Post by bexface on Mar 17, 2003 19:12:59 GMT -5
Everything is good in Tori-land. You couldn’t’ve asked for better weather to have a Meet & Greet than what we had yesterday in Pittsburgh. The lapse from the bitter winter cold was the perfect tonic. Everybody was bubbly and in good spirits. And that usually makes for a good M&G.
Got there at 10:15 AM to be the seventh person. One had been there since 5 AM! I first started talking with Megan who reminded me of Tori in many ways (red hair, beautiful blue-green eyes). A mini-reunion occurred when Holly realized that Megan ran a website that Holly once hosted. It was a beautiful sunny day and we sat or stood out on the pavement. Before noon, the group had grown to twenty so it looked to be a big M&G, particularly since the day before, 100 people had shown up in Louisville. Of course, that added to the nervous tensions as the afternoon approached. The group creeped up to the barricades (not yet in their permanent setup) while blocking the driveway so we had to keep on moving out of the way when cars or people came up. I spoke some with Linda who knew a lot of the Tori regulars and also desperately needed to talk with Tori. (She did!) We also listened to Tori (via phone and radio) who played at the Club Café at 1 PM for a few songs (without the band) intermixed with interviews. Finally, Patrick showed and moved us back out of the driveway so the final barricade setup could begin. He went over the rules and asked for a calm walk-up to the barricades. Well, I wish I could say it went that way. I rumbled along with the rest to hold my spot and ended up in the second row. YAY!!
She arrived all smiles. What a difference thirty degrees can make! Came over to my side first to start with those around me. There was a special story concerning Steve, from Indy, who requested something that made Tori pause for a long time. However, I think it best I not post it here (at least not yet).
My turn once again. Being I am used to seeing the goddess up close, my nervousness is way under control now. I first told her that it was my last show for a while and that this last swing was great. The music is so beautiful and the people are so beautiful. She was touched by my remarks, making it all the more wonderful. Okay, down to business, I gave her the group St. Patrick’s Day card I had passed around earlier. Then asked her if she has seen this: The Drink List from the Toledo Show. (For those of you either not at the Toledo show or at that bar, they had a list of special drinks, four of them, named after Tori songs. “A Sorta Fairytale,” “Tulula,” (yes, it was spelled wrong, everyone notices that right off), and “Crucify” were on the list. It had been my intention to have her sign it but I had a feeling she might like it. She sparkled when looking at it and asked, “Is this for me?” then “O, I might be robbing you.” But I assured her it was okay, that she could have it. After all, how many times can you give something that unique to Tori? Instead, I had her sign my “to venus and back” music book. I also asked her a question that had been bumping around my head for a long time. I am a Peter Gabriel fan. He was my number one before Tori. (Isn’t it odd that he put out his last major record, not counting “OVO” and the very-recent “Up,” in ’92, the same time Tori started coming alive?) Anyway, Tori and he (my two favorite musicians) had co-wrote a song called “Party Man” on the “Virtuosity” Soundtrack. He performed it; she did not. But every time I listen to it, I cannot hear Tori in this music. So my question was: How much of that song is Tori and how much is Peter? She paused for a while (I wondered in that eternity if I possibly had offended her) and then gave her response. She came in to write some backing keyboard lines but the song was his. He had his own direction for it, knew what he wanted to do with it, and she was filling in sections. (In retrospect, I can see that given the part she played in it, she may have considered that I was trying to remind her of something bad, when it wasn’t bad at all. Am so glad she saw past that right away!) She said it was a great experience; that Peter had done it in his socks. Then she proclaimed her admiration for Peter with a little dance and gorgeous smile. Back to the book signing, she wrote “To Karl + your magic drinks, Elixirs of Thought, Tori Amos”. I was in heaven. THANK YOU, TORI!!
Got lots of great pictures (yes, I promise to post them soon). At one point, a lady with a baby yelled out from the back, “Tori, can you meet my baby?” Tori yelled back to bring it up along the side. It was a cute baby and Tori spent some time talking to him or her. It really appeared the baby was enjoying the magic she brings! She kept on down the line, talking with Megan (who thanked her for not “blowing off” Pittsburgh as she had promised not to during the first swing), Holly, Linda, and Grace. I am so happy that they got their chance to talk directly with her and get photos taken. I was disappointed in the guy in the back who loudly yelled out, “Tori, will you sign this CD for my son?” With his projection, she heard him and agreed. But that was rude in my mind. Not only that, but the others around him would not get their things signed since Joel limits the amount of passing items forward.
One other noteworthy item. Jen and a few others had asked if Tori would come back to Maryland. Evidently, not this leg but they were working on a “special summer thing” that could possibly include Maryland. This would be what could be termed the third leg. She also mentioned May 6, which must be the last date for this current leg but the final shows after April 29th have yet to be announced. Wonder where they will be?
I have said it before and I will say it again: What a wonderful experience it is to be around her, watching her talk to her admirers, spreading the healing and magic around. I know some of you in the back can get discouraged. I was that way once. Then I got close enough to see how great it is and I keep on going back for more. I try not to hog space up front, or her time as I have seen others do, but it is difficult. There is so much to say and no time to say it. My advice to you is go to as many as possible and get used to the idea of not meeting her. Your patience will reap great rewards in the end. And remember the people are so cool to hang out with that it is worth it just for that. Good luck to all future M&Gers!!
Got there at 10:15 AM to be the seventh person. One had been there since 5 AM! I first started talking with Megan who reminded me of Tori in many ways (red hair, beautiful blue-green eyes). A mini-reunion occurred when Holly realized that Megan ran a website that Holly once hosted. It was a beautiful sunny day and we sat or stood out on the pavement. Before noon, the group had grown to twenty so it looked to be a big M&G, particularly since the day before, 100 people had shown up in Louisville. Of course, that added to the nervous tensions as the afternoon approached. The group creeped up to the barricades (not yet in their permanent setup) while blocking the driveway so we had to keep on moving out of the way when cars or people came up. I spoke some with Linda who knew a lot of the Tori regulars and also desperately needed to talk with Tori. (She did!) We also listened to Tori (via phone and radio) who played at the Club Café at 1 PM for a few songs (without the band) intermixed with interviews. Finally, Patrick showed and moved us back out of the driveway so the final barricade setup could begin. He went over the rules and asked for a calm walk-up to the barricades. Well, I wish I could say it went that way. I rumbled along with the rest to hold my spot and ended up in the second row. YAY!!
She arrived all smiles. What a difference thirty degrees can make! Came over to my side first to start with those around me. There was a special story concerning Steve, from Indy, who requested something that made Tori pause for a long time. However, I think it best I not post it here (at least not yet).
My turn once again. Being I am used to seeing the goddess up close, my nervousness is way under control now. I first told her that it was my last show for a while and that this last swing was great. The music is so beautiful and the people are so beautiful. She was touched by my remarks, making it all the more wonderful. Okay, down to business, I gave her the group St. Patrick’s Day card I had passed around earlier. Then asked her if she has seen this: The Drink List from the Toledo Show. (For those of you either not at the Toledo show or at that bar, they had a list of special drinks, four of them, named after Tori songs. “A Sorta Fairytale,” “Tulula,” (yes, it was spelled wrong, everyone notices that right off), and “Crucify” were on the list. It had been my intention to have her sign it but I had a feeling she might like it. She sparkled when looking at it and asked, “Is this for me?” then “O, I might be robbing you.” But I assured her it was okay, that she could have it. After all, how many times can you give something that unique to Tori? Instead, I had her sign my “to venus and back” music book. I also asked her a question that had been bumping around my head for a long time. I am a Peter Gabriel fan. He was my number one before Tori. (Isn’t it odd that he put out his last major record, not counting “OVO” and the very-recent “Up,” in ’92, the same time Tori started coming alive?) Anyway, Tori and he (my two favorite musicians) had co-wrote a song called “Party Man” on the “Virtuosity” Soundtrack. He performed it; she did not. But every time I listen to it, I cannot hear Tori in this music. So my question was: How much of that song is Tori and how much is Peter? She paused for a while (I wondered in that eternity if I possibly had offended her) and then gave her response. She came in to write some backing keyboard lines but the song was his. He had his own direction for it, knew what he wanted to do with it, and she was filling in sections. (In retrospect, I can see that given the part she played in it, she may have considered that I was trying to remind her of something bad, when it wasn’t bad at all. Am so glad she saw past that right away!) She said it was a great experience; that Peter had done it in his socks. Then she proclaimed her admiration for Peter with a little dance and gorgeous smile. Back to the book signing, she wrote “To Karl + your magic drinks, Elixirs of Thought, Tori Amos”. I was in heaven. THANK YOU, TORI!!
Got lots of great pictures (yes, I promise to post them soon). At one point, a lady with a baby yelled out from the back, “Tori, can you meet my baby?” Tori yelled back to bring it up along the side. It was a cute baby and Tori spent some time talking to him or her. It really appeared the baby was enjoying the magic she brings! She kept on down the line, talking with Megan (who thanked her for not “blowing off” Pittsburgh as she had promised not to during the first swing), Holly, Linda, and Grace. I am so happy that they got their chance to talk directly with her and get photos taken. I was disappointed in the guy in the back who loudly yelled out, “Tori, will you sign this CD for my son?” With his projection, she heard him and agreed. But that was rude in my mind. Not only that, but the others around him would not get their things signed since Joel limits the amount of passing items forward.
One other noteworthy item. Jen and a few others had asked if Tori would come back to Maryland. Evidently, not this leg but they were working on a “special summer thing” that could possibly include Maryland. This would be what could be termed the third leg. She also mentioned May 6, which must be the last date for this current leg but the final shows after April 29th have yet to be announced. Wonder where they will be?
I have said it before and I will say it again: What a wonderful experience it is to be around her, watching her talk to her admirers, spreading the healing and magic around. I know some of you in the back can get discouraged. I was that way once. Then I got close enough to see how great it is and I keep on going back for more. I try not to hog space up front, or her time as I have seen others do, but it is difficult. There is so much to say and no time to say it. My advice to you is go to as many as possible and get used to the idea of not meeting her. Your patience will reap great rewards in the end. And remember the people are so cool to hang out with that it is worth it just for that. Good luck to all future M&Gers!!