me, Kim and Melissa head over to Melissa's car and get pumped up to listen to Tori by listening to Tori on her Minidisk player We left at seven and met up with Kim's friend Stina and checked out the merchandise and whatnot and then traveled to our seats. So ya, the opening comes on and he is from Bloomington and is tre hot and starts playing his songs and I'm like "This is really good. Much better than Rufus Wainwright!" So after his set I go to the mechandise stand and buy a copy of his band's latest cd. And low and behold, he was there (I think his name was Jake). So I talked to him a bit and he signed my cd for me (what a sweet guy!) and went back to our seats to wait for Tori.
Tori came on, blah blah blah, she played a lot of request (Twinkle, FomT, Cooling, upside down, 1000 oceans, there's probably more!) and she played my song MY SONG! I couldn't believe it! I cried and cried and cried, and if i really want to think about it now, I could cry some more. She sang it for me and my baby, and that really touched me. After she finished singing it, I ran right out of the venue and to the post M&G were I cried some more because I just had to thank her for playing it. I was second row behind again and when she came out I bawled. I had it planned what I was going to say to her but all I could say inbetween the bawling was "Thank you Tori for playing my song. It meant so much to me" (I'm going to start crying). She said something to me, I just can't remember because I was sobbing.
All in all, it was just beautiful. I'm going to shut up now, okie dokie? I ramble too much
When she was singing Daniel I could think of was my brother because he was named after that song.
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Review by Branflake_Boy
For those of you who were at the Indianapolis meet and greet, I am the tall guy at the end of the barricade who requested "Twinkle."
The first thing I did was thanked her for performing "Time" on Letterman. I told her that it was very healing for a lot of us.
Then I told her about my mom. She married my dad a month after she graduated from high school (he was 10 years older than she was). After 23 years of marriage, he asked her for a divorce at the end of August. The life I've always known is gone, and it has really altered things forever. I told her that my mom has been to almost every Tori show with me, but isn't here tonight, and that it would mean a lot to me if she would play "Twinkle" in her honor. My mom is my everything, and I know that she will shine on. "Twinkle" is the song that I have been playing a lot to never lose sight of hope.
Tori sincerely listened, and said, " I think she would love to come out and play tonight." She wrote it on her hand, and put a big dot beside it.
When she played it, I calle my mom on the cell phone, and just let it play. I didn't cry. Gratitude and love...that's what I felt.
Amazing and LIFE-CHANGING show.
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Review by Kim (Beenie)
Not only was this my first Tori concert....
It was my first concert ever.
I went to the pre-show meet and greet, and I was towards the front, and when I saw Tori I just immediately started bawling like an idiot. I had written her a letter, and my good friend Stephanie (angeles) gave me her copy of SLG so I would have something for Tori to sign. I wasn't close enough to hug her, but I was just sniffling and tears rolling down, and she took my cd sleeve, asked who to sign it for, and she gave it back to me... and she looked at me, and she said, "Are you alright?" and she took her hand and placed it on my cheek. Now of course, that only resulted in another bawl. But anyway, it was fun, and I gave Tori my letter. Stephanie (angeles) had a cd sleeve signed for my good college buddy, Stina, whom I sat with at the concert.
And Oh my god, what a concert. I think 'Caught a Lite Sneeze' was the single best thing I've ever heard in my entire life. And 'River'.... oh, how beautiful it was. But I think the biggest highlight was 'Frog on my Toe'...... since I requested it for my Papaw in my letter. And she played it. So of course, when she started to sing, 'Papa, I know....' I immediately started to cry again. Stina gave me a big hug, and I just sat there and enjoyed one of the single best moments of my life. It was so wonderful. And 'Cool on your Island'.... how adorable was that??
I'm still reeling, and I definitely know I will never, ever be able to hear Frog on my Toe without immediately tearing up....
The show was just brilliant... no other way to put it
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Review by Carol (Velvetes1)
WOW!!!!!
That was the BEST Tori show I've ever been to!!!
She played Upside Down!!!!!!!!!!!
I've been wanting to hear that forever... I cried when she sang it and I've never cried at a Tori show before.
And RIVER!! OMG!! That was very cool!!!
And...Daniel...WOW!
And Cool on Your Island...and Spring Haze....and Cooling..
And...RATTLESNAKES!! YES!!!!
...& Silent all these years!! omg!!
Oh...and the cool little Halloween song was very cute.
The crowd...um..sucked somewhat...
but the set list totally made up for that... esp. since I wasn't even supposed to be at the show.
THANKS JOSH!!! YOU ROCK!!!!
Hello to everyone who was at the pre-show dinner at Alcatraz (sp?)!
Hi to anyone else I ran into in Indy.
Next tour I'm going to at least 5 shows... lol.
-Carol ....who's still on a high from hearing Upside Down
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Review by MLA
Ok, I hope this doesn't drive anybody crazy, but here is my huge and VERY detailed review of the Meet and Greet and concert....
I just want to say that I've just had one of the most incredible experiences of my life. I got to the Meet and Greet with my soul mate/sister Anna around 1 pm and Tracie and Mike (SexyRedHead and Dangus) were graciously saving a place for us in line, having already met Tori in Chicago.
The very nice security guard informed us at one point that Tori had called and said if we rushed the barricade, she wouldn't get off the bus. The crowd was pretty small at the time, so we were pretty optimistic (it was, by the way, the first Meet and Greet for both of us and we were trying not to get our hopes up too high). Tracie gave us a stuffed leopard to give to Tori to thank her for playing her request, Silent All These Years, in Chicago, and I ended up being the one to carry it.
Meanwhile, Anna quickly wrote a letter to Tori as we got scrunched more and more. It was freezing cold out there and the wind was blowing very hard, but it was still fun because we met all kinds of really cool people (hi Julie, Kim/Beenie, Angeles, Carrie/Medea, and those of you wonderful people whose names I unfortunately do not remember because I was in too much of a daze).
I have to say that the crowd was absolutely wonderful and I have no complaints whatsoever. Everyone was surprised to hear that Anna had come all the way from Australia, and they all agreed that she had to meet Tori after making that long trip. Unfortunately, when Steve and the other security people began actually setting up the barricades, the now rather large crowd had to move and we lost our previously good place in the crowd.
Finally, near 4 o'clock, Tori's bus drove up. When she got off, it became apparent to me and Anna that we would probably not get to meet her, although she did get really happy upon seeing someone back on our part of the barricade and we thought for a minute she might come back there. But then she disappeared where we couldn't see her and we began losing all hope.
But to our shock and amazement, Joel came back to where we were and said "Where's Anna?" Anna said "here!" and he said, "Anna from Australia?" and she said yes, so he said "Come with me." So Anna and I went to the other side of the barricade and followed Joel, although we kept stopping because we couldn't believe we were really meant to keep following him. But he was very nice and he kept saying "Go on" until we got to the part of the barricade by the bus, where we could see Tori signing things for other people.
So we waited and after just a minute, Tori came over to us! She went to Anna first and exclaimed, "What a journey!" Then she gave her a big hug and said, "You must be freezing your ass off!" Anna then gave Tori the present she had for her and Tori wrote 'Anna' on the bag and handed it to Joel. Then she turned to me and said "Where are you from?" I felt very silly telling her I was from Illinois, but then I put my hand on Anna's arm and said to her, "This is my sister, my spiritual sister, and I would never have met her if it weren't for you and your music." Tori looked very happy and I'm positive she said something then, but I don't remember what it was! All I remember is that after that she hugged me. My main goal in going to the Meet and Greet was to finally hug Tori, and I was in such a state of shock that I didn't really comprehend I was doing it at first, but then it sunk in a little bit so I hugged her tighter.
Then Anna asked her if she could get a picture taken with her and Tori said sure, so Anna handed me her camera and I took a picture of them together. Then Tori took Anna's camera and handed it to someone else in the crowd and said "Can you take another one, of the two of us?" So the girl took a picture of them and then Tori asked for one more just in case and Anna pulled me into the picture too.
Then Anna got Tori to sign her Little Earthquakes booklet and requested Upside Down, which Tori wrote on her hand. Tori told Anna she felt bad for not making it to Australia, but that it was just hard with the baby. However, she said she planned on making it there with the next album.
I gave her the poem I had written (for those who have the Ears with Stories book, it was the one called For Tori, should you care) and the leopard from Tracie (and I dutifully explained who it was from and what it was for). I know she said something after that, but once again, my poor little brain was too overwhelmed to remember. But then she pulled us both to her and hugged us at the same time, and just before she walked away, she said, "I'm glad you found each other" and moved her fingers together to represent two people coming together. It was very cute! We called thank you to her as we left and walked away in shock.
All I could think was that I had to find whoever told Tori about Anna so I could thank them! We then ran into Mikewhy and Amanda, who are also wonderful people, and then encountered several girls who had told Tori there was someone from Australia who had to meet her. I just want you girls to know, I will love all of you eternally, and no doubt so will Anna! That's got to be the biggest favour anyone has ever done for me!
The Meet and Greet ended not long after that and several of us went to a place called Alcatraz to dinner (Mikewhy was kind enough to give Anna and me a ride there). It was a lot of fun getting to hang around so many other people who love Tori, as I had never gotten to do so before (hi Josh, Carol, Steve, and David).
So, onto the concert itself-
'97 Bonnie and Clyde-you've all read about this one, so I won't elaborate, except to say that Tori's voice was definitely NOT a recording. The violin certainly was, but the way Tori said things was quite different from the album version. She sounded a bit angry.
Siren
Rattlesnakes-one of my very favourites off the album, I was quite pleased to hear it. In the verses, she played the Fender Rhodes with one hand and the piano with the other hand, but the chorus was all on the piano.
After Rattlesnakes, she picked up her mug of tea and stirred it with the spoon, saying "So, how is everybody?" to which everyone naturally cheered, and then she slurped some tea off the spoon and said, "You guys are chirpy, aren't you!" We all laughed and she said "I need to like bottle you guys up and take you around the country with me!" Everyone cheered to that and she said, "So if you get bored, stop by my other shows and I'll get you in!" Then she said, "So anyway, I've been getting ready for Halloween, which is hard because, you know, it's my favourite day!" Then she grinned at us and did a little improv where she kept saying "ghosts and spooks and maybe you." Then she went into-
Caught A Lite Sneeze-beautiful on the piano. Right at the beginning of the second verse, she said something like, "the fire is in me, the fire is in me now girls" which I found interesting. Then towards the end, after singing the chorus, she said "right before our eyes, right before our eyes"- and then sang the chorus again, saying "building tumbling down," and I suddenly thought of the World Trade Center-
River-I'd never heard or read any version of this, but it was beautiful.
Spring Haze
Cool On Your Island-she played this entirely on the Fender Rhodes and although I never much liked Y Kant Tori Read, I really liked this version. It has a much different feel, looking back after all these years.
Then she began to say "So I just want you guys to know"- but someone yelled something out and she stopped and said "Huh?" which for some reason made a whole bunch of people yell things out. She glanced around the room and then said, "Well, hang on! So you guys have what Tash calls 'brroom brroom' and in Cornwall, everything stops so we can watch Formula One. So this is for all the guys that do 'brroom brroom.'" Then she played-
Cooling
Little Earthquakes
Upside Down-Anna's request! I was so delighted that Tori actually played it!
Playboy Mommy-she played this entirely on the Wurlitzer. It's one of my favourites from Choirgirl, so I enjoyed it immensely.
Tear In Your Hand
Me And A Gun-had my heart pounding, but she wasn't nearly as alarming with the "flat on your stomach" part as she has been in recordings I've heard.
Twinkle
1st Encore:
Daniel
1000 Oceans-she played this entirely on the Rhodes.
2nd encore:
Silent All These Years-one of the songs I wanted to hear most, and she did not disappoint me. Some people yelled out right after she sang "yes I know what you think of me you never shut up" and she paused before singing very clearly, "yeah I can hear that" and she had a funny look on her face. I wish people would take a hint! She did the bridge a bit different though, she sang something to the effect of, "years go buy will I still be waiting still be waiting to understand, years go by if I've stripped of my beauty stripped of my beauty and the clouds raining in my head, years go by will I choke on my tears choke on my tears till finally there is nothing left, one more casualty you know we're too easy easy easy."
Frog On My Toe-I was glad she played this after Kim (Beenie) requested it--with difficult--at the Meet and Greet!
Pandora's Aquarium-she belted out the "sound" part with a lot of power, very beautiful.
This is only my second Tori cocnert in my life (first was in 99) and I thought the crowd was pretty good, except for the people who kept leaving to get more drinks and distracting us from Tori-if you don't care about Tori any more than that, don't come to the bloody concert, please. And my very biggest complaint would have to be the guy who was quite unfortunately sitting 2 rows ahead of me and kept yelling things like "You are so beautiful!" and "God bless you!" and "I love you Tori!" while she was singing. There are not words to describe how disruptive this was to everyone in the audience and undoubtedly to Tori too. If you seriously loved her, you would have enough respect to listen to her instead of screaming at her and assuming she's deaf, which this guy must have assumed since he kept repeating himself. Mister, if you are reading this, I just want you to know that Tori KNOWS what you think of her. You never shut up.
But anyway, aside from that it was an absolutely wonderful experience. Me and Anna even got a chance to thank Joel for taking us to Tori when the concert was over, and I just have to say, he is the NICEST man. Anyone who has bad thoughts about Joel should get rid of them immediately. We felt so fulfilled after the show that we didn't even stay for the after show Meet and Greet.
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Review by spacedog26
okay. i've heard more than a few ppl say "oh silent all these years, we've heard it before, blah blah blah" but i must say, at this show i was floored by this song...the fact that she sang the counter-harmony during the bridge got me good. has she been doing that a lot lately? it's the first time i've heard it that way, and i thought it was gorgeous.
i thought upside down was amazing...and twinkle.
well worth the three hour drive...
only downside is stupid people who scream nonsense in the middle of songs, stupid people who sing along, and very VERY stupid people who get up to get more beer during an encore. i pity dem fools.
i didn't realize river was such a treat. i loved it, and at first thought she was singing jingle bells but i hate to admit, i didn't know that she had covered this one previously...
so yeah. i think this is my first post in over a year...just wanted to comment on saty and the way she did the bridge. amazing.
oh, one more thing. i'm surprised by how many anti-rufus remarks i've seen. (well, just one or two really, but still that surprises me.) i would've LOVED to have seen them together...my favorite guy and my favorite gal...alas the ONLY two shows he didn't open for were cleveland and this one, and these were pretty much the only ones within driving distance...so, yeah...i envy lots of you guys...
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From Ashley
Added May 3, 2002 - I stood out in the cold at the meet and greet for 2&Mac184; hours hoping to get to meet tori. After about an hour i was like "i'm not leaving here without and autograph....i've done this twice now, and i'm not going home empty handed!" so, i handed off my purse and camera, grabbed my friends Cd's and held them in the air (along with my Boys double vinyl) for the next hour. Finally, the crowd got to pushing so bad i made it close enough to yell. So, (with my knees shaking wildly, and heart about to burst out of my chest) I said "tori, will you sign these" She looked up at me with her beautiful smile and took the record and the cd's from my hand. I LOST IT. I was crying like a baby! All the while my friends were going "oh my god, she got it!!!! she got it!!!!!" I was in euphoria for the rest of the day. We then went back to the abbey(local coffee shop, down the road, that was sadly demolished by a drunk driver on 4/6), where, i talked to other toriphiles...and i gawked at my prize...which is now beautifully framed on maroon velvet matting... AS we were leaving to head to the murat my friend amanda asked what songs i hoped she's play...and i said, well, my all time fave, Tear in Your Hand, Cooling, and Frog on my toe. and sure enough!!!!!
I dont' think i stopped crying from the moment she walked on stage...it was especially bad when she did tear in your hand...I'd been waiting for 3 years to hear that song live....my boyfriend kept asking me if i was ok...i couldn't even talk.
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