Meeting My Hero
I think Im finally ready to write something about the amazing experience I had on Monday. So here goes…
My friend Natalie and I set out into Dublin to pop up to Vicar Street to see if anything was happening before the Tori Amos concert. When we got there, there was about 20 people just standing around, they looked like they were waiting for something, anything, to happen. Shane approached me this guy that I had met through toriforum.com, and had previously met at the Ryan Tubridy show when Tori performed. I was so glad that there was someone there to fill us in on what was going on. Then we were introduced to these girls, really sweet girls, also from toriforum.com. Everyone was just so nice.
The security for Vicar Street had been out to tell everyone that Tori would be down to see us after the sound check, and as we stood there chatting amongst ourselves (and might I add, that everyone there was extremely nice, sharing stories about Tori, and just being very excited at the prospect of seeing her in person) everytime the door opened I felt sick to my stomach with this incredible excitement and anticipation.
After about an hour, Toris personal bodyguard (this huge African American man, who was actually a lovely guy!) popped his head out and told us that they wanted some structure to this, as the crowd had increased to about 40 people, and that Tori would be out in about 45minutes. As we all queued up, it started to lash rain; we were getting soaked to the skin and really didnt care. I guess they felt sorry for us though, and decided to let us inside Vicar Street, and into the bar. We all queued up to exit the building, none of us really knowing what was going to happen, or how long we would be waiting. But then up at the top of the queue camera flashes started to go off. I felt as if I was either going to vomit, or cry!!!
I couldnt really see anything up ahead until I got closer to the front and then I saw her this mass of orange hair poking out of the crowd and then I heard her sweet soft voice, and her laughter it was quite overwhelming. When it was finally my turn to approach her, I was weak at the knees. But when I stood in front of her, she smiled at me, and I felt completely at ease. I handed her the album sleeve for The Beekeeper, and she signed her name, and then she looked at me with these big eyes.
Me: “Sinead… my name… is Sinead.”
Tori Amos: “How do you spell that?”
Me: “S… i… ehhh…”
Tori Amos: *writes down two letters… then stares intently*
Me: “Ehhh S i n e a d” *almost dies of embarrasment*
Tori Amos: *writes more and then hands me the album sleeve back*
Me: *deep breath* “Thank you for playing over here again, finally, I never thought I would get the chance to ever see you play live, that makes me really happy.” *almost dies again*
Tori Amos: “I’m glad I could make you happy, honey.” *grins*
Me: *dies*
Tori Amos: *smiles nervously*(I’m sure I scared her half to death)
So she posed with me to take a picture and she smelt like shampoo (ohmygod that sounds so stalker-like! But its just true!!!) and then I thanked her, and I walked out the door. The picture taken is… well… manic. I actually look insane.
Tori Amos is truly a lady. She was just so incredibly accommodating and tender with everyone, very mother-like and soothing in just her presence, and those eyes and that smile simply gorgeous. And you know what I really do not know of ANY other recording artist that would be as good to their fans as Tori Amos is, all the damm time.
So Later that night I finally got to see Tori Amos live in concert. This has been a dream of mine for almost 10 years I never imagined that I would actually get to meet her in person. Ive always had these ideas in my mind about how I would feel, and how she would play/sound live not only did she live up to my expectations, she surpassed them.
The woman was just so raw and alive on stage. She just lets herself go completely its fascinating to watch. The setup she had on stage was incredible her massive (fucking beautiful) Bosendorfer piano, two organs, and a keyboard. She played the organ and piano at the same time, switching between the two of them, and her voice travelled like a wonderful echo between the space. When she did this switch, she gyrated her hips and flexed her pelvis into the air; I guess it was all to do with the momentum of playing so passionately all it did to me was turn me on!
The venue (Vicar Street) was perfection it only holds about 1000 people and you are so close to the stage, it is very intimate, and the acoustics are fabulous and the seats we had were smack in the very middle, and only 3 rows back so I could see every little thing even the spit spraying across the microphone as Tori got REALLY into it. Did I mention already how raw she pours herself into her lives shows!? Simply fantastic, there is just no other artist like her.
I really NEED to go see her play live again. I thought once would be enough but after not being able to afford to see her second show in Dublin it makes me crazy with a lust to just hear/see her play that way once more. But I am very happy that I had such an amazing day and night, which finally revolved completely around her.
If I had to choose just one song that was my favourite from Monday night it would have to be Winter, from the album Little Earthquakes (my favourite Tori Amos album). It brought tears to my eyes it really is a powerful song but listening to her sing it live, and twinkle across the piano with her fingertips it was just emotional. It is also one of the first Tori Amos songs that I really fell in love with.
This is the set-list from Monday night
Original Sinsuality
Icicle
Mother Revolution
Take To The Sky
Blood Roses
Yes, Anastasia
Rattlesnakes
After All (David Bowie cover)
Time (Tom Waits cover)
Amber Waves
Marianne
Ribbons Undone
Spring Haze
The Beekeeper
1st Encore
Winter
Playboy Mommy
2nd Encore
Josephine
Toast