Epsilon Imaginings: 2007

My account of the Tori show in San Antonio on AT45 m3 d26

The concert, originally meant to be in Austin, was moved to the Majestic Theatre, and the announcement was made far enough in advance for me to make plans to attend the show. Ordering a ticket for wheelchair accessible seating online was initially very nerve-wracking but ultimately went well, although I had to make a phone call a week or so after ordering the ticket to find out I wasn't getting an actual ticket in the mail but it was a will-call ticket at the box office that I could pick up the day of the concert.

The 26th arrived and with my power chair going alone was very easy- I got to the theatre around noon so I need to kill some time before the estimate time the meet and greet might start, and the weather was only slightly chilly but otherwise nice so it was easy to head down the street to get lunch, then head back to the theatre. I didn't see much going on at the front of the theatre so I went around the block to the back and found a group of EWFs waiting. Met some really cool people, including a few people around my age, so I didn't feel too old being there ;-)

To anyone who there, I apologize for talking so much, my enthusiasm gets the best of me sometimes. And it's difficult *not* to get excited about a Tori concert ;-) I was the guy in the grey and blue striped shirt.

It turned out as we waited that there wasn't going to be a meet and greet that day, but even after we were first told, we still held out waiting just in case, and a good four hours just flew by as we all chatted with each other about other Tori shows we'd seen and in general about why we're so into her music.

But unfortunately in the end there was no m and g that afternoon, so around 5 I headed out in search of a place to get dinner, and came back around 7 to the theatre, got my *real* ticket from the box office, and met more people in front and chatted more about how lucky it was the show was moved to San Antonio.

Getting in was easy, a lot of people going in but not a huge crowd, and one of those rare occasions where I'm wheeling around and not feeling like I'm in anyone's way. And fellow EWFs are always really helpful ;-)

My actual "seat", a parking spot for myself in my chair, was near the front on the right side of the theatre, but the slope of the floor made that spot high enough that I wasn't blocking the view for people behind me, and my view wasn't blocked by the people in front of me.

Great opening act- need to find his CD.

And then we got to see what we came for- the awe, the wonder, the pure genius, the supernova brilliance, the embodiment of perfection beyond the infinite that is our favorite piano goddess.

Her performance just plain rocked. Really cool how the elaborate light show contrasted with the almost spartan stage set up. The tiny purple lights on the black backdrop reminded me of a weird star field. Mental note: get purple Christmas lights for next year
;-)

It was a great setlist, a great mix of ADP songs along with her older work. She really got the audience involved with "Big Wheel".

I've only had the opportunity to see a two other shows prior to this one (FtGH in '98 and SW in May '03) and I know all of her shows rock, but I think this is one where I've had the most fun. I've been working a huge project in my class, a lot of stress about it, and tonight was just a really great escape from that. But beyond that, there's just something about a Tori show that is so hard to describe, the same as it's difficult to really put into words how her music resonates with her fans. Seeing the energy and intensity she puts into her music is an inspiration to pursue what one is truly passionate about, and that one is never too old to still get out there and have cool things going on in one's life ;-)

When the show was over that energy was still there, not a letdown feeling one would expect. I made my way outside and back to the rear of the theatre in case she might do the m and g, and got to hang out some more with other fans, and had a great time talking about what a blast the show was. But I had to leave at 11:30pm because my ride home was arriving and I think we had gotten the word officially that she wasn't going to be able to do the m and g. Someone in the crowd reminded all of us that while it's disappointing that we didn't get to meet her and didn't get autographs, that we still got one excellent concert that night, not to mention all the cool music over the years.

Very true. Overall, still a phenomenal beyond the infinite show. If she was performing on Z'ha'dum I would make the trip without a millisecond's hesitation.

We live for The One, We die for The One.