Thank You, Tori

Yes, I am back from my little break, and I warn you...this post got longer than I had planned. I guess I felt like writing. Whatevs!

So...last night my big sister and I went to the WaMu Theater in Qwest Field in downtown Seattle to see Tori Amos in concert. Looking back on my formative years, Tori was a huge part of my entry from high school to college, and then college to life. Hearing her older songs instantly sends me back to different times in my life, so in many ways listening to Tori is like listening to a scrapbook of the important moments and phases I went through. Does that make any sense?

I've seen Tori in concert three times before, most "recently" 10 years ago (and yes, I realize 10 years ago isn't very recent). In the decade that's past since last I saw Ms. Amos, I turned away from her music. She added a band to her more intimate piano-centric sound, and I just didn't follow her down that road. I also have been figuring out who I am more...something that happens with a startling amount of pain and growth as you go through your 20s (if you're in your 20s, trust me...your 30s will be so much better!).

When my sister and I decided to see Tori in concert, I binged on her music...and I must admit that in the years I've avoided her, she's put out some damn amazing stuff. I'm glad I got over myself and stopped writing her off. If you haven't listened to her latest, Abnormally Attracted to Sin, you should really pick it up. There are some classic Tori gems on it...it's worth every penny.

The concert was fabulous....everything I could have wanted. The opening band sucked, but that's to be expected. I don't think I've ever seen an opening band that was worth my time. Sorry! But once Tori walked out on stage, striking in an emerald green dress (since she was in Seattle, the Emerald City), and her trademark red hair. She sat between her big black piano and a keyboard and played with everything she had. Her only stage-mates were a bass player and a drummer who stayed off in the distance. The focus was Tori, and she held the spotlight gracefully.

Her setlist was fun...a good mix between her new stuff and old familiars. She played a lot of stuff from Under the Pink, did an incredibly emotional cover of Landslide that she dedicated to her brother who died a few years ago, and even went back to Little Earthquakes to play Crucify, Precious Things, and China. She didn't play anything from my favorite, Boys for Pele and she also avoided From the Choirgirl Hotel. Oh well.

The concert crowd was the normal mix of people I would normally have nothing to do with. There's nothing like a concert to bring out bad fashion and gallons of patchouli. Look, I understand that some people feel that the only way they can enjoy live music is by smoking a ton of pot before the show. Whatever...to each his own. The smell of pot is one thing, but covering up that smell with god-awful patchouli is just cruel and disgusting. And what the hell is up with teenage girls swooning over every note Tori played? Silly girls...screaming "I love you Tori" isn't going to win you any favors.

Despite gross people and hideous "sensitive man music" that made Hootie and the Blowfish seem hardcore to start the show, Tori did not disappoint. She was beautiful, her song selection was a nice journey through different memories and moods, and overall the night was perfection. Thank you, Tori, for giving me yet another happy memory.

Tonight, I'm heading back to Seattle to go to the Symphony. They're playing the music from the Final Fantasy video games, so this show is for my husband. If last night was for the girls, tonight is for the fan-boys, but it should be fun. And then? I'm off to the a week at the beach!