I saw her on 7/15/2006, in Dallas. We were 8th row, dead center. It was an amazing way to celebrate Amy's & my engagement, which occurred just 3 days before! My best friend Eleni was front row, & had almost the exact same experience as I did in '04! It was so awesome to relive that excitement through her eyes. I ended up in the pit & got to touch Melissa again! A Melissa Concert Pit is officially my favorite place to be! The story below came from that Pit experience. *squish* I can't wait to do a meet & greet the next time she tours, her shows are the best drug in the world! I have also been to Leavenworth KA, Melissa's hometown. (Ask me for pics.)
The Road Less Traveled Summer Tour 2006 set list, Dallas TX:
Come On Out Tonight
If I Wanted To
Secret Agent
I Want To Come Over
Come To My Window
Enough Of Me
No Souvenirs
Don't You Need
Angels Would Fall
I Need To Wake Up
Medley: Silent Legacy/Scarecrow/Tuesday Morning
Piano Solo (How Would I Know)
Solo (Brave And Crazy)
This Is Not Goodbye
I Run For Life
If You Want To
Bring Me Some Water
I’m The Only One
Piece Of My Heart
-encore break-
Like The Way I Do
Keep It Precious
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"When I walk out on the stage & I get the feeling that there are so many of my fans & people there that are determined to have a good time & determined to listen to music & celebrate & move their bodies & sing at the top of their lungs & scream & holler - whatever they want to do - then it is like I have a responsibility here. I want to be the best I can be." ~Melissa :x:x:x:x:x:x:x:x:x:x:x:x:x:x:x:x:x:x:x:x:x:x:x:x:x:x:x:x:x:x:x:x:x:x:x:x:x:x:x:x:x:x:x:x:x:x:x:
This was published in Applause Magazine, my campus's creative arts magazine:
The Walk
by Me
"...You can rush the stages,
And believe the words again,
Looking for the heroes and friends..."
~Melissa, "Heros And Friends"
There are two kinds of people in this world; Music listeners, and music experiencers. The listeners simply hear music and enjoy it. They may buy albums and go to concerts close to home. In my experience, they make up the majority of the music population. Then, there are the experiencers, who will drive days for a concert, sell a kidney for a rare piece of memorabilia and love meeting fellow fans. Music is food to them, especially live music. It feeds a special place in their souls, fills them up, takes them to another place: A religious experience. They need it as an addict needs a fix. It just doesn't enrich their lives, it sustains them. This story is for all the experiencers out there...
It happens all of a sudden, you can never plan for it. The mass of screaming fans moves as one to fill the emptiness in front of the stage. Your best friend's arm shoots out and pulls you into the cocoon, you never new she was that strong! So there you are screaming, jumping, throwing your arms, just freaking the fuck out! Shoulder to shoulder with 100 of your closets stranger friends. Singing so loudly that you can't hear her anymore, but knowing she loves that. She feeds off your energy, it makes her play harder, longer, louder, prouder. You won't have a voice in the morning--all that matters is you have a loud one tonight!
Your feet hurt from being stomped on and from stomping on others. Walking, sitting, or standing tomorrow will definitely require large amounts of Tylenol. Truthfully, you could not care less. This is about now, about experiencing every second through every pore. You may never experience this again, so you make sure every sense has these moments memorized, sunk deep into you. You know that moment is coming, that second that lasts hours.
Looking up you see her, surrounded by lights she looks like a Rock Goddess. Don't try to look down, you might never get your head back up! Someone's arm will keep you from staking your place again. Did someone faint? If they did, it went unnoticed, because they didn't fall down. There isn't room to fall down! They would just fall into someone, who would push them onto another, and that would go on until the show's over. A few people shoot dirty looks as you jump and sing and bump in to them. Like you can help the fact that there are eight million people behind you, pushing you! Oh yes, it's clearly all your fault! Ignore them, it was their choice to get in this cave of energy.
She gets so close to the edge of the stage, it's like she is reaching out to you. She never lets security between her and the fans, they just get in her way. She can't touch you because she's busy filling the huge arena with that addicting pulse of music, but you know that's coming. The moment.
Sweat pours from every inch of your body, you think your jeans are glued to your thighs. The mix of body odor, beer, and pot fills the air. You quickly forget about it, ignoring everything but this unimaginable experience. The air is thick and rich with music, dark, heat, life, passion, dreams, tears, screams, arms, hands, and so many more things impossible to list, for they can only be felt.
She walks to stage left and hands her guitar off. "It's coming!" you scream. No one can hear you over their own screams, but it doesn't matter. You are all in this hole for the same reason, for what is coming . . .
You watch with the childlike anticipation as she leans down and starts The Walk. She's as close to the edge as she can get without falling into the crowd (I bet they would catch her!) She's taking hands, as many hands as she can reach. The only thing visible are arms reaching up respectfully. Her hands are invisible--just arms stretching in to a sea of love. She says "Thank you!" over and over, locking eyes with as many fans as humanly possible. She wants us to know our love is reciprocated to the fullest extent. This walk is tradition, to end a show without it would seem. . .well, she would never end a show without it. I don't know of any other artist who literally reaches out and touches their fans. There is no other artist like Melissa Etheridge.
She's getting close to you! Your heart races even faster, something you didn't know was possible. Arms as far up and forward as you can stretch. Your right hand grabs her left forearm. She slides her arm away so she has your hand. She has the softest hands you have ever felt, so unexpected for a rock guitar player. Your grin stretches from ear to ear as her deep, soulful honey brown eyes lock on yours and she says "thank you." Her eyes are so easy to get lost in and it feels like she holds your gaze forever. As she continues her walk, she holds your hand as long as she can, as long as your arm stretches. Deep down, you hope it's because you were giving off good, peaceful energy. She feeds off it. To give her, your hero, that food, that respect, is the best feeling in the world.
She finishes her journey across the stage, bows with the band, flashes peace signs, and is gone: Never gone from your soul, for you carry those moments in you forever. The moments when you not only got to touch the hand of a person who's changed your life, but you got to touch her soul. You and your friend look at each other, silent for a moment. Letting what you just shared fully sink in. OK, moment is over, you're ready for the next show! That is the thing about The Melissa Fix, you always want more. In one way it's forever satisfying. However, as every amazing thing, it leaves you wanting more.
"If ever I need something to believe I wait for the noise,
and then I take your hand, and I count off the band,
with the good girls and boys..."
~Melissa, "Good Girls and Boys"
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