I've been waiting to recover before I wrote my thoughts on the Philadelphia concert (10/13/01). I ended up with severe sleep deprivation and emotional overload, but damn, it was worth it.Three friends, two of whom are tour regulars, came to stay with me on Friday and Saturday. We spent a good deal of time in New Hope, PA on Friday, and listened to some really good boots that night in prep for the concert. We all also watched the video of my RAINN Faire and the performers just about made the whole room cry, once again. I packed up a manila envelope Sat morning with my manuscript (so Tori can see what I've done to it, like add one hundred pages to it), and slipped in the video tape. I wrote on the front to please play "Take to the Sky" for me in Philly. My friends said they doubted she knew she was in Philly and I wrote "Tonight!" under it.
We arrived at the Tower Theater around 4PM, shortly before the meet and greet. I handed the package to a friend in the meet and greet crowd, and stood across the street with most of the other "regulars".
**note: most of the regulars who have met Tori time after time have decided to just stay across the way unless they have a specific thing to say to her, which is how it should be**
In the very back of the crowd was a girl with dark hair. She looked so young and little and so far away from where Tori would be. As the bus rolled up, she unfolded a neon green sign that read "It is my dream to meet Tori Amos". Those of us watching called her the Dream Girl and when Joel walked back, took her arm and brought her up to Tori, we all broke out in applause. Of course, Tori spent several moments with her, hugging, signing something and posing for pictures. Just like Tori does. She is so cool to her fans. I was sorry I couldn't find the girl after. I would have loved to talk to her.
I saw a whole lot of people who know who they are, and got tons of hugs and greetings. I met a lovely girl from Israel who was quite nice. I spent my student loan at the merchandise table, but the best buy was the tour book, which is also a 2002 calendar (which notes Robert Plant's birthday and "be nice to fairies day"), each month has a different "strange little girl". $20, but I think it's grand!
So I went through a whole lot of ticket trades and upgraded to the 30th row instead of the 40th. I was on the right aisle, directly across from the sound board, which happens to be where I sat the first time I ever saw Tori in 1994. Must have been fate. So I did a bit of Mark watching during the concert. He seems to enjoy most of it, and even was moving a bit to "Take to the Sky". But it broke my heart during "Me and a Gun". He put his hands in loose fists met knuckle to knuckle and laid his forehead on them. He very slightly was shaking his head and I thought, "It must be upsetting to hear your wife sing about rape every night". He took a couple of deep breaths at the end and lifted his head. It was so touching.
I did ok emotionally until she ended the first encore with Neil Young's "Philadelphia". read the lyrics and see a pic of Tori receiving the video/book From the first few notes, I knew what it was and my jaw dropped and the tears began to fall. The movie has always affected me hard, and that song especially, and Tori's voice...Oh what painful bliss. It also proved she knew exactly what city she was in *g*.
So I had barely caught my breath when she came out and slayed me with "Josephine". "Baker Baker" was almost a reprieve from the emotional overload (and that's saying something!).
It was a wonderful, moving show and I so regret not being able to attend more. Tori with a band is magic, Tori alone on stage is miraculous. *sigh*
I know I've forgotten so many things, but this is the best I can do for now. Those who are due to attend a show, prepare yourself for the time of your life, an unforgettable experience. I envy you for the anticipation of it. :)
We were able to raise $810 for RAINN with our wonderful party on August 21.
This review was written by Jim Goldman on August 21, 2001
HAPPY BIRTHDAY TORI!!!
A group of Tori-philes, myself included, sent that message out from Quakertown, PA, tonight.
Organized by our own Beth Coulter, about fifty people descended on the Main Street Theatre in Quakertown. Unified by a love of Tori's music and a desire to do some good for RAINN, we came together for a casual dinner, to hear some local songstresses perform Tori's work, and to participate in a charity auction, the proceeds of which benefited RAINN.
I spent $140.00 on two concert CD's and a tour book from the Under the Pink tour.
As I watched the lovely young ladies sing songs such as "Pretty Good Year" and "China," it kind of reminded me what it really is about Tori's music that I love, and how Tori fits in with what, any casual observer would note, is my very eclectic and varied taste in music. Her songs are so filled with passion, with emotion, with (for lack of a better word) with power, how can I not stand in awe as I watch someone whom I have never met -- someone whose own story is one that I have not heard, so I cannot know firsthand the depth to which this song touches her -- as her eyes practically well up with tears as she sings "When you gonna make up your mind? When you gonna love you as much as I do?"
Then Beth took the stage and opened the auction with an exceptionally moving and brave speech. speech text here It is not my place to elaborate on her words, however suffice it to say that I was in a similar situation as Beth was, at about the same time, and I do not think I have the courage to speak to it the way she did so casually. She closed her speech by explaining the purpose of RAINN, and how we should try not to look away from our brothers and sisters in their time of need.
HAPPY BIRTHDAY, TORI!
FOR THOSE WHO NEED IT, AND FROM THOSE WHO HOPE THEY NEVER HAVE TO NEED IT, MAY RAINN ALWAYS BE THERE!
Jim Goldman jimphynn@mindspring.com Jim’s Website
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