"...these are my seats. I give them to people who like music..."

How can I possibly write a post about seeing Tori Amos on tour and do it justice? There's no way I can say enough! Nevertheless, this is going to be a marathon post. Are you ready? Here we go:

Last Wednesday, Freddy and I went out to San Diego. This trip had been planned for months and I thought it was never going to be time. He surprised me with tickets to see Tori. So the wait for December 12th began.

I hadn’t been in the San Diego airport since January of 1994. I didn’t remember it at all. What I do remember is how my parents told me my life would be ruined if I went to California on that trip. I was willing to take that chance. They were right. California got stuck in my brain and I have been trying to go back as often as I can.

After we arrived and checked into our hotel, we decided to take a look around the “old town” area. We saw some really neat looking houses.

Walking around the funny little street with all the tourist trinket shops we ran into a Mexican restaurant called “FRED’s” I was so excited. We HAD to eat here! So we had a couple margaritas and quesadillas and brought home a souvenir glass! I love it!

The show that night was amazing in so many ways. Anticipation proved to be too much for me. Unable to stay in my seat, I went to the front to check out the stage and Tori’s Bösendorfer piano.




This guy opened for Tori. His name is Yoav. I think. He said his name 42 times, but I never understood it. He was really cool actually. Everyone really seemed to enjoy him. Loved the British accent. Maybe I'm an Anglophile like Tori?






There was a brief wait. Then the lights went down again. Everyone screamed. I was holding my breath scanning the stage to see which of the Dolls would be coming out tonight. (if you’re STILL not caught up on who the Dolls are, see my previous Tori post.)

Then someone in the balcony screamed. The curtain parted and Santa came out and danced around the stage as the band played.

She open into Body and Soul. After She’s Your Cocaine she took a break to pour mojitos to the band.




Next Hoochie Woman and Raspberry Swirl, and then Santa was gone. Wait. Gone? No! Come back! Santa only did four songs.

After a brief break the curtain parted again! I was expecting to see Tori, but I was shocked to see Isobel! I assumed from the crazy cheers that went up that the rest of the people were shocked as well. San Diego was the only time on the entire tour that there was more than one of the Dolls in a show.

Isobel open with Yo George. The lighting was amazing all night and Yo George was one of my favorites. It looked like an abstract American flag. It was perfect for that song.


Isobel also did Mountain, Tombigbee, and Scarlett’s Walk.


Then there was the Professional Widow (remix) intermission. It was so much fun.




After the break Tori came back to Big Wheel, Cornflake Girl, and the Doughnut Song.




























The band took a break and left for the T & Bö section. It was so amazing! Tori gets so much out of a piano. Her passion and energy is very addicting.


She did a little improvisation then launched into Twinkle and an unscheduled (!) Leather. I LOVE that song! I especially get a huge kick out watching Tori perform it. “...if love isn’t forever and its not the weather, hand me my leather...” The expression she gets is so cute.



The band returned and continued with Your Cloud, one of my favorites from the Scarlett’s Walk album. I think I nearly squeezed Freddy’s arm off at this point (sorry Freddy). I cried through the whole song. It’s a song about separation and how it seems impossible to do so from the love of your life. “...if the rain has to separate from itself does it say ‘pick out your cloud?’...”

Next was Virginia.





Tori ended every show on her tour with Code Red. This time, though, things went a little differently. All night there were these two women who kept wandering around the floor. They were getting drinks and chatting with each other like they were in a coffee house or something. I don’t know if this is true but someone said that when they found their way to a couple seats in the front row one of them was on her mobile chatting away. Well, it proved to be too much for Tori...

(watch the whole thing. it is an amazing performance. but especially up to two and a half minutes in.)



She kicked their asses out of the theater! It was amazing!!!! Everyone went crazy! Tori began again where she left off with a newfound i'm-not-gonna-take-it passion. Code Red was such a perfect song for this! "...what you stole i would have given freely..."


Immediately after, everyone rushed the stage to be in the front with the “people who like music!” The first encore was Precious Things and Bliss. Both are top Tori songs to me! Second (!) encore was Space Dog and Hey Jupiter. (No. I don't know whose hand that is.)




Here’s the set list that didn’t play out exactly as planned. I loved the show we got for sure!


The night was pure magic. Freddy said I didn't stop grinning the whole time.
Not ready for it to end, we went outside to wait to see if Tori would come out and say “hi.” I’m not really an autograph person, but I just want to be near Tori and say “hi back” and hear her talk to every one.

Poor Freddy waited with me in the cold for 2 hours! (Love you so much Freddy!)

I think because of earlier incident Tori didn’t relish a confrontation with the booted women. So when she did come out, she made a beeline for her bus. Honestly, I don’t blame her. Plus it was very cold that night. We did get to meet and chat with some other rabid Tori fans. That was fun.

I can’t believe her tour has come to an end. It was a really incredible show. If I could have, I totally would follow her around the countries.

Please tour again soon Tori! I love you!