June 15 Clearwater reviews & discussion

by **Madison** on Sun Jun 15, 2008 8:21 pm

one of the top 5 concerts I have ever been to and the band was the best she has ever had
Mellisa what a wonderful journey

I ve been playing since I was 12 and a girl playing lead guitar didnt go over to well back then Im 59 now and its nice to see you are starting to make all your dreams come true ( i think i wrote a song about that lol)

Keep up the great journey

Madison
M53madison@tampabay.rr.com

by **FrankieBaby** on Sun Jun 15, 2008 9:29 pm

well rock on sistahfriend ! Thanks for posting and welcome

by **Andrew** on Mon Jun 16, 2008 9:36 am

If you can, answer the following. Sorry, but I am curious.

1. What was the setlist?
2. How long was Melissa's hair... like what hair matched what album... eg. Melissa Etheridge- Spritz Forte'
3. Do you know where I can see pics from this concert?
4. Is there any video anywhere from this.
5. How long was the show?
6. What did the concept mean to you?

by **This_Moment** on Mon Jun 16, 2008 11:37 am

HEY! the show was AMAZING!!!
Okay, so Melissa's hair is a little above her shoulders, like in the nissan show....atually, if you watch the Nissan conert she did for the awakening album, that is EXACTLY what she looks like, same style clothes and everything, but she is a tiny bit thinner. the show was a little over 3 hours, but by accident, she said it was only supposed to be 2 and a half, but she kept telling stories in between each song. she talked A LOT! she would do a song, then talk for 5 minutes or so, then do another song...SHE DIDNT DO "Like The Way I Do"!!!!!!!!!!!! i was shocked!!! but the concert was tremendous. I DO have pictures and videos that i plan to put up on Youtube, so i will link them to the forum...Here's the setlist:

All There Is
I Take You With Me
All We Can Really Do
Into The Dark
California
Don't You Need/Similar Features
No Souvenirs
Unexpected Rain
Bring Me Some Water
I Want To Come Over
Angels Would Fall
Enough Of Me
I'm The Only One
If I Wanted To
Lucky
I've Loved You Before
I Run For Life
Message to myself/Come to my Window
2001/I Need to Wake Up
God Is In The People
Kingdom Of Heaven
Open Your Mind
The Awakening
ENCORE:
Not Tonight/Piece of my Heart

Hmmm, i hope i got it all, i think thats it...

Any more questions, feel free to ask!

by **nybabe58** on Mon Jun 16, 2008 2:51 pm

This_moment

Thanks for clearing up the set list and check your PMs

by **tiggerATD** on Mon Jun 16, 2008 3:12 pm

http://revivalstats.blogspot.com/

:shocked:

Ongoing Revival Tour setlist stats - for those who remember - I will be posting the setlist stats on this blog (so they dont get lost hopefully....and they will be in order and all in one place....thats the plan anyway

please come visit and feel free to leave coments! 8-)

by **imthey** on Mon Jun 16, 2008 3:27 pm

I've posted some photos from last nights concert at Ruth Eckerd Hall in Clearwater, FL. on my MySpace account URL: http://myspace.com/imthey
It will require signing up as "my friend"... to do so just use the email address imthey@gmail.com and once you are "accepted" feel free to take a look at the photos... more will follow soon!

by **bstrongspeaktru** on Mon Jun 16, 2008 3:30 pm

Feel free to send me stuff to post on my website, peeps!

DISCLAIMER 1: Quotes only to specify that Melissa is talking. I am NOT quoting, only paraphrasing :-)

. I opted for note-taking instead of bringing my camera. There should be lots of pics and video 'cause there were plenty cameras there :-)

. Still, she talked A LOT, so I couldn't write everything fast enough... Others can fill in the blanks wherever I missed something :-)

.

DISCLAIMER 2: I spent over two hours typing this sucker on my BlackBerry and do not feel like re-reading/correcting it, so what you see is what you get :-)

Show started at around 7:35pm. With the "All There Is" music playing, the guys walked in and took their spots. Then Melissa came in. She was wearing comfortable gray pants, a lighter gray t-shirt with a light blue shirt over it, and brown tennis shoes. She opened with I TAKE YOU WITH ME, which made me very happy :-)

. She went into ALL WE CAN REALLY DO, and this is whe she introduced the band. A couple of gals walked in late and took their seats... Melissa teased them about being late since they had front row center, telling them she was gonna give out their seats. I reckon one of them showed her a tattoo 'cause MLE said "Oh, you have a tattoo of me... OK you win" and then said something about fans' dedication, I think :-)

.

She talked the about how she was wearing comfortable clothes, and how the older you get the more comfortable you want to be (I think :-)

. She said women with children could relate to dressing comfortably... And men with children too...

She went on to tell a funny story about the night before. She was wearing her "man shorts" (said "men got the best clothes... right?"), her "man shirt" - a polo shirt, her "don't recognize me" baseball hat :-)

... she, Philip and Paul were walking around sometime after 11pm, and as they were about to go in the hotel, the sheriff drove by... The he stopped and sounded the siren. He looked at Melissa and said "YOU!" Melissa was like "me?"... The sheriff said "YEAH, YOU! COME HERE!" (She was thinking why me? Why not Paul... He looks like trouble :-)

. The doorman was concerned because the sheriff didn't seem to know who he was addressing, so he said "Sir...?" to which the sheriff replied "GO AWAY!". Then he told Melissa "we had a call about a suspicious person matching your description" (LOL!)... Then he took another look at her, and kept looking at her and finally said "Oh... Oh... NEVER MIND!" (ROFL).

Melissa was like... "You should see my wife! She dresses just like me! You know how it is, you don't think you dress alike, but you do..." :-)

.

OK, and this is where the journey began... "My story... I was born... 47 years ago...!!! Family, other than being strange, was fine... Liked to pretend that everything was fine... Like all kids I had dreams, I had a recurring dream of falling down the stairs, or a big wave, fire...". She the sang INTO THE DARK! Wow!!! :-)

. I could not believe I was listening to this song live!!!

She then thanked the audience, said "I know it's not easy, with the gas prices and I know my tickets ain't cheap (rolled her eyes :-)

so I just wanted you to know it's appreciated"

So... "At 21 said bye to mom and dad and headed west for fame and fortune. It was 1982... You remember 1982...?" Then she pointed to her head and signaling the mullet she had those days... and said "you know what I looked like!" Cute :-)

. I had 5 cassette tapes, Stevie Nicks, Tom Petty, Joan Armatrading... I can't remember what the other 2 were... Anyway, I ended up in California... On my aunt's couch in Silver Lake, Los Angeles." Next song: CALIFORNIA

"So I'm in California, and I say "well, I'm here!"... And I was told "There are 10 million musicians in LA, get in line!". She said something about offering to play at a bar and being told she's had to pay admission, and she was like "no, you pay me!" :-)

"I was running out of money, bue I kept up my social life... We all know I'm gay, right? All the gays people, clap! Straight people, clap! All those who don't know, clap... I know you're out there :-)

... Back to the social life... Down the street from my aunt's was a bar... The Pink Flamingo... that's a good name for a gay bar, huh? :-)

"

"Got a gig playing the piano on the corner at a Long Beach bar... right before the disco :-)

. I made lots of friends (smirk)... between 21 and 27... Maybe it was my repressed upbringing? :-)

I made some poor choices... But I wrote some great songs :-)

". She sang one of my favorited then... DON'T YOU NEED... Then went into SIMILAR FEATURES and back to DON'T YOU NEED... It was cool!!! :-)

moreso with Philip doing a pretty neat solo.

"It was do as I say, not as I do... I was 24... If you are 24, well enjoy it because after a while you get too tired. Oh well, I gained some maturity, and I have the memories... memories are good :-)

. I met a nice lady... She was smart... And you know what happens with smart people... mmmm... BYE!" (LOL, the way she said it, it was funny) "She said I has some baggage..." :-)

. Then came NO SOUVENIRS.

"See... When we grow up... the things that we did, the things that we do, they come right back... That's OK... That's how we learn... As long as we are open to that feeling... We can learn, we can grow..." AN UNEXPECTED RAIN. After Philip did his solo she told him "what's wrong with you, man?" And then to us "He's a freak!" :-)

.

"27... Changes... OK, gonna find someone to settle down... Maybe :-)

. I found someone, but they were not ready..." BRING ME SOME WATER.

"OK, give me impossible... Someone's who's married... Hello Melissa, this is your future calling... Get away!... I know there are some out here doing it... Get out of it now... It will not work, you're gonna lose them the way you got them" she joked about people calling and breaking up because Melissa said it's not going to work :-)

. I WANT TO COME OVER

She made fun of us since we kept sitting down every time she started talking... "Up down, up down" ;-)

BTW, we had 4th row center and a lot of the time the peeps in the pit were sitting down, giving me a perfect view of Melissa like... right in front of me... Not too shabby! :o)

"So there I was in a non-monogamous relationship... No, no... In a MONOGAMOUS relationship as far as I was concerned. I was 30something, people buying my records, it was 1993... Wow, that was 15 years ago... Nothing like being in a bad relationship to see how nice other people are... Am I depressing you? :-)

I got crushes all the time..." ANGELS WOULD FALL

"What was I asking for...? With the universe you gotta be specific... By the end of the 90's everything went POP!... Oh, I left out happiness... we think that if we make enough money we'll be happy. But they are two very separate things...". ENOUGH OF ME ("there's gotta be another"... "Gave you the Mercedes, the house, the money... Take it, I don't want it, I don't want it...". It's all behind me... Hit rock bottom... And I was drawing the line... I'm outtahere, walk out that door, I'm through!". I'M THE ONLY ONE.

"It's about intentions... We can do anything if we wanted to... Was I trying to tell myself something..." IF I WANTED TO

"I was 39 and single... So I went back to the bar... Funny... I found somebody... Before that, I was driving and talking to myself... 'Cause that's what you do... I was telling the universe... I want someone nice... Nice is important... I want someone who makes me laugh... someone who does not freak out with the "famous" stuff... I want someone pretty :-)

somebody to share all this with... 'Cause I have a lot and I am a good person... We're all good people..." LUCKY

"And there it was... Happiness... I'm enough, I am good and I am strong... And I deserve to be happy. Love and happiness... When you have both, it's real love and it's deep and it goes a long way... I need to love there (the other person) and I need to love here (pointing to herself) love myself... We buy things, pay $5 a gallon -that's crazy, eh?- and buy more things and we are miserable, and think if I just made more money I would be happy. It's not about money, it's about love..." I'VE LOVED YOU BEFORE.

As far as I was concerned that was it. But the universe had other plans... Lucky, mercy baby oh yeah... I'll go play with my kids... I was in Ottawa, Canada... Taking a shower... (People were whistling and stuff, so she said "thank you, but...no ;-)

so I'm in the shower and I find this lump, and I wonder how I didn't notice it the day before, because it's not small... And it's cancer. (Total silence from the audience)... That's what cancer does. Cancer sucks the air out of the room. I know you're out there survivor sisters... Cancer gives you instant perspective. Cancer is about vibrating in balance (?)... 10 weeks of that nasty chemo, and they gave me the super duper stuff, I guess 'cause I could take it... There is glorious riches in the still. I appreciate you coming here and giving me your attention. I don't underestimate it... And I love you... (Somethin about the) path... I love my body, I love myself... Thank you cancer for waking me the F...reak up!". She talked about how cancer is part of so many of our lives and how many of us will have to deal with it personally at some point, but how it would be better and yes, we've lost many to it, but it will be more and more survivors... "Cancer is going to be different in the future, I promise you this...". I RUN FOR LIFE

"So during those weeks of chemo I didn't watch TV (a good thing! Watch less TV :-)

and I was still. I listened to all my songs from beginning to end... And I realized I was sending myself messages... Wow... This blackness that seeps into my chest... So, if I sent messages..." MESSAGE TO MYSELF... Went into a short version (YAY!) Of COME TO MY WINDOW.

"If all this stillness and happiness works, what else can I do? I want to work with people who can change the world..."

This is where I did what annoys me the most... You know those people who scream at the inopportune times? Melissa started singing, and everybody was quiet... When suddenly I realized what song it was... And this yell came out without my permission! It was involuntary and coming from like... my freakin' soul, man!!! :o) it was 2001! She was singing 2001!!!!!!! And a great slow version... OMG, I loved it!!! (When I screamed, Melissa looked at me, but I couldn't read her expression... I hope she knows I wasn't being rude ;-)

Maybe she actually understood that I just couldn't believe she was singing 2001!!!!!!

So, from 2001 she went into I NEED TO WAKE UP...

"I woke up and I got an Oscar. When Al Gore called, I thought it was a slide show to show at high schools...I never saw the Oscar coming... We need balance inside and out... Not only inside our bodies, but outside... The environment... We use biodiesel... Gas is almost as expensive now... Biodiesel may be cheaper than gas soon... We also have these energy saving lights... And Tibetian flags decorate the stage"

While she was talking, the guys were playing the intro music to Kingdom of Heaven... Then she turned to talked to Fritz and let us know that she had forgotten to do the other song... She said it's the first show... Do we have time... Do you want me to do the other song...? "Raise your hand if you're from Florida... If you came to live here from some other crazy place... If you're a Gemini (I whoohooed and she said something about us Geminis being crazy...) We're all different..." GOD IS IN THE PEOPLE.

"What freaked me out about writing that song... Being from Kansas, a good Methodist... God was someone out there who was gonna hurt me or something. God is in you... You... Me... God is the absence of fear, fear is the absence of God..." KINGDOM OF HEAVEN, OPEN YOUR MIND

"Thank you for coming on this journey with me... I love you, I do. We need to say that more often." THE UNIVERSE LISTENED

She commented on how she decided to bring her message (I think :-)

to all the people that are waking up...

IMAGINE THAT
WHAT HAPPENS TOMORROW ("...and be the vice-president... What!?" :o)

"Thank you... Remember, you can do anything... Anything. If you intend to..."

She gathered the guys (almost missed them 'cause they were leaving the stage) and they took a bow together and left...

For the encore she started with NOT TONIGHT and finished with a beautiful PIECE OF MY HEART... She was tired!

"Go home... Make love., coffee, french fries. Love what you do, love who you do :o) where you do it" etc... :o)

After the guys left the stage, I went up hoping to get a pick... The new sound guy (NO CHAINSAW!) thew some out, but I didn't catch any... So I begged a little and it worked :-)

the new pick has the YLS key and on the other side this tour's *motto* - "THE DREAMS WE CREATE"

BTW, be prepared, concert t-shirts start at $40! Yikes!

And there it is... My short (ha!) review :o). I think this show was an indication of a very very awesome tour ahead! I am very much looking forward to see what plans she has for each show... ;-)

by **nybabe58** on Mon Jun 16, 2008 4:05 pm

Angie

Very nice...thanks for sharing all that!

by **dogrescuergirl** on Mon Jun 16, 2008 4:06 pm

Awesome...only three weeks from now I will be in New York about to meet Melissa!

by **nybabe58** on Mon Jun 16, 2008 4:24 pm

imthey wrote:I've posted some photos from last nights concert at Ruth Eckerd Hall in Clearwater, FL. on my MySpace account URL: http://myspace.com/imthey
It will require signing up as "my friend"... to do so just use the email address imthey@gmail.com and once you are "accepted" feel free to take a look at the photos... more will follow soon!

Imthey

Is there no way to view the photos if you do not have a myspace account?? :cry:

You can always pass them to Angie BSST

and she can post them on her website...pretty please!!

by **angelkisses** on Mon Jun 16, 2008 4:52 pm

Melissa was the best I ever seen her...and I've seen her alot....

She played for 3 hrs and 22 minutes....She kept saying you want me to keep going and of course the crowd went mad.......

She started from the beginning and I swear seemed like she played every song She ever recorded......Her voice is strong and She looks wonderful.....

She done alot of talking and story telling, we were up and down...(I think it's the new Etheridge work out video to come)....lol..

She has a new band member...Sorry can't remember the keyboard players name.......

I do believe Melissa should go into preaching or lecturing, I would attend evey session to listen to her.

It is well worth the money....

i am a little upset with the MEIN seating, I seem to be going farther back each year...

Got to meet Rainbow and Sandra briefly, and saw Bucfan there......

Hold on a great concert is coming your way...

by **tiggerATD** on Mon Jun 16, 2008 5:09 pm

angelkisses wrote:She has a new band member...Sorry can't remember the keyboard palyers name.....

That should be Paul 8-)

by **angelkisses** on Mon Jun 16, 2008 5:30 pm

bstrongspeaktru wrote:Feel free to send me stuff to post on my website, peeps!

DISCLAIMER 1: Quotes only to specify that Melissa is talking. I am NOT quoting, only paraphrasing . I opted for note-taking instead of bringing my camera. There should be lots of pics and video 'cause there were plenty cameras there . Still, she talked A LOT, so I couldn't write everything fast enough... Others can fill in the blanks wherever I missed something .

DISCLAIMER 2: I spent over two hours typing this sucker on my BlackBerry and do not feel like re-reading/correcting it, so what you see is what you get

Show started at around 7:35pm. With the "All There Is" music playing, the guys walked in and took their spots. Then Melissa came in. She was wearing comfortable gray pants, a lighter gray t-shirt with a light blue shirt over it, and brown tennis shoes. She opened with I TAKE YOU WITH ME, which made me very happy . She went into ALL WE CAN REALLY DO, and this is whe she introduced the band. A couple of gals walked in late and took their seats... Melissa teased them about being late since they had front row center, telling them she was gonna give out their seats. I reckon one of them showed her a tattoo 'cause MLE said "Oh, you have a tattoo of me... OK you win" and then said something about fans' dedication, I think .

She talked the about how she was wearing comfortable clothes, and how the older you get the more comfortable you want to be (I think . She said women with children could relate to dressing comfortably... And men with children too...

She went on to tell a funny story about the night before. She was wearing her "man shorts" (said "men got the best clothes... right?"), her "man shirt" - a polo shirt, her "don't recognize me" baseball hat ... she, Philip and Paul were walking around sometime after 11pm, and as they were about to go in the hotel, the sheriff drove by... The he stopped and sounded the siren. He looked at Melissa and said "YOU!" Melissa was like "me?"... The sheriff said "YEAH, YOU! COME HERE!" (She was thinking why me? Why not Paul... He looks like trouble . The doorman was concerned because the sheriff didn't seem to know who he was addressing, so he said "Sir...?" to which the sheriff replied "GO AWAY!". Then he told Melissa "we had a call about a suspicious person matching your description" (LOL!)... Then he took another look at her, and kept looking at her and finally said "Oh... Oh... NEVER MIND!" (ROFL).

Melissa was like... "You should see my wife! She dresses just like me! You know how it is, you don't think you dress alike, but you do..." .

OK, and this is where the journey began... "My story... I was born... 47 years ago...!!! Family, other than being strange, was fine... Liked to pretend that everything was fine... Like all kids I had dreams, I had a recurring dream of falling down the stairs, or a big wave, fire...". She the sang INTO THE DARK! Wow!!! . I could not believe I was listening to this song live!!!

She then thanked the audience, said "I know it's not easy, with the gas prices and I know my tickets ain't cheap (rolled her eyes so I just wanted you to know it's appreciated"

So... "At 21 said bye to mom and dad and headed west for fame and fortune. It was 1982... You remember 1982...?" Then she pointed to her head and signaling the mullet she had those days... and said "you know what I looked like!" Cute . I had 5 cassette tapes, Stevie Nicks, Tom Petty, Joan Armatrading... I can't remember what the other 2 were... Anyway, I ended up in California... On my aunt's couch in Silver Lake, Los Angeles." Next song: CALIFORNIA

"So I'm in California, and I say "well, I'm here!"... And I was told "There are 10 million musicians in LA, get in line!". She said something about offering to play at a bar and being told she's had to pay admission, and she was like "no, you pay me!" "I was running out of money, bue I kept up my social life... We all know I'm gay, right? All the gays people, clap! Straight people, clap! All those who don't know, clap... I know you're out there ... Back to the social life... Down the street from my aunt's was a bar... The Pink Flamingo... that's a good name for a gay bar, huh? "

"Got a gig playing the piano on the corner at a Long Beach bar... right before the disco . I made lots of friends (smirk)... between 21 and 27... Maybe it was my repressed upbringing? I made some poor choices... But I wrote some great songs ". She sang one of my favorited then... DON'T YOU NEED... Then went into SIMILAR FEATURES and back to DON'T YOU NEED... It was cool!!! moreso with Philip doing a pretty neat solo.

"It was do as I say, not as I do... I was 24... If you are 24, well enjoy it because after a while you get too tired. Oh well, I gained some maturity, and I have the memories... memories are good . I met a nice lady... She was smart... And you know what happens with smart people... mmmm... BYE!" (LOL, the way she said it, it was funny) "She said I has some baggage..." . Then came NO SOUVENIRS.

"See... When we grow up... the things that we did, the things that we do, they come right back... That's OK... That's how we learn... As long as we are open to that feeling... We can learn, we can grow..." AN UNEXPECTED RAIN. After Philip did his solo she told him "what's wrong with you, man?" And then to us "He's a freak!" .

"27... Changes... OK, gonna find someone to settle down... Maybe . I found someone, but they were not ready..." BRING ME SOME WATER.

"OK, give me impossible... Someone's who's married... Hello Melissa, this is your future calling... Get away!... I know there are some out here doing it... Get out of it now... It will not work, you're gonna lose them the way you got them" she joked about people calling and breaking up because Melissa said it's not going to work . I WANT TO COME OVER

She made fun of us since we kept sitting down every time she started talking... "Up down, up down" BTW, we had 4th row center and a lot of the time the peeps in the pit were sitting down, giving me a perfect view of Melissa like... right in front of me... Not too shabby! :o)

"So there I was in a non-monogamous relationship... No, no... In a MONOGAMOUS relationship as far as I was concerned. I was 30something, people buying my records, it was 1993... Wow, that was 15 years ago... Nothing like being in a bad relationship to see how nice other people are... Am I depressing you? I got crushes all the time..." ANGELS WOULD FALL

"What was I asking for...? With the universe you gotta be specific... By the end of the 90's everything went POP!... Oh, I left out happiness... we think that if we make enough money we'll be happy. But they are two very separate things...". ENOUGH OF ME ("there's gotta be another"... "Gave you the Mercedes, the house, the money... Take it, I don't want it, I don't want it...". It's all behind me... Hit rock bottom... And I was drawing the line... I'm outtahere, walk out that door, I'm through!". I'M THE ONLY ONE.

"It's about intentions... We can do anything if we wanted to... Was I trying to tell myself something..." IF I WANTED TO

"I was 39 and single... So I went back to the bar... Funny... I found somebody... Before that, I was driving and talking to myself... 'Cause that's what you do... I was telling the universe... I want someone nice... Nice is important... I want someone who makes me laugh... someone who does not freak out with the "famous" stuff... I want someone pretty somebody to share all this with... 'Cause I have a lot and I am a good person... We're all good people..." LUCKY

"And there it was... Happiness... I'm enough, I am good and I am strong... And I deserve to be happy. Love and happiness... When you have both, it's real love and it's deep and it goes a long way... I need to love there (the other person) and I need to love here (pointing to herself) love myself... We buy things, pay $5 a gallon -that's crazy, eh?- and buy more things and we are miserable, and think if I just made more money I would be happy. It's not about money, it's about love..." I'VE LOVED YOU BEFORE.

As far as I was concerned that was it. But the universe had other plans... Lucky, mercy baby oh yeah... I'll go play with my kids... I was in Ottawa, Canada... Taking a shower... (People were whistling and stuff, so she said "thank you, but...no so I'm in the shower and I find this lump, and I wonder how I didn't notice it the day before, because it's not small... And it's cancer. (Total silence from the audience)... That's what cancer does. Cancer sucks the air out of the room. I know you're out there survivor sisters... Cancer gives you instant perspective. Cancer is about vibrating in balance (?)... 10 weeks of that nasty chemo, and they gave me the super duper stuff, I guess 'cause I could take it... There is glorious riches in the still. I appreciate you coming here and giving me your attention. I don't underestimate it... And I love you... (Somethin about the) path... I love my body, I love myself... Thank you cancer for waking me the F...reak up!". She talked about how cancer is part of so many of our lives and how many of us will have to deal with it personally at some point, but how it would be better and yes, we've lost many to it, but it will be more and more survivors... "Cancer is going to be different in the future, I promise you this...". I RUN FOR LIFE

"So during those weeks of chemo I didn't watch TV (a good thing! Watch less TV and I was still. I listened to all my songs from beginning to end... And I realized I was sending myself messages... Wow... This blackness that seeps into my chest... So, if I sent messages..." MESSAGE TO MYSELF... Went into a short version (YAY!) Of COME TO MY WINDOW.

"If all this stillness and happiness works, what else can I do? I want to work with people who can change the world..."

This is where I did what annoys me the most... You know those people who scream at the inopportune times? Melissa started singing, and everybody was quiet... When suddenly I realized what song it was... And this yell came out without my permission! It was involuntary and coming from like... my freakin' soul, man!!! :o) it was 2001! She was singing 2001!!!!!!! And a great slow version... OMG, I loved it!!! (When I screamed, Melissa looked at me, but I couldn't read her expression... I hope she knows I wasn't being rude Maybe she actually understood that I just couldn't believe she was singing 2001!!!!!!

So, from 2001 she went into I NEED TO WAKE UP...

"I woke up and I got an Oscar. When Al Gore called, I thought it was a slide show to show at high schools...I never saw the Oscar coming... We need balance inside and out... Not only inside our bodies, but outside... The environment... We use biodiesel... Gas is almost as expensive now... Biodiesel may be cheaper than gas soon... We also have these energy saving lights... And Tibetian flags decorate the stage"

While she was talking, the guys were playing the intro music to Kingdom of Heaven... Then she turned to talked to Fritz and let us know that she had forgotten to do the other song... She said it's the first show... Do we have time... Do you want me to do the other song...? "Raise your hand if you're from Florida... If you came to live here from some other crazy place... If you're a Gemini (I whoohooed and she said something about us Geminis being crazy...) We're all different..." GOD IS IN THE PEOPLE.

"What freaked me out about writing that song... Being from Kansas, a good Methodist... God was someone out there who was gonna hurt me or something. God is in you... You... Me... God is the absence of fear, fear is the absence of God..." KINGDOM OF HEAVEN, OPEN YOUR MIND

"Thank you for coming on this journey with me... I love you, I do. We need to say that more often." THE UNIVERSE LISTENED

She commented on how she decided to bring her message (I think to all the people that are waking up...

IMAGINE THAT
WHAT HAPPENS TOMORROW ("...and be the vice-president... What!?" :o)

"Thank you... Remember, you can do anything... Anything. If you intend to..."

She gathered the guys (almost missed them 'cause they were leaving the stage) and they took a bow together and left...

For the encore she started with NOT TONIGHT and finished with a beautiful PIECE OF MY HEART... She was tired!

"Go home... Make love., coffee, french fries. Love what you do, love who you do :o) where you do it" etc... :o)

After the guys left the stage, I went up hoping to get a pick... The new sound guy (NO CHAINSAW!) thew some out, but I didn't catch any... So I begged a little and it worked the new pick has the YLS key and on the other side this tour's *motto* - "THE DREAMS WE CREATE"

BTW, be prepared, concert t-shirts start at $40! Yikes!

And there it is... My short (ha!) review :o). I think this show was an indication of a very very awesome tour ahead! I am very much looking forward to see what plans she has for each show...

i thought you were not going you booger...i would have met up with ya.....

and if you rememberd all that from memory God Bless ya.....I can't remember that well :roll:

by **angelkisses** on Mon Jun 16, 2008 5:37 pm

tiggerATD wrote:
angelkisses wrote:She has a new band member...Sorry can't remember the keyboard palyers name.....

That should be Paul

thanks tigger.....i was concentrating on Melissa....lol......

by **Bolts** on Mon Jun 16, 2008 8:58 pm

What a GREAT SHOW !!! I enjoyed it so much I am going to Orlando to the the next show - ME ROCKS!!!

by **toomuchgirl** on Mon Jun 16, 2008 9:17 pm

BeStrong....that was an awesome review!!!!!! Thank you so much for taking the time to share that with us 8-)

by **dogrescuergirl** on Tue Jun 17, 2008 2:49 am

Wow bestrong, you are amazing, I can't believe you did all that on your crackberry! You rock! I loved it, thank you for sharing all that with us. I can't wait until the New York show!!

by **bstrongspeaktru** on Tue Jun 17, 2008 8:14 am

dogrescuergirl wrote:Wow bestrong, you are amazing, I can't believe you did all that on your crackberry! You rock! I loved it, thank you for sharing all that with us. I can't wait until the New York show!!

Some things didn't make it to the crackberry 'cause writing super fast (in the dark!) trying to catch all the woman's saying (to make y'all crazy fans happy!) can be quite a challenge, so there were parts where I had no earthly clue what I'd written... tee hee... :o)

by **TeaRose** on Tue Jun 17, 2008 9:20 am

bstrongspeaktru wrote:
dogrescuergirl wrote:Wow bestrong, you are amazing, I can't believe you did all that on your crackberry! You rock! I loved it, thank you for sharing all that with us. I can't wait until the New York show!!

Some things didn't make it to the crackberry 'cause writing super fast (in the dark!) trying to catch all the woman's saying (to make y'all crazy fans happy!) can be quite a challenge, so there were parts where I had no earthly clue what I'd written... tee hee... :o)

Thanks for such a great recap!

I loved it!

Sounds like everyone had a fabulous time! :mrgreen:

by **bstrongspeaktru** on Tue Jun 17, 2008 10:29 am

angelkisses wrote:i thought you were not going you booger...i would have met up with ya.....

Are you talkin' to ME?! I KNOW you ain't calling me no booger, you goober!

I didn't see you... bummer, would have been nice to say hey!

Where were you sitting...? I was on the fourth row... right smack in the middle

angelkisses wrote:and if you remembered all that from memory God Bless ya.....I can't remember that well

That reminds me she also was like "If you're under 35, raise your hand!"... then she said "If you're over 40, raise your hand!"... So yeah, I'm 40... and there's no way I could remember all that... I was just taking notes furiously

by **angelkisses** on Tue Jun 17, 2008 10:57 am

I was 5th row dead center :roll:

...i keep going backwards instead of closer....

I just got tixmaster for thurs show...and done just as well go figure.......

i didnt see you, saw Bucfan, Rainbow and Sandra.......

of course everyone left out of there after it was over....

you must know shorthand..whew i remember when i read what u wrote but damn......

by **bstrongspeaktru** on Tue Jun 17, 2008 11:24 am

angelkisses wrote:I was 5th row dead center ...i keep going backwards instead of closer....

I just got tixmaster for thurs show...and done just as well go figure.......

i didnt see you, saw Bucfan, Rainbow and Sandra.......

of course everyone left out of there after it was over....

you must know shorthand..whew i remember when i read what u wrote but damn......

You must have been sitting behind me... were you sitting down and some chick was standing right there in front of you? 'Cause that would be me :-)

by **angelkisses** on Tue Jun 17, 2008 11:56 am

no i was standing mos tof the time i think i had a blonde in front of me....i am prett sur ei remember what u look like :shocked:

...then again i am getting older........She was sitting by a guy.....i was row e seat 20......lol....

but i think the lady next to the blonde was writing soem things...maybe that was you......did u have on a white shirt with soem writng on the back?......

by **bstrongspeaktru** on Tue Jun 17, 2008 1:19 pm

angelkisses wrote:no i was standing mos tof the time i think i had a blonde in front of me....i am prett sur ei remember what u look like ...then again i am getting older........She was sitting by a guy.....i was row e seat 20......lol....

but i think the lady next to the blonde was writing soem things...maybe that was you......did u have on a white shirt with soem writng on the back?......

Yeppers... that'd be me

I told you I was writing furiously... row D, seat 18

The blonde was with the very happy dude in the green t-shirt who was also a Gemini, yes?

by **imthey** on Tue Jun 17, 2008 3:28 pm

In response to the question of persons unable to access or without MySpace accounts... please feel free to email me directly at imthey@gmail.com and inquire about the possibility of me sending some of the better photos directly to you via email... if this would help.

I would try to post a few here on the forum, but seem to have not quite taken to figuring out how to do so exactly... I tried the Img button at top, but wasn't sure that what I ended up with would work for people, so I still think the email or MySpace route would be best.

Shannon (imthey)

by **napili** on Tue Jun 17, 2008 3:39 pm

thanks everyone for the reviews...can't wait for the portland show

by **sebinthdark** on Tue Jun 17, 2008 3:48 pm

[quote="bstrongspeaktru"]Feel free to send me stuff to post on my website, peeps!

OK, and this is where the journey began... "My story... I was born... 47 years ago...!!! Family, other than being strange, was fine... Liked to pretend that everything was fine... Like all kids I had dreams, I had a recurring dream of falling down the stairs, or a big wave, fire...". She the sang INTO THE DARK! Wow!!! :-)

. I could not believe I was listening to this song live!!!

Wow, so cool....I wish I had been there to hear her sing that song........it has been such a very long time....but, then the song is timeless.
By the way, I Love your review.

---B.

by **angelkisses** on Tue Jun 17, 2008 4:40 pm

bstrongspeaktru wrote:
angelkisses wrote:no i was standing mos tof the time i think i had a blonde in front of me....i am prett sur ei remember what u look like ...then again i am getting older........She was sitting by a guy.....i was row e seat 20......lol....

but i think the lady next to the blonde was writing soem things...maybe that was you......did u have on a white shirt with soem writng on the back?......

Yeppers... that'd be me I told you I was writing furiously... row D, seat 18 The blonde was with the very happy dude in the green t-shirt who was also a Gemini, yes?

yes i be damn...i did not realize that was you........so close yet so far away......

by **jenbo** on Tue Jun 17, 2008 5:09 pm

OK..I'm not sure how you all are gonna take this but for God only knows whatever reason I feel I need to voice my opinion here. While I think its cool we wanna share experiences about each concert I feel like the main message Melissa was trying to spread gets soo lost in all this 'reporting' so to speak with the "and then this happened..and then she did this and said that". When you list it all like that it feels a little like stealing to me..like a bootlegged version of a beautiful experience. I guess it bothers me because it feels like reporting..like a crazy fan tabloid. Melissa's message isn't about how long you've been a fan, how many concerts you've been to, what tidbits of her or the stage you've managed to take for yourself..its about appreciating a holistic journey..of being able to see some of her experiences mirrored in our own lives and maybe being able to learn something from her trials that you can learn a little less painfully and apply it toward your own perceptions of being. She advises us to find peace, be still, appreciate everything you've been given.
I'm not saying you all aren't appreciative..it just has a different feel the way I perceive it as posted. It feels a little like greedy children.. like its never enough.
Now, I don't post here to piss anyone off although I'd be stupid to not think that will happen. I'm just saying I hope you are able to relay a little of your experiences, yes.. post set lists and excitedness about songs played..but don't try to list everything that was said and done minute by minute for each concert all throughout the tour. Let Melissa give us her gift as it was intended. Share, but don't gobble it up til there's nothing left of it. I hope this makes sense. I also know this is only my opinion and you all do whatever it is you want to do. Free country, free speech. This is only a fansite forum. I just think that if you really listen to what she has to say and you internalize it, and try to live by it..it feels in contrast to some of the things I saw from fans at the concert and the vibe I get from some of the posts here.

Peace out

by **dogrescuergirl** on Wed Jun 18, 2008 3:03 am

I think everyone appreciates Melissa in their own way and that's great. Some appreciate her just by feeling the experience and then going home and letting it all sink in and taking the personal message from it; some experience it by bringing a new fan and spreading the message by introducing others to the Melissa experience; some appreciate her by taking it all in and then spreading the beauty of what they experienced to others, especially those who are in other countries and unable to attend a concert, it gives them a little insight that they otherwise would not have been able to experience since they are not as fortunate as the rest of us to be able to attend a show. And I think either way, we are spreading the love and spreading the message.

by **angelkisses** on Wed Jun 18, 2008 8:11 am

dogrescuergirl wrote:I think everyone appreciates Melissa in their own way and that's great. Some appreciate her just by feeling the experience and then going home and letting it all sink in and taking the personal message from it; some experience it by bringing a new fan and spreading the message by introducing others to the Melissa experience; some appreciate her by taking it all in and then spreading the beauty of what they experienced to others, especially those who are in other countries and unable to attend a concert, it gives them a little insight that they otherwise would not have been able to experience since they are not as fortunate as the rest of us to be able to attend a show. And I think either way, we are spreading the love and spreading the message.

Amen , I agree with you.....

by **nybabe58** on Wed Jun 18, 2008 1:13 pm

Thank you Shannon!! POMH 6/15/08

http://youtube.com/watch?v=OsbjWLL6_58

by **black** on Wed Jun 18, 2008 1:49 pm

dogrescuergirl wrote:I think everyone appreciates Melissa in their own way and that's great. .............. especially those who are in other countries and unable to attend a concert, it gives them a little insight that they otherwise would not have been able to experience since they are not as fortunate as the rest of us to be able to attend a show. And I think either way, we are spreading the love and spreading the message.

by **imthey** on Wed Jun 18, 2008 7:31 pm

Just a quick update: For those not already in the know her is the link to my web page with 99 pics from the Melissa concert in Clearwater on June 15th... this should allow everyone to access the page and view the pics.
http://web.mac.com/imthey/iWeb/Site/Melissa%20Etheridge%20Concert%20%28June%2015,%202008%29.html

I also want to give a special shout out and thanks to my very own "angel" Angelkisses, whom I "ran" into before the concert and who was so very kind to sell me her extra ticket to the concert (so I was 5th row center, thus allowing for the great photos that you all will hopefully be enjoying).

It was my very own moment of good karma, as I had bought my ticket in April and due to being ultra busy with a million other things not looked at the Ticketmaster page again until the night before the concert, when I went to print off my ticket and to my horror/dismay, etc. found that I had somehow in a moment of sheer insanity or whatnot, ended up having purchased tickets for the wrong night and venue. Due to cost issues and getting the time off from work there was no way for me to attend the concert in Orlando the next evening.

I took my chances and headed to Ruth Eckerd anyway, where while waiting in the back by the tour buses I had Tammy and the kids pass by me for a little jaunt around the block... Tammy had the kids in one of those cute little red cars that you pull along. Upon returning I said that I hoped they'd had a nice walk and that I was happy for them that the weather was nice and holding up and I told her how cute the kids were. She said thank you. She said they did have a nice little "walk". It was all very sweet and cordial and I was polite and left my camera in my bag... it seemed to much of an invasion of privacy to intrude upon their little outing.

The ending to this rather long story is that in the end, I guess things were just meant to be and the fates smiled down upon me and sent me in Angelkisses direction... better still she remembered me from a Melissa concert some years back, so we were able to reconnect! Anyway... thanks again to Angelkisses, Tammy (for being so sweet) and Melissa for (as always) giving 110% to her fans with such a great concert!

by **black** on Wed Jun 18, 2008 10:21 pm

imthey wrote:Just a quick update: For those not already in the know her is the link to my web page with 99 pics from the Melissa concert in Clearwater on June 15th... this should allow everyone to access the page and view the pics.
http://web.mac.com/imthey/iWeb/Site/Melissa%20Etheridge%20Concert%20%28June%2015,%202008%29.html

I also want to give a special shout out and thanks to my very own "angel" Angelkisses, whom I "ran" into before the concert and who was so very kind to sell me her extra ticket to the concert (so I was 5th row center, thus allowing for the great photos that you all will hopefully be enjoying).

It was my very own moment of good karma, as I had bought my ticket in April and due to being ultra busy with a million other things not looked at the Ticketmaster page again until the night before the concert, when I went to print off my ticket and to my horror/dismay, etc. found that I had somehow in a moment of sheer insanity or whatnot, ended up having purchased tickets for the wrong night and venue. Due to cost issues and getting the time off from work there was no way for me to attend the concert in Orlando the next evening.

I took my chances and headed to Ruth Eckerd anyway, where while waiting in the back by the tour buses I had Tammy and the kids pass by me for a little jaunt around the block... Tammy had the kids in one of those cute little red cars that you pull along. Upon returning I said that I hoped they'd had a nice walk and that I was happy for them that the weather was nice and holding up and I told her how cute the kids were. She said thank you. She said they did have a nice little "walk". It was all very sweet and cordial and I was polite and left my camera in my bag... it seemed to much of an invasion of privacy to intrude upon their little outing.

The ending to this rather long story is that in the end, I guess things were just meant to be and the fates smiled down upon me and sent me in Angelkisses direction... better still she remembered me from a Melissa concert some years back, so we were able to reconnect! Anyway... thanks again to Angelkisses, Tammy (for being so sweet) and Melissa for (as always) giving 110% to her fans with such a great concert!

THANK YOU, Imthey THANK YOU
black

by **nybabe58** on Thu Jun 19, 2008 1:59 am

Imthey

What a great story and yes Karma for sure!

Thanks so much for sharing all those photos(and more) from the show! You are definitely ACES!!

by **toomuchgirl** on Thu Jun 19, 2008 5:58 am

Wow, those pictures were great!!! Thanks for sharing your personal experience and also those great photos!!!! Much appreciated 8-)

by **imthey** on Thu Jun 19, 2008 5:41 pm

To everyone getting enjoyment from seeing the photos I say You are very Welcome! It's only fitting that things worked out as they did, for it seems that when you are a Melissa Etheridge fan you are a part of something larger...

Thank you all for the kind words regarding the photos and I am so very glad to be able to have contributed a little bit to the Melissa Etheridge "family" of fans! I think ME fans are some of the best people I have met over my years of going to concerts!

May each and every one of you have your own wonderful experience on one (or more) of her stops on The Revival Tour!

"Namaste"

Shannon (imthey)

by **This_Moment** on Sun Jun 22, 2008 3:31 pm

Hi Everyone!
NYbabe58 was kind enough to put my videos from the Clearwater show on Youtube, so i thought i'd share the link with you all. (i know some of you asked me for the footage)
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=xctHPHS2AfY

There ya go! hope you like it.
Byes!
~sofia

by **nybabe58** on Sun Jun 22, 2008 5:45 pm

This_Moment wrote:Hi Everyone!
NYbabe58 was kind enough to put my videos from the Clearwater show on Youtube, so i thought i'd share the link with you all. (i know some of you asked me for the footage)
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=xctHPHS2AfY

There ya go! hope you like it.
Byes!
~sofia

Sofia....lets make it clear that Marnie surely assisted here as its up on her youtube acct. She was able to get it uploaded to youtube where my several tries didnt work! Bravo Marnie...Bravo Sofia for a great vid from Clearwater. Nine songs folks....snippets no doubt and the sound is great! Thanks again for sharing Sofia.......lets go folks..share your vids of the Revival tour...the more the merrier

by **Kel** on Mon Jun 23, 2008 7:45 am

Awesome reviews. Thanks for sharing.