Tori live - sat. June 11th/ sun. June 12th 2005 (Rotterdam and Brussels)

I had a hard time sleeping Friday night cause I was so nervous for the concert and all. I got up at around 9.00 in the morning, got dressed, grabbed my stuff and headed off to the train station. All in all I had a quick train ride and arrived at Ahoy at about 1.15. There were about 5 people outside the venue waiting for Tori to show up and I joined them. After a while Sarah (who I know from the old Atlantic board) arrived with Franklin from her The Afterglow forum. It was wonderful to see her! We talked a little and waited for Inge and Thessa to show up. They got lost a little, lol, but finally they arrived as well. Not much later I spotted an orange bus across the road and actually joked that it might be Tori's tourbus. But it actually WAS.
When the bus arrived, the 5 of us were on the wrong side of the bus, shame. So, after giving it a few doubts, we decided to walk over to the rest of the group. We were pretty much at the back but since it was a small group, I still had an okay view. When Tori came out of the bus I couldn't believe it. It was so surreal. So fucking surreal. I couldn't believe she was so close and from that moment on I sorta blocked everything else I guess. I was there, I heard her talk, saw everything but I didn't experience it in some kind of way. It's really hard to explain, but it was like I was watching it from a distance. All I really do remember was the way Tori looked. She's got such big eyes. And when she looks at you, she really looks at you and makes you look at her as well. I remember that I thought to myself that you better not piss her off. She's got this huge, massive and powerful aura surrounding her, it scared me a little even. Not scared as in "bad", but scared as in "oh good god she's an ever bigger and more beautiful soul than I ever imagined!"
When she was in front of me and asked me about my arm I had a million lines spinning through my head, but all I could do was stare at her and before I knew it she said "Not so good?" All I could say was no and handed over my stuff. I didn't even say anything, I just handed it over to her. She really must have thought….hahaha. Anyway, she asked me if the letter/drawing was for her and signed my Pele booklet. It's cute…it says "To" than a whole lot of emptiness and then "Nancy, <3 Tori Amos". I was so in shock when she handed me back the booklet, that I'm still not sure I thanked her for that or if I just moved to the back. I even forgot to ask for a picture. Inge asked me if I still wanted one but I just said "No, no, it's fine."
The meet and greet lasted forever, which was wonderful. Then Tori left, holding on to Smitty. After that everyone was in a smashing mood. We (Inge, Thessa, Sarah, Franklin and me) then headed off for some dinner and just continued talking about how great the M&G was and how surreal and what a lovely person Tori is etc...

The concert itself was GREAT. We had excellent seats and Tori wore the cutest dress ever. She looked like a happy little fairy. When she played Icicle, I just started to cry. Some of the emotions just came out right during that song. I love this song so much and she just played it. The whole setlist was yummy. Of course she didn't play all of my favorites, but there are so many songs I love, that it's impossible for her to play them all.
Marianne was a wonderful surprise though!
During the encores we got right at front of the stage, which was so cool. I love her movements, I love how she waves and walks.

The next day Inge and I got ready for the Brussels show. I was even more nervous that day. I couldn't eat at all and had butterflies flying through my stomach. I was nervous about the M&G, cause I was hoping I could just thank her for playing Icicle the night before, and I was also hoping for a picture of me and Tori. Inge and I arrived extremely early at Brussels, cause for some reason the train took another direction. After a little searching we found the hostel we would be staying at later that night. There was a real friendly guy behind the desk who pointed us in the right direction of Vorst Nationaal. He was also like "Oh, you're going to see Tori Amos. Isn't she from Canada?" lol
We arrived at the venue at 12.45, which was EARLY. There were a few people already waiting there, including a French guy who thought Inge was Tori's personal assistant or anything cause he kept asking her stuff we didn't know either, hahahaha
Anyway…we saw the bus leave the venue at around 1.15 and then coming back an hour later. We were wondering if she would do an early meet and greet, but she did interviews first instead.
At one point we were all asked to stand behind a small fence so we all thought Tori was about to come outside soon. We all waited and waited and waited and at one point I couldn't hold it anymore. My arm was killing me, partly cause of the stress I'm sure, but I just couldn't stand anymore. I gave it a lot of doubts but in the end I asked Inge to give Tori a small note in which I thanked her for playing Icicle the night before and for being the person she is. I wrote it that morning, so that was something.
I sat down on a little wall and just waited. After about 15 minutes or so Tori finally came outside. There were a lot of people there, and the place itself was extremely small. Beside the fact that my arm was still hurting, I just didn't want to take the risk to join the group and get smashed around. So, I just watched the group and saw some bits and pieces of Tori at the far back.
Then Inge came back with her eyes red because of the tears and she just told me her amazing story. I just started to cry and I couldn't stop. It was partly because of the story itself, but it was also partly because I didn't took the chance of thanking her in person. I guess all the stress came out.
But I'm so thankful that Inge gave Tori my little note. Thanks dahling!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!
After that Sarah and her mom had to upgrade their tickets, so we decided to wait. Inge was on the phone and there were just 3 other people there. Then all of a sudden I heard Tori's voice. She was doing a soundcheck. We ran downstairs and put our ears to the door. We didn't hear her very well, but we could tell she was playing Little Earthquakes. Then Inge ran downstairs and almost ran right through the big door, lol!
We tried to figure out were the sound was coming from and we entered the private parking lot. We were right behind the stage I guess cause we could hear her sing and talk.
That was one of the most amazing experiences ever. Just the 5 of us right there.

Well, the concert was, again, wonderful. Inge and I were at the 3rd row and had an excellent view. Right after Tom McRae left the stage a bunch of annoying Americans were hopping seats and took the seats right in front of Inge and I. They annoyed the fuck out of me and at one point one of the girls turns around and says "well, we have really shitty seats but we just hop seats and hope to be at the front". Like I care…*rolls eyes*
Luckily all of them but one had to give up their seats though.
I had the best view. Tori was in such a happy mood, she danced and smiled a whole lot, and sometimes fucked up a little. At times she even seemed to be doubting about what instrument to play, lol.
She was supposed to play China during the encore, but she played Leather instead (yay).
All in all the weekend was great.
Tori is such an amazing person…no words can describe what a great and big soul she is.

And this is what I made for Tori and gave to her during the M&G: