New Orleans, Louisiana

Friday Afternoon
My friend Jerry and I headed straight after work to Gonzales which was 45 minutes from N'Orleans. The drive was a bit long and we were tired when we got to his place. My friend Jared and his girlfriend Nikki was there. Nikki had her friend Beth with her too. They were having gumbo and chatting when we came in around 1 a.m. We chatted, watched some TV, and then went to sleep.

Saturday Morning
Got up. I decided to go to my hometown and visit a dear friend of mine, Teresa, that runs a comic shop in Lafayette. I stayed there for a while and got to catch up on old times. Took some pictures of her, the house I grew up in, and some places around town.

Saturday Afternoon
As we headed back to Gonzales, we found Jared was not at his apartment, so we headed for the Meet and Greet before the concert. When we arrived, there was a fair size of people gathering around to meet Tori and get pictures. A lot of people had flowers and presents. I decided to stand around the corner hoping Tori would come around. I had my marker to give her for her present and the Little Earthquakes liner for her to sign. Jerry had his camera with him, but that really was not very important. I just wanted to meet her and figure out why she wanted my pink marker.

As we were waiting, we met these two lovely ladies that were also standing on the side lines, hoping Tori would come around. We chatted for a while and Jerry had to tell the story about my pink marker again. This was wearing real thin.

When Tori came out, everybody handed all sorts of stuff to her to sign. Many hugs, pictures, and autographs were given by Tori. This went on for a while. I noticed her on the side and tried to take a picture where I was standing. After a moment or two, we decided to try and get into the crowd. I was able to hand some stuff that people wanted signed, but I personally wanted to meet her and ask about the pink marker.

After the Meet and Greet, the crowd started breaking up. Everyone went is their own direction. Some people got pictures, autographs, hugs, and memories of seeing Tori. For some memories that they will always remember. Memories like the ones I have.

For the rest of the afternoon, we hanged around the two ladies we met at the Meet and Greet and just waited for the concert doors to open. During the wait, I tried writing some poetry. I did not write anything spectacular.

Saturday Evening
As Jerry and our two enchanting ladies were waiting, we chatted for a while and asked about what we did. This helped pass the time some. At the time, I was still thinking about my girlfriend, Sherri, and how much I love her. Guess I could not get her out of my mind even when I am away.

I was waiting around the concert area for a friend of mine. His name was Chris Brewin and he had a spare first row ticket with a Meet and Greet with Tori after the concert. Helping to pay the ticket would be difficult and I knew I would be robbing him for what I could pay for them. I noticed that there were several entrances and did not really know where he was going to be waiting. This was a problem. I decided to go inside and try and find him. As a result, I did not meet him.

When we were inside, Jerry and I got a new shirt that we saw at the stands. This one had this concert on the back of the shirt so I had to get it since the other one I had did not have N'Orleans.

Soon we found our seats and sat down for the concert, I decided after a while that I should try and find Chris. I wanted to meet him and this was the only chance I thought I would have. I went around entrance 1 and 4 and could not see him at all. I sent him a picture. He knows what I look like. He never called my friend's number or leave me a page, so I have no clue what to do. Anyway, I gave up on this pursuit.

The Concert

1 2 3 4 5 6 7 8 9 10 11 12 13 14 15 16 17

Set List Precious Things She's your Cocaine Father Lucifer Sugar Cruel Liquid Diamonds Here. In My head (solo) Not The Red Baron (solo) Honey Little Earthquakes Hotel The Waitress 1st Encore: Cornflake Girl Raspberry Swirl 2nd Encore: i i e e e Pandora's Aquarium 3rd Encore: Winter (solo)

After I found my seat, I was redirected by two friends of mine that we were sitting in the wrong seats. Jerry and I were in Section D instead of C. I was embarrassed. We sat in our seats in the correct section. Soon, Jared and Nikki showed up and they did the same thing. They sat in the wrong seats too. They said they saw us over here and knew they were sitting in the wrong seats. This place was pretty confusing.

Ron Sexson started the concert off with a guitar solo. I thought as well as many friends of mine that he was not very good. The Devlins which were at the first leg of the tour were kick ass. He just was not very good and quite depressing.

After the act, I decided to run to the floor and find Chris. For some reason, the security people were not around and I was able to sneak to first level where the floor seats were. I looked around and asked every person there that did not seem to be with anyone if they were Chris. I got no reply.

I decided to head back to my seat and wait for the concert to start. After about an hour or so, the concert started.

Tori started the concert with Precious Things which was just spectacular. The only problem was this jerk in front of me that had to stand up time to time to cheer and clap. I almost hit him on the side of his head because he was a jerk. Still the music was great. I did notice that the acoustics of the arena was not great. Bass was a bit washed out.

Next, She's Your Cocaine stepped in. This song was great and had the driving sound of the opening song. Tori was keeping the beat strong. Then she started to relax with the next one.

Father Lucifer caught me by surprise. This is one of my favorite songs from her last album. I was very happy to hear her play this. Been a long time since I heard he do this live, about 2 years ago. Tori mentioned about how her father thought this was about him, but it was not. Tori actually talked about what this was about in a Rosanne show a few weeks ago.

Oh, wow. She started playing Sugar. I did not expect her to do this B-side song. It was wonderful. The band really gave this song a life I never did feel before. The band was great with this number.

Next, Cruel with the a kick like the first songs in the concert and then Liquid Diamonds started up. Liquid Diamonds was cool. The melodic way she sings this just chills me time to time.

Silence. The band went away and now was the quite time for everyone in the audience. A time that everyone knew Tori before the band. To set the feeling in the air right, Tori played Here In My Head. The song was relaxing. I always enjoy Tori's music when it is just her and the piano. I feel at peace and calm.

Tori kept going. She played Not the Red Baron. This song was great. I have not heard this one for a long time too. I am so glad she did this one. One of my favorite songs.

Then the kick started again. Tori played Honey and I really did not recognize it at first. The beat took me by surprise. Then, it started to happen.

A song I love and did not expect her to play. She played Little Earthquakes. The band made a real difference in the music. Everything just seem to flow so smoothly. The music and voice lyrically oozed through one ear to the other. I was at the edge of my seat with my elbows on my knees. I was like that for most of the concert. Everyone else was sitting back, but I want to listen carefully and drown myself in her music.

Hotel. She played this and I started to think about my girlfriend, Sherri. Thinking about us meeting in a hotel. After a few moments, I got a beep from her on my pager. I just smiled and laughed at this. I thought it was amazing that she was think of me at the same time. I love her.

Wrapping up. Tori played The Waitress. From the other concerts, The Waitress was always the closing number before the Encores. She played this will her entire soul. Even the staggering breaths were done at the end as the song ended. The energy she pour was amazing.

Everyone stood. Everyone cheered. Tori came out again and played Cornflake Girl. The audience went wild. I smiled widely. I love this song and Tori just made my night with this. My friend Jerry left at this moment because he wanted to make sure he could meet Tori at the Meet and Greet after the concert. I was going to follow, but not just yet. And she kept going and played Raspberry Swirl which had a kick ass beat. Every concert I have been to this Tour had her playing that song. The song rocked. I loved it.

Everyone stood again. Everyone cheered and wanted more. Tori came out again and started up with i i e e e. The song was great and I started getting the feeling of leaving too. I told Jared to tell me what the rest of the songs were so that I could go out and try and meet Tori.

As I left, I ran down the walk way to the outside.

For the meet with Tori, see Meet and Greet (October 10) review.

The concert was great. I did not meet Chris, but that is just what you get at times. I heard later that he met someone 5 minutes before the concert and took her to the concert. She promised him her first born for getting her front row seats and a back stage pass. I thought that was cool, but it did not hurt me that much. I also found out when we were leaving Sunday that Jared's girlfriend's friend Beth thought I was cute. I told him to tell her that I thought she was cute too. I have a girlfriend right now, so I am taken for now.



October 11, 1998
Updated: November 19, 1998

"Drops of Ivory",since July 1997