North American Plugged '98 Tour
Denver, CO
September 1, 1998
Updated December 23, 1998
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North American Plugged '98 Tour
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Check Out The Reviews And Set Lists Page Tori performed in Denver, CO on September 1, 1998 at the Red Rocks Amphitheatre during the main North American leg of her Plugged '98 tour.  Set ListTori performed Silent All These Years and Landslide solo. Many thanks to Dor for being the first to email me the set list. Precious Things 1st Encore: 2nd Encore: |
ReviewsThe most recently added reviews are first. From NeilQuinnSeptember 12, 1998 - I was at the Denver show, I sat (stood) front row center and let me tell you - despite what people have said it was outstanding, just fan(fuckin')tastic. It was the best Tori show I have ever seen. It was just perfect, the sound was amazing, the whole band just connected perfectly. The whole time I kept thinking it must be getting recorded for something or videoed or whatever mostly beause it was so cheesily perfect... I mean Silent All These Years instead of Clouds... After the show I got to see Tori and talk with her for a very short time but it was my first meet and greet and she was so cool. We chatted a little and she signed my program... It was just an amazing experience. From Sjg420@aol.comSeptember 12, 1998 - just read the reviews from Red Rocks on Sept 1 ( i am little behind here, I realize) and I don't understand what is wrong with people. i was so proud to see Tori play at Red Rocks, i have seen so many bands there and was glad that she could play there. i really believe that Red Rocks is so magnificant - a natural ampitheatre! what a perfect place for someone as beautiful as Tori to play! her concert rocked! the solos were great - but in one of the reviews listed on your page, the girl recites tori's story about her friend and her period and says we all know who she is. no, i don't know. should i? also, with Landslide - really, i kind of felt like she was selling out since the reunion of FleetwoodMac has made the song newly popular, couldn't she have done something else? but i must say that HORSES was the song of the night!!!! I have never heard anything so beautiful, in such a beautiful place! If you know anyone out there who might have a live copy of this performance, please let me know. It was truley amazing and the version of this song has still not left my mind. From Anjelee (Posted to the Precious-Things mailing list)September 12, 1998 - I was sooo pissed at the denver show....I wanted to get there early to meet some new EWF's and my friend refused to take me down ther untill 6:30 When we got there we had to park in BFE, then we had to sit way up high and We had no Idea that the seats that we were in were reserved.....so at about 8:45 My friends sister and I got kicked out of our seats....We couldnt find her sister of boyfriend....I was in a pissy mood about to start crying and I was in sooo much pain. I sprained my ankle about two weekes ago and I have this limp and those stairs were killing me.....I finally walked up to someone working there and I started crying because I was soooo lost and I was in pain and I didnt know where to sit.... So he walked us down to the bottom and sat us in handicapped and we still couldn't see--even though we were in first row---I was still sooooo upset that I couldnt find my friends....So I guess I started whinning and the guy thought it was because we couldn't see so he started moving wheelchairs and put us in the center...and then our seats were perfect....So the two of us were together and I was happy that I wasn't by myself.....I hoped that my friend had enough sense to meet us at the car.....I stood up and said I am going to enjoy this concert! I started taking my pictures and I finished off the roll when tori came on playing Precious things...I was thrilled (my first time seeing tori live) I got maybe 7 pictures of her on the end of that roll....Then I switched film....about half way through Silent all these years I got noticed taking pictures.....The lady came to me and said CAMERA. I said no. She said CAMERA. I shook my head. She said give me the camera or the film. It was my aunts camera and it had a $400 zoom lens on it....I still refused.....She poped it open and took my film then said next time its the camera.....But I still have my first roll only about seven pics....I hope they come out.....they will be placed on my site if they do.... I decided to enjoy the rest of the show......I was the happiest girl in the world ....When she played her first encore I got chills----my two fav songs off this album....She's your cocaine and Raspberry Swirl......After that song I went to get a neclace and a program....My wallet was gone....That put me over the edge....I started crying and and this guy came up to me and put a neclace around my neck....I turned around and he said dont cry beautiful lady....and then Pandora's Aquarium came on it was soooo perfect...he kissed my cheek and ran off.... All in all it was beautiful...and my first experience was terrific, yet bizarre...I wish I could have met some more fans....hardly anyone replyed sayng they were going to the concert.... From StarSeptember 4, 1998 - hi, obviously i don't know you but i live in NM and i drove down to colorado for the show. i just wanted to say thanks for setting up such a great site. i was so curious about other people's opinons about the show. I have to say that the ignorance of the people standing next to me was the only dissiapointment. i think it was a wonderful show. tori was magical and magnificent as always. the setting was beautiful under the stars and moon. she said it was her first time there, it was mine also and i was in awe! on to the show in albuquerque and maybe pheonix. From Beth HasbrouckSeptember 3, 1998 - Hi Mike! Just my thoughts about the show last night... It is hard to gather everything up that is going through my head as I look back on Tuesday night's show at Red Rocks. First, the little details. We got good seats, 4th row or something, and Tori was just beautiful. She had on black pants and a black short-sleeved shirt with a really awesome sparkly silver apron type thing on over it. Her hair was down and she looked very happy the whole night. Since we were on the left side of the stage and the Bosie was facing right, we didn't see her face much...but when she played the keyboard, I could see that the smile never left her face. :) Now, as for the music...I am sad to say I have to agree with Dor about the set list, it was pretty generic. Not to say I didn't love the concert, but I was hoping she would play more songs like Playboy Mommy and Black Dove...but what's done is done. I was very happy to hear Landslide, Tear in Your Hand, and The Waitress. I know most people thought that The Waitress dragged on, but I was amazed by it. She and her band were just having a great time and doing awesome improv stuff for a long time, and I loved it. Very cool. Now, before Landslide she told a story about being a girl and talking with her girlfriends about things their mothers never told them about...you know what I mean. :) She told about "one of the girls" getting her period in class and having blood running down her leg, and Tori wouldn't say who it was, but I think we all know...and how she and her friends were all in the bathroom thinking this girl was dying because their mothers never told them about this...And then she said they heard this song and could relate to it so well and they played it over and over and over, and then she played Landslide. It was beautiful. Another really interesting thing happened as she started to play "She's Your Cocaine." Some people a few rows back on the right side of Red Rocks had a huge sign asking Tori, "Are you a lefty?" Well, as she was playing the intro music to Cocaine, she looked up and saw the sign and put up her left hand and then continued playing and started to sing. Now, none of my friends saw this, but I thought it was awesome :) and took it to mean yes, she is a lefty. Anyone know any more about this? I am curious to see if anyone else saw this... Just a few more thoughts. I had a lot of fun at this show, but I must say nothing compares to Tori and the piano; it is just so intimate and I feel like I am more connected to her in a small auditorium. Don't get me wrong, Red Rocks is beautiful, it's just so big! If asked to pick my favorite Tori show, I would have to say the last show in Boulder...that was pure magic. Anyway, I loved this show and had a great time. My favorite song was Raspberry Swirl, mostly because Tori and her band were so into it and the audience just loved it -- everyone was dancing and having a great time. :) I was pleased with the band and their dynamic with Tori, and I am fascinated to see musically where she will go next. From Meredith MoseleySeptember 3, 1998 - Red Rocks is an outdoor amphitheater east of Denver on the front range of the Rockies. I think it seats about 13,000, but I could be totally wrong. Sitting in the audience you can see a large, beautiful rock formation on the left (north) side of the house. The stage is down below, and the entire theatre is uncovered and surrounded by rocks. Depending on how high up you sit, you can usually see Denver in the distance. The Devlins were pretty straight-forward. Their Irishness was the biggest thing going for them, I think. I found their music very generically "pop". They were tight and proficient musicians, but nothing to write home about. A good warm up band. Tori began playing at 9:00. She was wearing a black off-the-shoulder top like on MTV Unplugged, black slacks, black high-heeled shoes that looked like boots, and one of those apron-style sequined dresses like she wore on TV a few weeks ago. No special make-up; she looked really nice. Matt came on wearing a big cowboy hat and glasses. Matt, Jon, and Caton came out and began playing first, then Tori walked out to enthusiastic screaming and clapping, bowed for a few seconds, then went to the piano and started a great rendition of PRECIOUS THINGS. It was so good to hear the older songs performed for the first time live with a band-they each had a new personality. PRECIOUS THINGS had a new rhythm that went well with the song's temper. She added the lyrics "wash me clean" near the end, as she has been doing live for some time now. The four of them jammed a bit at the end, and followed Tori's hand cue to wrap it up. After applause, Precious Things was followed immediately by IIEEE. The "iieee"s were recorded, but the rest of the song was pure Tori and the band doing their thing. It was great. I noticed Caton dancing-he can boogie! The middle of the song broke down into a jam with the lyric, "I know you understand the way I feel," which she sang four times, then went back into the song as we know it on the album. IIEEE went directly into a piano-only, mellow improv with the following lyrics: "You walked here before me, yes. Here are the footsteps in my path. You walked here before me yes, you did you did you did. Wonder what you [??]. Wonder who [??]. You walked here before I did, I know I know I know" This turned out to be the introduction to SUGAR. SUGAR was FANTASTIC!! The drums were low and emphatic, and I've always thought this song had that kind of urgency. Tori gave another hand cue during the jam toward to end to wrap it up. It was really good. Then Tori did the introductions: "Well I'm sure that you all know this is our first time here-this is the first time I've ever been here. I can't tell you -it's just the yummiest feeling. I just want you all to meet my brothers up here. Some of you know him-this is Caton. [cheers] And this creature back here, this is Ma-- the wonderful Matt Chamberlain back here on drums. [cheers] And this is our funny man over here, this is our bass player, this is the wonderful Jon Evans [cheers]." She went right into a little ditty on the piano: "You bet your life she is. You're so sure she is. And you search in the heavens above. You swear to Christ she will. You put it on the line, she will, be there like she said she will all along. You bet your life she can when it doesn't look like she can. And she still [will tell you?] she's wrong. And then you won't and then again she says, she swears to Christ she says, but it does but it does and it does" During her last "and it does," Matt hit four beats on the drumsticks and the band broke into CORNFLAKE GIRL. It had a lot of energy, but I prefer the version from the last tour where the piano is the most important instrument and Tori really bangs on it. The end had that same feeling of old, but There was this one moment where she was going at it near the end and she growled into the microphone. It was great! I also miss the Cornflake Girl Dance. After the Cornflake Girl applause, the band and Tori went into another mellow interlude that turned into HORSES. HORSES is one of my favorites on BFP, but I didn't like this version much. It was a lot less interesting with a band, I must say. I also think the mood of the song is much more appropriate on the album; it's more mysterious, and yet has focus. I'm not articulating this very well... It also didn't help that she didn't sing all the lyrics, omitting the entire "off with superfly" section. She ended on some high ooohs reminiscent of "hey Jupiter" two years ago. HORSES was followed by CRUEL. It was much like the album version, except that Caton added a lot of ripping guitar, and Tori played with the ends of phrases by manipulating the words. I liked it. They ended up jamming for a long time at the end. I think this was the longest song in the show-it lasted quite a while. As soon as Cruel ended, the band members left the stage. Tori said, "Okay everybody. So, the guys go away for a while." She played a short bit on the piano, then started the "bumble bee piano tinkle" easily recognizable as SILENT ALL THESE YEARS. The crowd cheered. It was as usual, except that she whispered the lyrics, "screams got lost in a paper cup," and "finally there is nothing left." She also took a cute little pause after "hear them" that made the crowd cheer. The audience went wild after the song and cheered loudly. Tori told us a story: "So I guess, um, I don't know. I think I was about thirteen when I discovered this next song, and I'd sit with my girlfriend and smoke bud [very enthusiastic cheers from the crowd, many of whom were college students in Boulder, and therefore very familiar with the wonders of "bud"]. We, uh, we [voted this program?]-her name was [Emily Austerling?] and we went to her-her mother was newly divorced so we'd go to her house and, uh-[at this point, someone shouted out a few words, to which Tori replied:] Yeah, yeah, yeah Eat me. [big cheers from the crowd] And we would go over there, and we would look at Playgirl pictures, boys, [cheers] and you know, I have to be very honest about it: I think we both were objects to each other quite equally. [cheers] So, we would sit there and, uh, we educated ourselves because our mothers didn't tell us anything. So, uh, the most embarrassing thing is when one of us had our period-we won't mention which one it was-she was in math class bleeding down her leg, and this stupid dickhead named Jimmy [Guthry?] goes, [in an annoying little voice] 'Oh, you're bleeding! [????]' [laughter from the audience] So we all rush to the bathroom, thinking one of these girls is dying because our mothers didn't tell us about this. So I think you're gonna get the picture [by?] this song. When we heard this song, we would play it over and over and over and over" She began the song that finally connected me to this concert-LANDSLIDE. After the first line and the realization by most of the audience members what song it was, there was a scream of approval. For the most part, though, the audience was relatively respectful throughout. It was REALLY GOOD. Really. It was very old-school Tori, if you will; it was very "girl and her piano"-connects-on-a-personal-level-with-every-member-of-the-audience. This is the kind of performance I will miss with these new big venues. This version was even better than when she did it in Boulder at the last concert of the Dew Drop Inn Tour. That good. Next came JACKIE'S STRENGTH. It was the best I've ever heard it-better than on the album. There was an echo on the chorus. The band was really tight, and the song was performed as brilliantly as it was written. What a song. I felt like she was connecting with the audience really well again with this song. SPARK started out with a mysterious, sparse drumbeat before Tori started playing the keyboard. This was the best live performance I've seen of this (the others being on TV). It rocked. The audience really seemed to like it, too. The cross-over between mics was pretty seamless. It didn't sound like there were any effects on the keyboard mic. Drums started CAUGHT A LITE SNEEZE. Caton joined in on guitar, then Tori on piano. I liked the version she did during Dew Drop Inn better, probably because she was on harpsichord, but this one was pretty cool with Matt's drums. The ostinato in the guitar got a little old, but the song as a whole was enjoyable. There was little contrast into the "right on time" section-I missed that. THE WAITRESS began with the band playing a sort of ethereal thing. Tori didn't put her hands on the piano until the chorus. It was weird watching her sing without playing. The choruses were rock 'n' roll. I think the band really got into this number, especially at the end when they all got to jam. There was a point where Caton came over to the nose of the Bosendorfer and he and Tori had a musical conversation of sorts, Caton playing a bit and then Tori answering on piano. Pretty cool. There were some added lyrics Tori sang as she improvised: "I'm gonna go where she goes, I'm gonna get me one of those" She ended the song with an erotic, rhythmic breathing into the microphone. After the song, she got up and beckoned the band to join her at the front of the stage, and then the four of them exited together. After intense and deliberate screaming from the crowd, the band returned and started SHE'S YOUR COCAINE. Tori eventually joined them on piano. This isn't one of my favorites from FTCH, but it was really good in concert. It was very dance-able and high-energy. Next came RASPBERRY SWIRL, which ROCKED! It was so good. I never imagined her performing this in concert, but with Matt's INCREDIBLE performance on drums (standing, no less, wearing glowing antennae!), this song was one of the standouts. The lighting was really cool, too, with swirling green laser lights on stage. Tori was outstanding on this number, jamming on piano. I couldn't keep my eyes off of Matt, though, because he was totally out of control on the drums. He was awesome. The four of them left the stage after RS. More crazy screaming from the audience got the group out for another encore. The band came out first and started in on TEAR IN YOUR HAND. Tori jaunted out, stopping for a few moments with Caton to sway with him while he played. Then she hopped over to piano and began the song in earnest. Although it didn't have the significance of when she played it in Boulder at the last Dew Drop Inn concert, this version had some great things happening musically. I really liked it. Like I said before, it was nice to hear an older song performed with a new sound. After "time to wave goodbye now," she slapped the piano before the band joined back in with her. The band guys looked like they were enjoying themselves. I saw Jon trade smiles with Caton and Matt. The final song of the evening was PANDORA'S AQUARIUM. She started out alone on piano with a little solo ditty, and then went into the lyrics. The band joined in like on the album. This performance was very similar to the one on the album, so I have very few changes to note. It made me like the song more, I must admit. I was surprised she ended with it because it didn't have much punch, nor any kind of significant message. But it was good nonetheless. The band exited while Tori took a bow and waved. They turned the lights on pretty quickly after she was off stage, probably to get us all to stop screaming and start leaving. Tori was great, as always, but I'm not a big fan of these new big venues. I once heard Tori say (way back in the day) that she didn't play arenas and big theatres because she's not there to be a distraction. At Red Rocks, though, there were people talking, moving around, smoking, and generally not paying attention. Many people even got up and left after the main set and first encore. Not cool. This was the first Tori show where I've had to stand for the whole concert. This concert was more of a rock 'n' roll show, as everybody knows, and you can't very well put a rock 'n' roll show in an auditorium fit for chamber music (say, a solo pianist). So, in that respect, Red Rocks was okay. But I'll miss Tori's chamber music days, which included songs that are not do-able in huge spaces where Tori becomes just a distraction ("Me And A Gun," for example). Despite my frustration at the size of the venue and many of the inconsiderate audience members, I was happy to see Tori performing so well. I was also really pleased with how well the band sounded and meshed with each other, Tori, and her music. Go see her on the Plugged Tour if you get the chance-who knows when she'll be on the road again. Whenever that is, I'll see you guys there! From Gina CogswellSeptember 3, 1998 - First off, i read the reviews on your page and was truly disappointed. The show was the best I'd ever seen! Even from the back, you could tell Tori was truly alive that night. She said it was her first time at Red Rocks, and "I can't tell you how yummy it feels." Before playing a longer version of "Landslide," she told a story about having first heard this song when she was about 13. None of her friends knew what menstruation was because their mothers hadn't told them the facts of life, so when one of the girls got her first period everyone thought she was dying! I got the sense she may have been recording this show (possibly for the live album/video?) because she DID play all her "hits." But let me tell you, they were the best versions possible! The sound was spectacular; her performance was powerfully emotional. The amphitheater was beautiful and magical. It was the perfect place to see and hear a magical performer. Had it not been for the inconsiderate talkers around me, I would have been in tears during the whole show (well, I was nearly in tears because they were ruining the show for me and I had to move to the general admission section to hear the music!). I think a lot of the audience was just people out for a good time at a famous venue--not too many people recognized songs other than "Cornflake Girl" or "Silent All These Years." The people around me didn't even know Tori plays piano! So, that may be why some of the ardent fans were disappointed with the crowd response. But Tori owns Red Rocks. That's what I thought as I looked up at the perfectly windy sky and heard her voice resonate through the mountains. From Joe PunickiSeptember 3, 1998 - I was fortunate enough to be a witness at last night's Red Rocks show in Denver. The set list is as you have it, and each song in the set came straight out of Heaven's gate. Tori came out wearing black slacks, a black opened shoulder shirt, and what looked like an apron covered entirely in silver sequins. Red Rocks to begin is like the fingerprint of God. An amphitheater carved from red stone, and surrounded by more enormous protruding red mountains; simply beautiful. After the sun withered and died we all stood impatient for her entrance. She came out, and without a word played right into Precious Things. She talked very rarely throughout the show. Before Landslide, however, she told us the story behind that song and why it was so significant to her. She told us that when she was thirteen, her and her girlfriends would go over to a friend's house (I can't recall the name of this girl), and they would sit and flip through PLAYGIRL magazines (" You boys have been just as much, objects to us as we have been to you," says Tori) and they would educate themselves, implying masturbation. She went on to say that during class one day one of the girls started to bleed, this being her period ("We won't say which girl this was!," Tori says with a giggle), and ran to the bathroom convinced she was dying because their mothers never taught them that this would happen, because their mothers had too much pride, or fear (In other words, Christians). And when they went over to this girl's house they would play this song, "Over, and over, and over, and over, and over," and then all you hear is Tori's piano descend into Landslide's beautiful melody. I had people crying left and right of me, during this moment. She spoke only two other times besides this. Once to say, "Hey guys," and once again to introduce the band. The lights were incredible, the man made fog smelled wonderful, the wind was enchanting and Tori was the icing on this cake of an evening. I brought three people with me that were not big into Tori, but had a couple of her CDs. Two of them expected that they wouldn't be impressed by the show, but by the end of the concert, she had them all at their knees. Anyone passionate about Tori could have predicted that outcome though, cause magic is without a doubt is........... magic!!! From PerrySeptember 3, 1998 - Okay, Tuesday's show was the very first time I ever saw Tori live... Believe me, it will NOT be the last. It was an amazing show, one of the best I've ever seen at Red Rocks. Tori seemed a bit dazzled by the spectacle of Red Rocks as well, she mentioned to all of us that this was the first time she had played in the place, and she was pretty much in awe... It makes me all fuzzy to think that I live near the greatest music ampitheater in the USA! : ) But onto the show... I don't think I've ever seen so many goths together in one spot... Kinda unsettling for me... Sorry guys. She opened with Precious Things, very cool. Some shmoe had a sign he kept holding up asking Tori if she was 'a lefty,' because she would hold up her left hand to signal the band to end the song... I don't know, is she a lefty? Does it matter? I used to question how much I liked iieee, but after hearing it live, there is no more question mark around that song, it is way cool. Sugar was nice and sweet, but the nicest thing came next... She did a nifty improv intro into Cornflake Girl, I wasn't even sure if it WAS Cornflake Girl, but as soon as I knew for sure, I was pretty much going crazy. Next was Horses... but it took me a bit to figure that out... I'm not as familiar with Boys For Pele as I'd like to be. Cruel was groovy, with some nifty bass distortion, I dug it thoroughly. After that portion, she dismissed the band and she soloed. She started off just playing some keys... then went into Silent All These Years!!!! I seriously was ecstatic, this was already an excellent set! She played it in a very creative way, with a lot of... 'delay' would you call it? Very cool... Then she told us all a nice little story about something nice and personal that played as a nice intro to Landslide. Okay... jackie's strength- way cool... I miss the string section from the recorded version though... oh well, you can't have it ALL live... I liked the stand up bass though that the bass player played... with a bow! spark- can't complain about that one, and of course you know she'll play it, so... Caught a lite sneeze- fun stuff, I love the pretty hate machine lyric : ) Waitress- interesting improv at the end of this one, kept screaming the same lyrics at the top of her lungs until she signaled with her (left!) hand that it was time to stop... encore 1 She's your cocaine- I liked it, but I knew Rasberry Swirl was up next (I looked at the other setlists, I'm so bad) and so I was really just waiting for it to end... Rasberry Swirl- Okay, I'm a techno freak, K? And when those green and magenta laser lights shot up and the techno drum loop came on, I was going CRAZY... This was a cool encore, really just plain fun. Tear in your hand- still dazed from Rasberry... : ) Pandora's Aquariam- My date was wondering why Tori had about six disco globes up on the stage... We found out in this song! Really great effect, all the nice sparkly lights all over the place, stage, audience and the rocks all. Great way to end, I wish she would have come back out and played Winter or something nifty like that... Oh well, maybe next time. All in all, I enjoyed it lots. I've seen lots of great shows at the Rocks, I never thought anything would beat Alanis Morrisette or Dave Matthews. I should have known that Tori would do it though. From HelvaXHSeptember 3, 1998 - Well the redhead packed Red Rocks to the gills, and I doubt she had any trouble tapping into her muse Tuesday night. In fact Tori seemed to surf a wave to her own delight (and ours) all night long. That place is magic a natural amphitheater made of ancient stone, perfect for age-old spirits and other worldly beings to inhabit, right up her alley (or should the words be "right up her ally"? ;-). As a matter of fact, I think Tori's muses might have brought two friends, and they brought two friends and so on, and so on We had seats in the stratosphere which leads me to say, god bless the person who invented binoculars, they saved me from having to watch micro-Tori all night. Amazingly her show was enough of what ever it takes to make that large space bearable. She filled the venue with both herself and her music and it worked to make it shockingly intimate. It also really helped that the sound was excellent - truly excellent - you never had to reach for anything with your ears, it was all clean and clear. About the lights, I wish they would keep the lights out of my eyes - what's up with that? There you are in a dark arena with dark adapted peeper trying to watch one of your favorite musicians and every once in awhile they zap you with a thousand watts of light right in the dilated pupils. Tori vanishes in a sea of dark spots and you have to wait a few seconds for your vision to clear. On the other hand, some of the lighting was incredible. Like for "Waitress", they'd lit her from below giving her this dramatic slightly-spooky look as she sang about wanting to kill some tyrannical senior waitress. And in the same song, they used these manic-smoky-search-lights as a nice juxtaposition (just like the pounding music) as she screeches her belief in "peace" despite so much ill will within herself. "Landslide" was splendid. She sang it with such tenderness. It made my heart ache to hear such a beautifully sung song played so well under a starry night sky with Denver's lights twinkling in the distance. I'm sure all the birds were listening in awe from their branches in the dark of the trees and bushes where they'd bedded down for the night. She told a story about playing this song "over and over and over and over" as a young girl. By singing a cover she has loved for years it was almost as if she gave the song to herself as well as to the audience. Like something you'd play on the stereo for yourself on a night when your feeling good and powerful enough to feel nostalgic about a sad song. Every once in awhile during the concert the sound of the music would swoop, either dipping or cresting. My husband told me it was the wind literally blowing the sound waves off course. The effect did some amazing things to "Raspberry Swirl" naturally mimicking the mix on the album - ricocheting the sound around within the rock walls - amazing. "Pandora" closed the show like the calming ripples after a splash. Tori really rendered a beautiful version there in the belly of the mountain. In concert, or at least last night, she slightly changed her inflection on the opening deliveries of the word "Pandora" and it made a big difference to me. I love this song on the album - I mean how clever is the line, "line me up in single file with all your grievances" , but I have trouble with the way the song starts for some reason and the change in inflection maked an improved difference somehow (in my very humble opinion). At the end of the song we were left to collect ourselves in a sea of slowly spinning mirror ball lights very reminiscent of light on water (a lovely touch considering what Tori has said about writing this song by the water). And if the night had to end playing "Pandora" last created a lot of balance by closing the concert with the last song on the album, which was the first song to be written for the album. From Caley O'ConnorSeptember 3, 1998 - Well, this was my 4th Tori show and I have to say my least favorite. Red Rocks is just too big. It made me really sad that there were annoying drunken people there hoping for a crazy concert and not there to just listen and feel the power of a great Tori show. Now, if we could find a background like Red Rocks, but on a much smaller scale, it would be perfect. Last night there were beautiful puffy clouds in the sky and the light of the moon just barely glistened through. The wind was so powerful and cold. I would have loved to be sitting down cuddled in a blanket for the show. Unfortunatly we stood for the whole show. People just aren't into sitting at Red Rocks. Of course, the music was perfect. Tori is beautiful in all senses of the word. I was pleasantly surprised to hear Landslide. This is one of my favorite songs no matter who sings it, but its definatly the best when Tori does it. Also, iieee facinated me. She seemed to be holding her belly while singing and added an interesting part about taking away a baby girl. Could this be about the miscarrige I've heard about? I do agree with Mark that The Waitress was too long. I sat down and just waited for it to end. I definatly think she could've done so much more with that song. Finally, Pandora's Aquarium was wonderful to end with. She put up an amazing light show that was best seen from the top row. Thousands of tiny sparkling lights flickering off the rocks and the stage and all the fans. It was spectacular!! From Christine E CarrSeptember 3, 1998 - I saw Tori at Red Rocks last night -- arguably the most beautiful setting for a concert in the world. However, I have seen Tori perform in small theaters prior to this and I found myself intensely missing the intimate atmosphere of those shows compared to this ampitheatre setting, beautiful as it was. I also found that my negative feelings about Tori's band were only magnified by this concert. For the most part, the band drowns out Tori's piano and convolutes some of the songs. Interesting that the review of the show in today's newspaper (Rocky Mt. News) held the same views. Titled "Band Adds Color, But Amos Shines Alone," the reviewer said, "The concert's highlight clearly came when the band left the stage." The reviewer talked about how the added instruments twisted songs such as Horses, burying the tune's gorgeous, melancholic melody beneath spacey guitars and loping drumbeats." Personally, I wish Tori would drop the band. They take away from her magic, as far as I'm concerned. She has tremendous presence that gets clouded over -- if not drowned out -- by the other players. I was surprised to read an earlier "review" of the show on your website, written by someone who said the crowd was unusually quiet. Not true. The crowd was quite enthusiastic -- and if they were quiet (compared, I suppose, to crowd behavior at other concerts) I see it as a testimony to Tori having a certain command over her audience that perhaps other artists don't have. The crowd seemed blissed out to me. When Tori is onstage, people are quiet out of respect for her -- but most of all, they want to drink in every drop of her. That's part of Tori's magic, and maybe that's why the crowd seemed "unusually quiet." I have mixed feelings about the show because I love the smaller venues and the "girl and piano" thing, but it seems that I'm in a minority. The entire audience *stood up* for the entire show, by the way. A woman sitting near me said, "But this isn't a stand-up concert!" Clearly, another unfortunate effect of the ampitheatre phenomenon. From autobotsSeptember 3, 1998 - So i had front row seats, in the center, it couldn't have been better, the seat were save for me by a friend that worked at red rocks. i felt kind of bad, bad because i know that there were people that had been waiting there for a full day, but i'll never turn down fornt row seat. the devlins were decent. Very bland, but decent. they wern't josh clayton flet or willie porter that's for sure. the lead singer was ok. the bass player reall rocked. he prett much carried their whole set. and oh yeah, there was too much looping. i thik it sort of took away from there performance. so tori came on, after an unusually long wait, and she rocked. precious thing - fabulous. this tune was brought to a climax during the GRRRLL part when she grabed her crotch. the audience went wild. iieee - this song was good, a little bit on the emotional side, because every time she said sacrifice she would hold her belly. that really stuck in my mind. Sugar - I love this song. and the opening really rocked cornflake girl - this song had an interesting intro, it started off quite slow, and she added some lyrics i think i tried to write them down. but you know how that is. but the crowed went whlie. i think becuase the first three songs weren't off the commercially successful under then pink, so when the non tori fans her a song they new they got into it. horses - i really think that this is a beautiful tune, it felt a little bit eerie feeling to it. i think i like the album/ddi version better, but maybe that is because i always associate it with the beginning of a show. cruel - i love this song. the vocals are really diverse. silent all these years(solo) - always beuatiful. I am really glad she played this. landslide (solo) - the only other time i heard her play this was at one of the boulder shows last tour, and so it really brought back great memories. the girl next to me started to cry. beautiful. jackie's strength - what's great about this song is that the they used an upright bass instead of the the bass guitar. it really made the song full. spark - the energy level was booming with the "how many times..." part. caught a lite sneeze - the drums many this song sound perfect. though i like the ddi version, i've always loved the album version. the waitress - i'd never heard this song live, she didn't play it alot during the ddi tour, and she didn't play it at the utp show i saw. i think think everyone will agree, "i believe in peace" just rocked. 1st encore she's your coccaine - i was told that she did this completly different from the album version but it was pretty much the same. got the crowd going for.. raspberry swirl - Unbelievable. simply unbelievable. when matt put on the dinglly bopper the energy level hit the roof. that song it really great on the ablum, amazing in concert. 2nd encore tear in your hand - the old school part of the audience went wild, as so as the realized what it was. pandora's aquarium - this song really held it's ground. everyone knew it was going to the the end, so i, at least, expected something a bit more up beat, but the vocals were really beautful, it was perfect i have a few other comments about the show. I realize that we all love tori, but all the screaming and whistling even ten minutes after the 2nd encore ended, really? and you all have very beautiful voices, but i came to hear tori, not you. so it that could be toned down a bit the show would have been perfect. oh yeah, the girl that was to one side of me wouldn't stop talking, drove me crazy. well it still was damn worth while. I owe the girl that got us the seat some major respect and love. From SpenceSeptember 2, 1998 - First off, this was the first time i ever saw Tori in concert, but it was by far [not] the last time! I didnt really know what to expect, but the show that she put on was more than i could have imagined! We got a good seat cause we got to Red Rocks early (and I provided a local radio station with some trivia for other listeners). Okay, the trivia was kinda generic, but true Tori fans would have known it (sorry if I made it too tough). I ran into a girl there that was working backstage at Red Rocks (she has the security shirt on and all!) said she saw Tori backstage doing an interview with CNN.....so look for something on the news in the next couple days!!!!!! From the get go, I was into every song, and damn near had tears streaming from my eyes with all the song (is that normal??? :- ) ) So many of the songs she did tonight had a meaning to mean on a personal emotional sense. Tear In Your Hand put me over the edge! I had more tears flowing from my eyes than any other song! Pandora's Aquarium was a great closer for her....... Seeing as how it was my first time at Red Rocks, it was more memorable than any other concert i have been to. I shed more tears, and felt everything on a deeper sense than any other concert I have been to in my life. Thank you Tori for a truely heartfelt experience! Your music as touched my in a way I never thought I could be touched! From Niki PrudianSeptember 2, 1998 - I thought you might like to know that during the soundcheck she played: Caught A Lite Sneeze It was a great show and she was fabulous with the band. I was going to email you the set list but alas, some soul already did. From CherylSeptember 2, 1998 - I'm way too tired to post a whole review - and since I only have a few hours before I need to wake up anyway to go back to Albuquerque, I just thought I'd post a setlist... Soundcheck: I faintly heard ... CALS, iieee, Precious Things, Spark..(and I THINK Siren...but not the whole song) THE SHOW! If I screwed anything up...please someone let me know, but I think I basically remembered it all... Okay, by now you all know the setlist and how awesome the show was, but I thought I'd post a little about my pre-concert experience... I posted a couple times to the list about going to Denver for the show and wrote everyone back who posted asking if anyone was going to the show and wanted to meet. I didn't hear from anyone, but I figured it was okay because I'd meet people there. My flight got into Denver at 9:35 and my friend Ryan picked me up from the airport. We hung out at his house for a while and he dropped me off at Red Rocks at around 2:30. I got into the line forming on the steps and as soon as I sat down the people ahead of me passed down a marker telling me to write on my hand so I knew my place in line. Nothing big - it turns out the numbers were irrelevant anyway, but that was the only conversation I had all day. I had to go to the bathroom so I left the line after about 45 minutes (of trying to converse and getting nowhere) and figured that I would get my spot back since I was only gone a few minutes. Well, nobody remembered me sitting in line so I was asked to go to the bottom. Okay, fine - no big deal. I think I saw Doll and Dor so I headed in their direction to talk to them (It may or may not have been them) but they turned away so I wasn't sure. Then at my new place in line, the woman sitting on the steps behind me kept hitting me with her foot everytime she shifted sitting positions - and by this time my self confidence was so far gone that I didn't even say anything. Finally her friend mentioned something about it, and the woman who kept hitting me said "I can't help it, she's too big" and then they proceeded to talk about how fat I was. This is no exaggeration - I swear! So, finally they opened the gates and I went to find a seat. I tried to talk to people or find something to occupy myself. It was all I could do not to cry. Now, maybe I'm over sensitive, but I was really looking forward to that show and meeting other EWF. I was really bummed about the whole thing - and maybe I shouldn't be. Maybe I should just accept the fact that I don't look like someone that people want to be seen talking to - but I have a few other out of state shows this year to go to (alone) not to mention the one here in NM. All I really wanted to do was vent...and not in a pissed off way, more of a "what is so wrong with me" way.. From Mark SidanyczSeptember 2, 1998 - I'm a devoted Tori fan, but was let down by this tour. Her previous tours have been very musical and inspired but this show was lacking in some regard. The setting was perfect, a backdrop of the lights of Denver shimmering like Tori's silver dress. Tori spoke very little and the huge crowd seemed unusually quiet. There was an excellent rendition of Sugar, although other songs seemed that they would not ever end. In The Waitress, there was a drawn-out musical rambling. The same chords and lyrics repeated over and over. Shocking to me, I found myself wishing for the end of the song. I really enjoyed the section of the concert where the band left the stage and left Tori alone to do what she does best. She is a storyteller and I think that when performing live the band gets in the way. It was a departure and a let down for this fan. From DorSeptember 2, 1998 - the show was GREAT and she was TOTALLY into it.. but the vibe was weird there was NO meet and greet and the setlist was SO generic [Note from Mikewhy: Looks like a great set list to me. I have not had the chance to hear Pandora yet!] matt page says hi :D :D :D |
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