Look what I found - Tori Amos July 17, 2009 Greek Theatre

I'm finding old photos and video that I meant to blog, but had been forgotten in between moving. There will be no review on my behalf because I simply don't remember it. Sorry. I do remember on our way there almost getting into a car accident on the 101 freeway with Jermaine and Tito Jackson, yes you heard that right. Omg! I mean really. Out of all people in LA, and this was soon after their brother's death. I was right beside Jermaine and he looked at me. I felt compelled to blow him a kiss and jesture my hand over my heart and mouthed the words "I'm Sorry". He blew me a kiss back and put his hand over his heart as well!! What a sweet guy Jermaine is. All the while Bernadette and I are taking photos! Haha. I'm pretty damn' good at taking photos while driving. Don't tell Oprah that! Shhhhh.

I also remember being late to the show!? First time ever late to a concert! Missing the only 3 songs I really wanted to hear. Give, Siren and Graveyard!! Ugh! Seems that Tori started early? Don't know what happened there? I also remember my friend Melinda from Seattle whom I gave my FRONT ROW ticket to at a 2007 Seattle show, had a pit ticket for me for free, repaying me the favor. Found her add on Craigslist! And she wrote back "Is this Raven". So freakin' funny. Small world! Me being late didn't get the tix, but I got pretty close up anyhow.

I was ill prepared for the show, not bringing enough GB for my camera. I decided to go at last minute. My friend Bernadette went with me, her first Tori show! I ran into an old Tori friend, Chris on her way to the bathroom during 'Jackie's Strength'.
It was *Magical*, perfect timing! This was the first time being out of my house after my Grandmother's death on Jan 5. So it was still really fresh. We squeezed each other tight. I couldn't refrain from crying. (We made plans to see each other and she paid me a visit a few months later. Chris, being a chef cooked some yummy food for me and we laid on the floor while listening to The Doors. She gave me one of her bracelets, which I still wear to this day!) Out of all those people in a Theatre that holds nearly 7,000, I can not believe I ran into her! So glad I did.

I also remember on the way out I stopped to say "Hello" to the tree I adopted. I like to call it "My Tori Tree" because I adopted it back in 1998 on the night of Tori's Greek show on her Choir Girl Hotel tour. I wrote on it- "Raven comes here often" (I use to live 2 blocks from The Greek Theatre) and "We Held Gold Dust in our hands". I would write something on it every time Tori had a show at The Greek. It's a big huge, I'm talkin' Huuuggge tree that many of friends had taken pictures with.

One being my/our late friend Jim Fernandez. Those friends that knew him and that are on my Facebook know what I'm talking about. May he rest in peace.

And finally, I remember Bernadette and I walking super fast downhill, tree roots everywhere, to my car in the dark and I tragically tripped, in a one-two BAM! Needing 38 stitches! It was gnarly!

A total bleeding mess
(and yes, I know this was maddness)
I remember this, but that's about it!

*What a Night!*

Snippet of Precious Things

Snippet of Strong Black Vine

China in sign language, I thought it was beautiful.

I laughed when Tori said "getting off"
and "smoking Mary Jane".
The lady was too funny.

I know this isn't good video, but like
I said, I didn't plan on going, nor was
I in the right mind.

Marina & The Diamonds - Starstrukk Video & my friend's concert review where my photos are featured

Check out my friend's blog POPBYTES.COM where My photos & Videos are featured.

He also interviwed Marina before the LA SHOW. He's a great interviewer, so make sure you peep that out! Marina And The Diamonds (At Los Angeles' El Rey) Popbytes concert review/video interview (shout outs to @RavenTweetTweet and @VoodooHipster) !

And I finally uploaded the last video, it happnes to be my fav song/cover by Marina! I love her vocals on this song. Marina turned a repulsive song into something beautiful!*

More Marina & The Diamonds' Videos here: http://www.youtube.com/OrphanSailor

We got our Obsessions and Marina & the Diamonds are mine! Live at The El Rey 9/17/10.

I was invited to go see Marina & the Diamonds a day before the show by my friend MK who runs the website/blog Popbytes.com . Even tho I was excited I wasn't sure if I was going to go being tired from a hike the day before. I went back and fourth and decided to go and I'm SO glad I did! It was one of the best decision I ever made! Omg!

I use to listened to Marina and the Diamonds casually, NOW after seeing her live she's my new Obsession! And I told her that! Wow. And I couldn't have asked for a more smoother, stressless night from beginning to end! It was almost to good to be true. I left the house @ 8:00pm -45 mins. later then I planned and it still worked out perfectly! From my house I took the 40 min. drive, no traffic at all. Made it there pretty fast, got on my phone to call MK to tell him I was pulling up to the curb and he was already right there waiting, talking to me on the phone! Ha! The last time I saw him was at the El Rey when I went to see Regina Spektor. I guess it's our meeting place.

I have a secret spot by Rite Aid where I always find parking. Low and behold I turn the corner and there's my parking spot waiting for me! Always the same spot! I can't believe it, it's always so packed in that area, especially on Friday nights. MK walked up to meet me, we went up to the box office without waiting in line. Got the tix, photo pass and VIP wrist bands, went in, chatted, drinks, found our spots, the show started soon after and I was blown away!

Marina stepped on stage at the El Rey Theatre Friday night to play her last, sold-out show on tour. Marina and her band have such great chemisrty and energy. The crowd was fun and not rude like other artists shows I've gone to. People of all ages were dancing around to her songs. Old, balding men, teenage girlfriends, young adults, and couples of all ages stood in the crowd rocking out.

Marina sang tracks from her latest album, "The Family Jewels,". In between songs she continually thanked the audience for being so amazing and supporting her throughout her tour. She mentioned how she was in such a great mood and how she feels more at home here then in the UK. She said she was coming back to stay!

I loved the way Marina pranced around the stage, involved her "Diamonds" (that being us) the entire night. I loved the quick outfit changes-she's fast! She's so fun! I hate 'comparing' artists, but all thru the night I couldn't put my finger on who she reminded me of! A bit of Regina Spektor in there and a hint of Kate Nash's quirky-ness on her up beat melodies.

It wasn't until she began singing a few verses of her most popular track, "I Am Not A Robot" in a cappella that I realized how extraordinary Marina really was.

Not only does Marina have a broad vocal range, she can easily transition her show from seeming like a Lada-Gaga-esqe spectacle to a more soulful, intimate performance, very reminiscent of Regina Spektor, playing a more mellow, stripped down song on the piano titled, "Numb."

I, as I always do found my fav song when she started the first line of 'Guilty'. "I was dreaming something dark", her hair blowing in the fan. I was looking thru my camera lens and I remember getting chills. Very moving song. I was lucky enough to capture this moment on video. You can find all videos from this show on my Youtube page. (I have 1 more surprise to add)

A surprising twist for her last show, she sang a cover of 3OH!3's/Katy Perry's "Starstruck," in a completely toned down manner, singing the verse "Now, L-o-v-e's just another word I never learned to pronounce" slowly and softly, completely altering the song's effect from what was originally an almost repulsive song to an extraordinarily beautiful one. There aren't many artists who can do such a remarkable feat. It was a very moving moment as well.

Marina Diamandis, said to her fans at the end of her show, "I am Marina and you will always be diamonds." Perhaps another reason to love her so. xx

I DIDN'T WANT THE SHOW TO EVER END!! YES, IT WAS THAT MAGICAL! I WAS/AM GREATLY INSPIRED!

* A big thank you goes out to MK, for inviting me
and for being such a wonderful Host* I had so much fun!*
a free last min. ticket, VIP after party meet&greet.
a great show & an old friend- and just think
I wasn't gonna go!

*After the show I ran up to Micheal and Said "Omg! I Loved it, I am so obsessed! I'm so glad I came! He's like "I told you!" We were talking & gushing and then noticed Perez Hilton not too far from us. We're like "Oh gawd". It was funny to see the little fued between him and MK. I still lmao at the glares thrown at each other. While MK was in the bathroom some guy started massaging me while I was filming Perez watching me. lmao! Oh good times!*

MK came out & we stood around for a few mins. until the guy on the loud speaker told all the VIPer's to go upstairs. *What perfect timing* I had as usual! I run into the artist and find myself alone with them. {same thing happened w/Fiona Apple & Regina Spektor!}

MK and I went up the stairs, sat at a little table for a bit, talked about precious things & he said, "let's go in now". He went in before me and I followed, running right into Marina in her lovely Black Vampire Vintage dress.! It was just us 2 and her manager/security guy. I told her "You know Marina I'm VERY picky who I listen to, I have my 4 fav. artists Nick Cave & the Bad Seeds, she said "I like them". And Fiona Apple, she said "Ohhh I LOVE Fiona Apple, I love Fiona" and I said "Regina Spektor and Tori Amos". "And I been forever wondering if there was ever gonna be a 5th fav. and I found my 5th tonight!" And she said "Awwwee, you're so sweet" and hugged me. I told her the show was so good and that she's my new obsession. She giggled and said "Thank you" and rubbed my arm after giving me another hug. As we were talking I happen to glance over to Perez and he was just starring at us, w/a smug look. wtf? haha.

Marina and I walked into the room, which I have to say was the best looking VIP room I ever seen. Dark Red walls, velvet and Candlelight Chandelier ! I walked around the corner & there was Mk sitting at a table. I told him he missed the little chat I had w/Marina. We talked and waited a few mins. before getting some shots w/Marina. Told her it was a great show and we said our Goodbyes and off we went. What a great night! I was very happy how everything turned out!

Marina told MK that she'll be back in Feb! Here is a video interview He conducted with Marina Friday before her LA show! Check out the full interview at his wonderful blog Popbytes !

I had taken more photos, but my flickr account is a mess. I'll work on it ;p

Scholars of Hogwarts

girlie talk






{get to know Marina}
a must watch! Local KCRW radio

click on me! open! watch! you won't be sorry!