After my last Tori concert experience I was very paranoid about making it to the concert in one piece.  While we were driving to the meet and greet some loser decided that he was going to dart across 2 lanes of traffic so he could get into the turn lane.  This caused us to pull into the lane with on coming traffic so he didn't hit us.  All I could think was that I was going to miss Tori again. But, luckily we survived.
 
    We arrived at the Pavillion at 1:15 for the meet and greet.  I was number 52, and eventually i think there were like 60-70 people there.  The staff was really good.  It was really hot outside so everyone once in a while they would bring out bottles of water for us.  The system seemed to work well, but I didn't get close enough to Tori to get any pictures other than the tip of her head.  I did get to pass my camera up and some wonderfully nice person took a few pictures for me.  The only thing that bothered me was that the people in the front weren't allowed to move so more of us could meet her.  Tori arrived around 4:45.  It was torture watching everyone get off the bus, knowing that she would be one of those people.
 
    When Tori did step off the bus it was totally amazing.  After 4 or 5 years of watching her on TV and listening to her music, there she was in front of me in the flesh.  Even though I never got close enough to get some decent pictures or get the cover of my Under the Pink Vinyl signed, just having her stand in front of me was amazing.  The whole experience just helped make her a real person instead of just a person on an interview or cd.
 
    The Meet and Greet was cool, but nothing could have prepared me for the concert.  I thought our seats were pretty good.  The Devlins were really good.  They only played for about 30 minutes, but I think I'm going to have to buy one of their albums.  Tori's set was pretty basic, there were a few disco balls hanging in various places around the stage, and there was lots of smoke.  Finally the lights dimmed, and the band came on and began to play the intro for Precious Things.  Moments later Tori came out on stage and everyone jumped to their feet.  She sat down at the piano and went into Precious Things.  It was just too amazing.  Her voice sounded so beautiful, but she had to be hot.  She was wearing a long sleeve shirt, pants, and a green apron.  Just sitting down we were sweating, so she had to be dying.

    Spark was next.  The lights were so awesome.  When she got to the bridge of the song (the "How many fates..." part) the lights went up, and just watching her switch between the piano and keyboard was amazing.  Her movement were so graceful.  Cornflake Girl is perfect with the band.  It seemed like one of the songs that would have been screaming to get played with a band as soon as Tori decided to do a plugged tour.

    Hotel was a nice surprise.  I didn't recognize the music, and she threw me off by singing the "Come in Houston" part of Doughnut Song, but it wasn't Doughnut Song music.  Then she poured some water on her head and got a towel to dry her hair off, and started doing an improv.  It's hard to describe other than it looked like one of those "Okay she's channeling some kind of energy right now" things.  Then she broke into Hotel, which was so different from the album.

    I had no idea what Bells for Her was when she started playing.  I had heard a clip from when she played it at a soundcheck but hearing it was great.  I was actually surprised by how well it translated to plugged format.  i i e e e has got to be one of my favorite songs to hear live.  The improv stuff that she adds into it just makes the song.  The album verson doesn't do it justice.    Playboy Mommy had a nice intro to it, and Tori did a little dance.  Just the energy coming from her was amzing.  Playboy Mommy was very haunting.

    Next was secret time.  The guys went away and Tori mentioned that she thought Carolina was hot, but she was losing a lot of water weight.  Then she said "Some of you might now this, but all of you know part of it" (or something to that effect) and went into Icicle.  The lights were all blue and the some people in the crowd really got into this song.  A lot of screaming during it, but not overlly annoying.  Next she played Leather, and the audience was singing along with her.

    The band came back and they went into Pretty Good Year.  I'm so glad she played this one.  It was just great, and then when she gets to the loud part the lights went up and everyone cheered.  It was the best version of PGY i've heard.  Little Earthquakes sounded so excellent.  I was in tears as they played that one.  I'm also thrilled that she played Graveyard, it's so short but it's one of my favorite B-sides.  After that there were some green and purple swirly things made witht he lights and she went into something.  To me in sounded like she was singing "Surfing, surfing" over and over, and I had no idea what she was doing, but then she went into Talula.  It was one of those songs that you couldn't help but jump up and dance to.  Instead of signing the part about Anne Boleyn she sang the background lyrics.

    The Waitress officially ended the show.  She just kind goes crazy at the end and started singing "I believe in" and would add something new each time.  After it she waved by and left.  The first song for the encore was She's Your Cocaine.  The band came out and started playing, and Tori followed after them dancing.  That song kicks ass live!  Next was perhaps the coolest thing.  Raspberry Swirl.  Everyone was on their feet dancing and the lights kept flashing pinkish and neon green.  Too cool!  Then she left again and everyone started banging on their seats so she would come back out for one more encore.

    During Cruel she just kinda danced all over the stage and spent a lot of time bent over the piano with her hands behind her back like she had been tied up.  The bass was killer, the whole song was really.  She added some lyrics that sounded something "this is what you wants boys" or something like that.  The final song was Black-Dove.  She said that we were a great audience and she wished she could take us on the road, and said that Black-Dove was for the people on the lawn.  It was the perfect song to end the show, and when she sang about getting to Texas we all just went crazy.

    After the show my friends and I just kind of sat there in awe, then made our way to the after show meet and greet.  The show ended at like 11, but Tori didn't come out until almist 12:45.  I was a little closer, but didn't have my camera with me.  It was way less organized.  People were pusing and shoving, but I got to talk to the girls dressed up like faeries, and I got to meet some other people from RDTRN :)  And after getting to see, but not meet, Tori we backed off so there weren't so many people crowding around us.  We hung around until the bus left.

    It was perfect.  I couldn't have asked for anything better.  It was without a doubt, the best day of my life.  I just wish Tori had interacted with the audience more.  She played for a good hour and 45 minutes which was totally awesome.  I thought the band thing worked really well.  Tori's energy and stage presence just amazed me.  I can't wait until the next tour!