Tori Amos - Civic Theatre, San Diego, California - June 25, 1996

We saw Tori Amos in San Diego with a couple of good friends M & B, whom we never saw many shows with. Our musical tastes didn’t exactly overlap very much so it was kind of neat that they did this time and we agreed to go see this show together.

My most vivid memories are more of the venue itself. I think this was perhaps the first (if not only?) time I set foot into the Civic Theatre and it was such an old school concert hall I felt as if I should be wearing an evening gown. It was smothered in red velvet and chandeliers and seemed very unlike a place twenty somethings should be hanging out to see a concert. I guess it sort of suited Tori’s style though considering she is at best with her grand piano and serious voice.

I have such vivid memories of the first time I saw her in Sacramento that it is difficult to bring any other images to mind from this show. It was probably fine but I don’t remember much beyond that.

I looked up Tori's website so I could link it to this post and I have to say it is quite annoying. Full of google adds on the top and the sides, it looks very amateurish. Oh well.

Tears for Fears - 4th and B, San Diego, Californina - May 10, 1996

This was the first more serious show we saw at the 4^th and B, after the Flash Xmas concert. They started to book a lot of really good 80s and early 90s bands and it was good to have it so close by.

I do not remember too much about the show itself, except I have a memory of walking up the stairs to find our seats and I remember it being much better than the first time I had seen them in San Jose. I think by this time Roland Orzabal was much more comfortable on stage and certainly not as bitter as the time he belted out Radiohead’s Creep as his only encore.

I think a lot of people may think of Tears for Fears as a one-hit-wonder band from the 80s but they are still really quite good. The songwriting and the music has deepened and I am always pleasantly surprised to find a new release when I least expect it.