06/18/09 The Venue @ Horseshoe Casino, Hammond, IN

[rhondda]

06/18/09 The Venue @ Horseshoe Casino, Hammond, IN

start: 7:41
end: 9:55

Lucky
Message to Myself
Nowhere to Go
Let Me Go
I Need to Wake Up
Must Be Crazy for Me (electric, started on main stage, then moved to amoeba stage)
You Used to Love to Dance (with harmonica)
Enough of Me
Chrome Plated Heart (electric, on amoeba stage)
The Weakness in Me (on piano)
Brave & Crazy
Come to My Window
Occassionally
Indiana (new song! world premiere!)
How Would I Know (on piano)
You Can't Get Always Get What You Want (Rolling Stones cover)
I Run for Life
I Want to Come Over (acoustic)
Bring Me Some Water (with snippet of Tequila)

encore: I'm the Only One/Piece of My Heart (including the "feed the dog" story)

*rhondda*

[*edited to change "Horseshow" to "Horseshoe Casino"]

[*edited again to change "CA" to "IN"]

[woodenshoe]

If any any anyone has a videosnip of the stones song....please put it on youtube

would make me very very

x w.s

[dogrescuergirl]

If any any anyone has a videosnip of the stones song....please put it on youtube

would make me very very

x w.s

I have it...uploading now.

[rhondda]

here are the lyrics for "Indiana" - it was a group effort, but most of the work goes to Camille and Angie.

*rhondda*


She came into this world on a cold night
Indiana
Poppa turned his head and said I don’t believe she’s mine
Single momma raised her in a place where you look but never touch
We don’t have enough
Don’t let your hopes get high
‘Cause girls like you can’t fly

Long nights, and small roads, big dreams
Oh Indiana
You’re only dying here
And they don’t understand you
Tough road but you start slow and before you know it
You’re not alone
Looking for a place called home anywhere
Oh Indiana

She tended bar in New York City
Oh Indiana
People turned their heads and said, “Baby, you sure look fine”
They put her on TV and then they told her “You’re going to be a star,
You can go so far”
You let your hopes get high
‘Cause girls like you can fly

Long nights, and small roads, big dreams
Oh Indiana
You’re only dying here and they don’t understand you
Tough road but you start slow and before you know it
You’re not alone
Looking for a place called home anywhere
Oh Indiana

Big dreams are flying machines
And they’ll take you wherever you want to go
Sometimes you find what’s real is inside
And you don’t have to go away
To find your way home

She turned around and she stopped running
Oh Indiana
She found a place and the answer to her prayers
She found that answer in her children
When she takes them to the place
Where they can have some peace
She lets their hopes get high
‘Cause anyone, anyone can fly

Long nights, long nights, big dreams
Oh Indiana
You’re only dying here and then they don’t understand you
Tough road but you start slow and before you know it
You’re not alone
Looking for a place called home anywhere
Oh Indiana

Oh Indiana, Yeah
She’s going back to Indiana
Oh yeah, back to Indiana

[Camille]

The concert absolutely rocked! I had such a good time. MLE rules! Thanks so much to MEIN for a top-notch travel package.

Check the MEEFST page over the next few days for pics and vids.

[nybabe58]

Thanks for the setlist and lyrics to the new song!! That must have been sweet! My gfriend is from IN and will love hearing that now Melissa has written a song titled that(of course for Tammy-about Tammy )

Thanks for all the updates!! On to the next show and keepem coming!!

Hope there is video of the cover and Indiana

[endie17]

Thank you all for working so hard to get such great coverage. I am losing it and can't wait for Newark!!!

[Cruisin]

Thanks for the setlist and lyrics to the new song!! That must have been sweet! My gfriend is from IN and will love hearing that now Melissa has written a song titled that(of course for Tammy-about Tammy )

Thanks for all the updates!! On to the next show and keepem coming!!

Hope there is video of the cover and Indiana

Ok smarty, found the setlist....

[nybabe58]

Thanks for the setlist and lyrics to the new song!! That must have been sweet! My gfriend is from IN and will love hearing that now Melissa has written a song titled that(of course for Tammy-about Tammy )

Thanks for all the updates!! On to the next show and keepem coming!!

Hope there is video of the cover and Indiana

Ok smarty, found the setlist....

Cruisin

Wasn't it obvious!!?? Glad to hear shes touring again next year!! Niceeeee!!!

[Cruisin]

Thanks for the setlist and lyrics to the new song!! That must have been sweet! My gfriend is from IN and will love hearing that now Melissa has written a song titled that(of course for Tammy-about Tammy )

Thanks for all the updates!! On to the next show and keepem coming!!

Hope there is video of the cover and Indiana

Ok smarty, found the setlist....

Cruisin

Wasn't it obvious!!?? Glad to hear shes touring again next year!! Niceeeee!!!

I was on the Street Team website lookin all around for it....sometimes my brain cells become confused

[Giant]

Thanks guys. Another great show.

[toomuchgirl]

Absolutely a SUPERIOR show!!!!!!! Thank you MEIN for a fantastic travel package. Great M&G with Melissa. I'm still trying to figure out how after having been to two previous M&G's, at this one I said what I had to say to Melissa(kind of) and then starting bawling like a baby!!!!!! Man, I guess just the shear amount of respect that I feel for her came bubbling up. She has influenced my life in such a positive way. Anyway, HEAPS OF GRATITUDE to Rhondda, Kel, and Dawn..... ahhhh....you know what for. The new song "Indiana" was sooo beautiful and makes me so excited for the new CD.
Kathleen.

[endie17]

I have only met her once...coming off the tour bus last year in Boston. I didn't even get to say anything of significance, but I was so moved...I bawled like a baby after she went inside. It's hard to explain...you get so full!!

[dischikrocs]

AWESOME!!!!
Check these out: http://s472.photobucket.com/albums/rr88 ... h-indiana/


Anyone besides me hear the Melissa song in the medley they played before the lights went down??? I'd love to know which 1 it was or at least where it was from; any help would be greatly appreciated- thanks!!!

[LuckyLauren]

AWESOME!!!!
Check these out: http://s472.photobucket.com/albums/rr88 ... h-indiana/

Nice! So are cameras being allowed in this tour?

[dianesgirl]

Had the MOSTEST, GREATEST time EVER! My sister was with me, 6th row center....the nicest two people ever next to us. Deb and her parnter (didn't get her name duh!) Stood the whole time, a very big event for me to do. I am dearly paying for it, but............IT WAS SO WORTH IT...sister is now a TRUE FAN! knew she would be. THANK YOU MELISSA! as alway you were AWESOME! and ALONE! no one could ask for more. The encore....probably the BEST EVER! Every one keep posting, it will be like being there again, and again. Thanks boardies, there are no better FANS anywhere..........

[Camille]

Anyone besides me hear the Melissa song in the medley they played before the lights went down??? I'd love to know which 1 it was or at least where it was from; any help would be greatly appreciated- thanks!!!

We heard the song in Del Mar and thought it might be a cover song she has done. We weren't sure if it was a cover or a new song. The lyrics were "More, more, more than just a (woman/moment)". We weren't sure if the word she was singing was woman or moment. I'll check with Cin and see if she knows.

[Silent Legacy/Born 2 RN]

Had the MOSTEST, GREATEST time EVER! My sister was with me, 6th row center....the nicest two people ever next to us. Deb and her parnter (didn't get her name duh!) Stood the whole time, a very big event for me to do. I am dearly paying for it, but............IT WAS SO WORTH IT...sister is now a TRUE FAN! knew she would be. THANK YOU MELISSA! as alway you were AWESOME! and ALONE! no one could ask for more. The encore....probably the BEST EVER! Every one keep posting, it will be like being there again, and again. Thanks boardies, there are no better FANS anywhere..........

That is so cool... I am very glad for you both... what a great first show for your sister! I hope the "paying for it" does not last long.

Good night,

Sue

[dischikrocs]

Anyone besides me hear the Melissa song in the medley they played before the lights went down??? I'd love to know which 1 it was or at least where it was from; any help would be greatly appreciated- thanks!!!

We heard the song in Del Mar and thought it might be a cover song she has done. We weren't sure if it was a cover or a new song. The lyrics were "More, more, more than just a (woman/moment)". We weren't sure if the word she was singing was woman or moment. I'll check with Cin and see if she knows.

Thanks, Cam! You rule!

[nybabe58]

Crazy For Me ...... Wow!!


http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=yUVQaT2kHyE

[northern light]

Crazy For Me ...... Wow!!


http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=yUVQaT2kHyE

Thanks Nybabe,..this is my video!!! I have just downloaded a couple more if anyone is interested.

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=hdEDXRr5GB4

I have two more to go,..hopefully inthe next day or two. I tried to get more but there was a security dude that said I couldn't take video's,..then he watched me the rest of the night so I couldn't sneak any more until the very end,..anyways, I hope you enjoy the ones I have...what a great concert!

beth

[adam_eve]

Lea where did u hear MLE was touring next year. I need details lol??? I assume it is for the new record

[rhondda]

Lea where did u hear MLE was touring next year. I need details lol??? I assume it is for the new record

MLE said she was going to tour next summer at the Hammond show. i'm presuming it's for the new record.

*rhondda*

[rhondda]

a few more tidbits from Hammond, IN:

at the soundcheck and meet & greet, MLE wore a certain Great Wall of China shirt that i've admired in some recent razzi photos mainly due to its exquisite green leafy embroidery on the back.

at the meet & greet, we got a little info out of MLE:

* she's starting recording on July 10th.

* John Shanks is producing the album.

* because Fritz isn't available due to touring with Jackson Browne, Shanks is bringing in other musicians he's used to playing with. however, MLE is bringing Philip in to do "his thing."

* she's not calling the album, "Fearless," because Taylor Swift has an album out with the same name. really!

* she might call the album, "Songs of Fear and Love".

*rhondda*

[Camille]

Soundcheck:

[Camille]

RAIN, Angie, Gino, MLE:

[dischikrocs]

[cuddles]

a few more tidbits from Hammond, IN:

at the soundcheck and meet & greet, MLE wore a certain Great Wall of China shirt that i've admired in some recent razzi photos mainly due to its exquisite green leafy embroidery on the back.

at the meet & greet, we got a little info out of MLE:

* she's starting recording on July 10th.

* John Shanks is producing the album.

* because Fritz isn't available due to touring with Jackson Browne, Shanks is bringing in other musicians he's used to playing with. however, MLE is bringing Philip in to do "his thing."

* she's not calling the album, "Fearless," because Taylor Swift has an album out with the same name. really!

* she might call the album, "Songs of Fear and Love".

*rhondda*

John producing the new album so glad she got him. He will help put her back in the top 40! Way to go Melissa!!

[Camille]

Anyone besides me hear the Melissa song in the medley they played before the lights went down??? I'd love to know which 1 it was or at least where it was from; any help would be greatly appreciated- thanks!!!

We heard the song in Del Mar and thought it might be a cover song she has done. We weren't sure if it was a cover or a new song. The lyrics were "More, more, more than just a (woman/moment)". We weren't sure if the word she was singing was woman or moment. I'll check with Cin and see if she knows.

Thanks, Cam! You rule!

As far as I can tell that song has never been released. I REALLY liked it and hope it's on the new album! It's already stuck in my head. So is Indiana. OH INDIANA . . . . .

[Camille]

AWESOME!!!!
Check these out: http://s472.photobucket.com/albums/rr88 ... h-indiana/

Love the photos- thanks for sharing!

[nybabe58]

Northern lights

Thanks again for those two and for these

Indiana 6-18-09

Im the only One/Piece of My Heart Part 1(9:48)

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=RFou0f8h-0g

Part 2(3 + mins)
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=gsJOR8JG ... annel_page

[nybabe58]

Lea where did u hear MLE was touring next year. I need details lol??? I assume it is for the new record

Adam_Eve

Yep that is where I heard it from of course!!

[nybabe58]

One more from dear northern


Lucky!

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=qRg6yf5Zh_U

and Nowhere to Go
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=hdEDXRr5GB4

Wow you take awesome video!! especially all of ITOO and POMH(in 2 videos)

Bravo!!! and talk about a steady hand!! The best!!

[nybabe58]

And of course

BMSW from none other than the meinstreet team!! (with a few cameos!)


http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=PJr779HZcwY

[dischikrocs]

AWESOME!!!!
Check these out: http://s472.photobucket.com/albums/rr88 ... h-indiana/

Love the photos- thanks for sharing!

de nada!

[nano]

wow..thank you so much for the lyrics. Love the new song.

[kathyb]

thanks for the nowhere to go video northern light....i got chills on the dance with me forever part

[northern light]

One more from dear northern


Lucky!

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=qRg6yf5Zh_U

and Nowhere to Go
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=hdEDXRr5GB4

Wow you take awesome video!! especially all of ITOO and POMH(in 2 videos)

Bravo!!! and talk about a steady hand!! The best!!

Thank you,..I appreciate the positive remarks!!! I have some more bits and pieces of other songs she sang,..(due to getting busted from the security dude, I couldn't get the whole songs), so what I think I'm going to do is put them all together and put them on You Tube as a single video,...that way maybe I have something someone else wants.

Glad everyone is enjoying them,..

[northern light]

You're welcome kathyb,..glad you enjoyed it

[rhondda]

http://tinyurl.com/nr7et2

Etheridge powerful 'Alive and Alone'
By Eloise Marie Valadez
eloise.valadez@nwi.com, (219) 933-3365 | Saturday, June 20, 2009 |
(No comments posted.)

With or without her band, Melissa Etheridge makes a mighty sound.

And the Grammy-winning rocker proved a definite musical powerhouse Thursday when she performed unplugged at The Venue at Hammond's Horseshoe Casino.

Appearing without her band, Etheridge delivered a nearly 2 1/2-hour high energy show packed with fan favorites.

The sold-out concert was part of her "Live and Alone" tour featuring stripped down versions of signature songs.

Etheridge's show began with a fresh, spirited take on "Lucky" and included attractive renditions of "Let Me Go," "I Need to Wake Up" and "I Want to Come Over."

The singer/songwriter/guitarist from Kansas addressed audience members and even showcased her humorous wit.

"Where am I?," Etheridge asked, wondering if she was in Indiana or Chicago.

She told fans she was a "Midwestern girl" and treated the crowd to a new song she performed "for the first time ever" titled "Indiana"

The rocker, also known for her gay and human rights activism, breast cancer battle and environmental consciousness, proved the music is really where her heart is.

Etheridge's performance on guitar remained aggressive throughout the show as she often used it as a percussive instrument. She needed no backing band to make this concert soar.

Highlights were 'I Run for Life," "Come to My Window," "Bring Me Some Water" and a dynamic rendition of Janis Joplin's "Piece of My Heart."

[Giant]

From the soundcheck:

[Giant]

From the show:

I Want To Come Over

[northern light]

Happy Friday everyone!

I just added a couple more video's from this concert on my You Tube page, the first one is most of the song Occasionally and the second one is bits and pieces from other songs (Intro to You Use to Love To Dance, short spot of I Run For Life & Chrome Plated Heart, more extended versions of You Can't Always Get What You Want and Bring Me Some Water,...just remember, they aren't the greatest due to security watching us like a hawk,..

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=_OR8N9b0-xA

Hope you enjoy them,..have a great weekend ; )

beth

[dogrescuergirl]

Guitar players out there...I have had this song Indiana stuck in my head and keep singing it to myself so just got the urge to try to play it today and what a beautiful song to play and sing, I can't wait to hear the studio version of this. I pulled some chords together so thought I'd share. They're probably not really right but they work...enjoy!

(edited to add the dots...sorry, when it saves it deletes all my spacing and I like my chords over the right words...guitar for dummies )

G...................D.............C
Long nights, and small roads, big dreams

.......Am
Oh Indiana

G............D......Am
You’re only dying here

Am
And they don’t understand you

G......................D.............C
Tough road but you start slow and before you know it

Am..........Em
You’re not alone

................Am............Em........D
Looking for a place called home anywhere

.....C......G
Oh Indiana

[toomuchgirl]

Thanks Kat! You're probably pretty close I'd venture a guess without having tried it because Melissa seems to like C-D-G-A- and Em a lot I've noticed in learning some of her songs. Especially C9 and Dsus, and just the 1st and 2nd string in general. Cool. I'm working on the picking for "All The Way To Heaven" myself. That's my all time FAVORITE. I keep hoping to hear it LIVE this year.

[Camille]

June 18, 2009. Hammond, IN, Horseshoe Casino. Oh Indiana.

Rhondda is a walking Melissa Etheridge encyclopedia. I swear, if Rhondda doesn’t know something about Melissa, it’s safe to bet Melissa herself doesn’t know it either. Rhondda’s been gathering bits of MLE information for years and posting it to the Melissa Etheridge Yahoo Group. When I say bits, I mean virtually all bits. Rhondda finds almost every ion of information on MLE that exists the second it exists, all around the world, and shares it with her fellow fans. Further impressive are Rhondda’s retention skills. Rhondda remembers minutia from years prior and retains it all top of mind- song debuts, tour cities, previous band members and crew members, the color of MLE’s pants at a particular concert, what brand of water MLE was drinking at a particular concert, the length of each Like The Way I Do performance, etc. What’s also cool about Rhondda is the morsels she finds considered part of MLE’s private life are not posted.

Last year the Brits jokingly told Rhondda they were going to start a fan club in Rhondda’s honor and would title it after the Melissa Etheridge Information Network MEIN, and call it the Rhondda (Last Name) Information Network, or RAIN. When it comes to information on MLE’s professional life, when it RAINs, it pours.

Rhondda remembered last year in Chicago Melissa talking about eating breakfast at a place called Original Pancake House. Wanting to be the proper stalkers that we are, Rhondda, Dogrescuergirl, Kel, Dawn, Angie, SandyL, Giant and I piled into two taxis and made our way to the Original Pancake House on the microscopic chance MLE might be eating breakfast there again this year.

Since there were eight of us and the diner was rather packed they split our group into two tables. Rhondda and Dogrescuergirl were sitting across from Kel and I and a minute after sitting down, Rhondda and Dogrescuergirl started staring back at our friends at the other table. “Who is that?” I heard them ask. I turned to see Angie standing and talking with someone and taking a picture with that person. I knew it wasn’t MLE ‘cause if it was my friends would be freaking out, but I couldn’t see who it actually was. “I think it’s Kanye West. Yeah it’s Kanye West,” Rhondda identified and laughed. Angie, Dawn, Giant and Kel all talked to Kanye and get photos with him. Actually Kel was more interested in Kanye’s girlfriend and wanted a picture with her, and ended up settling for a picture with the two of them.

Having worked in the entertainment industry for years, I’ve had a few meals with celebrities and meals where celebrities were close by, and most interactions were fairly normal, so I really don’t think too much of it. (OK I did have one hugely embarrassing experience with a celeb but DON’T EVEN THINK of asking me about it.) The restaurant’s staff seated Kanye’s posse at the table next to ours. My heart starting beating a little bit faster only because it’s one thing to be eating breakfast and dribble ketchup down your shirt and a complete other thing to do it, like when, say, KANYE WEST is seated close to you. I was relieved a few moments later when a table opened up outside and the West party moved.

“You gotta post that we’re having breakfast with Kanye, Rhondda!” we encouraged Rhondda, who perpetually has her blackberry in hand. Rhondda laughed and like the good techno-file that she is, posted online we were having breakfast with Kanye. I turned to Kel and told her we’d organized the whole thing for her birthday celebration, and she laughed and thanked us.

After breakfast we made our way back to the hotel through the noisy streets of Chicago to get ready for the bus ride over to the venue in Hammond, IN.

The MEIN travel package folks met in the lobby in the early afternoon for the bus drive over to the casino. Marc and Cyndy from MEIN had us randomly pull our concert tickets, which were either in Row 1 or Row 2. Even though I was putting as much “Row 1” energy as I could into the ticket drawing, Rhondda and I pulled Row 2 tickets. Ah well. Row 2 tickets still rule the school. We all piled into the bus, full of energy and anticipation for the evening’s concert. While on the way to the casino, Marc let us know a few ground rules about the upcoming sound check and Meet and Greet, and also let everyone know the Oklahoma travel package was now on sale and we could see him if we were interested in purchasing it.

The bus driver was very familiar with the layout of the Horseshoe Casino grounds, which proved to be very valuable. I know I would have missed the entrance had I been driving myself, even though there’s a HUGE sign that reads “Horseshoe Casino Entrance”. The thing is the sign is on the right side of the freeway, and the Casino is on the left side of the freeway. Even though the driver followed the “Casino Entrance” sign, I was convinced we’d gotten on another freeway going the wrong way since we did a loop-de-loop backwards and then over the freeway seemingly away from the Casino. . . oh but look, there we go, we turned more and more and there was the casino. Good thing that huge sign was there!

The fun didn’t stop there. He started to drive passed the casino. “Hey there it went,” I thought to myself, but then the driver turned on a casino side road and started following signs to the bus entrance/delivery area. We drove and wove round and round parking structures and buildings, making hairpin turns, drove to Lake Michigan (the Casino is on the edge of the lake), made a left and a right and a left and a right and a left and a right, all with great precision. With the slow driving and careful turns it was a lot like the Peter Pan ride at Disneyland. Not Mr. Toad’s Wild Ride (I don’t mean to, but sometimes I drive like Mr. Toad’s Wild Ride; you can verify that with Rhondda), but slower and over groves like the Peter Pan ride. Weeeee! Finally the bus gently bent like a paperclip and we snaked our way to the bus entrance/delivery area.

We had to wait a moment while casino staff members approached the bus door and Marc let them know who our group was and who he had spoken to about our arrival, and they went and checked their files. “I love name dropping!” admitted Marc, and it made us laugh. Marc’s name dropping worked, and since we looked innocuous enough, casino staff let us disembark.

We paused briefly outside of the casino while Marc called and checked with MLE’s staff about where and when to go for the sound check and Meet and Greet. Wanting to pass the time, I asked Kel if she was ready with her question for Melissa. “Hey Melissa, what do you think of my ass in these jeans?” Kel joked as she jutted her hiney out and smacked it. I instantly busted up laughing because we’d been joking about Kel’s hind end the night before and I knew that never in a million billion trillion years would Kel ever ask or do anything like that or be disrespectful to MLE. Marc got the answers he needed from MLE’s staff and delivered a few more instructions to the group, then held an M.E.I.N sign above his head like the good Pack Leader he was so we wouldn’t get lost walking through the Casino.

Round One of Kel vs. Security: Marc took us to the security check point and told one of the two guards he would be flattering anyone by asking for their I.D., so the security guard let us pass without issue. Kel, however, had approached the second guard right away with her I.D. out so he checked it and asked her a few questions, all while the rest of the group was passing her up. Finally he handed Kel back her I.D. and she jogged to catch back up with us. It was not the easiest task. To us, first arrival at the venue doors meant first choice at stage position for the sound check, so my other friends and I had since overtaken Marc and were practically flying up the stairs and escalators to the venue on the second floor. “Wait, wait, you guys!” pleaded Marc, as he ran up the stairs with the M.E.I.N sign still being held over his head. We did slow down and let Marc once again resume pole position and lead us to outside the venue doors.

3:25 PM. Like a ground hog looking for its shadow, Stephanie popped her head and shoulders out the venue doors looking for us travel package folks. We dutifully lined up and followed her inside, careful not to overtake her the way we’d overtaken Marc. Stephanie directed us to a few feet in front of the stage. We were ordered to stop there, and then knowing what would most likely happen, Stephanie with her Mona Lisa smile added, “No inching forward!” The rest of the travel package people spread out a few feet before the entire length of the front of the stage. “Stop inching forward!” Stephanie half-teased to mostly my friends who were indeed inching forward.

All of the stage lights started flashing almost like strobe lights as the light techs checked them out to make sure they were working properly. A guitar tech on the right side of the stage had one of MLE’s brown acoustic twelve strings and was strumming it and listening to the harmonious vibrations. Steven walked back and forth across the stage. Stephanie and David were at the piano adjusting things and Steven took a picture of them from behind.

A little after 3:30 Steven left the stage and a few minutes later slowly came sauntering back in, chatting with Melissa. She was commenting back to him and adjusting her in-ears. When she got to the middle of the stage the guitar tech handed her a twelve string. She slipped the strap over her shoulder and adjusted the guitar and her over shirt and walked up to the mic. Spotting our group mostly front and center, she said, “You guys follow me everywhere!” She started strumming Brave and Crazy. MLE was wearing her glasses and a light-brown sort of gray-ish newsboy-style hat. Melissa stopped the song and said, “It sounds so big in here. Very nice.” The guitar tech traded her acoustic for her electric which she started strum-strum-strumming. She talked a little bit with the guitar tech, “Give me a little more crunch.” I’m not sure what crunch is, but he gave it to her, and she played some of Must Be Crazy For Me. Melissa was having fun with the song and clicked her heels together.

She stopped playing and checked in with the sound guy who was in the very back of the room. She asked him a few questions which he must have responded back to her via her in-ears because we didn’t hear any responses, then she asked him, “Do you need any more of this?” I couldn’t help myself. I shouted out, “YES!” MLE and my friends laughed and she said, “I wasn’t talking to you guys!”

Melissa handed off her electric guitar and went and sat down at the piano. She tinkered a few notes and chords and said, “Wow. It’s a real piano. Can you turn it down?” Melissa continued to play a few soft, beautiful chords. “Is it in the wedges?” she asked. “Take it out of wedge and put it in my ear. There. That’s better,” MLE informed the sound guy. She played some more without singing and chatted a bit with her crew. She started playing How Would I Know. She said to her sound guy in the back, “You can take it out of wedge. I don’t need that. I’m a professional.” She continued playing the piano then requested, “And now more piano in my ears.” Steven and David were near her side, and apparently David had been working really hard because he gave out a big ol’ yawn. Melissa played a few high twinkly notes, then played part of The Weakness In Me. The sound check ended around 4 PM. It would soon be time for the Meet and Greet.

Cyndy and Marc had us line up in groups according to the number written on our tour package laminates. Frank, Angie, Dawn, Kel, toomuchgirl, Giant, Rhondda and I made up the last group, group six. We had to wait our turn the longest while everyone else meeted and greeted with Melissa. I asked Kel if she was ready to ask Melissa if she liked her ass in her jeans, and sassy Kel said, “Oh yeah,” and lifted up the back of her shirt and turned and gave me a few Betty Boop poses. I love it when Kel does things to make me laugh!

I watched Melissa meet people, hug people, play with someone’s hair, accept gifts, shake hands, talk with fans, and listen to their stories. I was getting really nervous. I’ve spoken with MLE on a number of occasions, but I still get mega-nervous before speaking to her.

I watched Melissa as she got closer and closer and closer and finally was talking to group five. “You trying to kiss up to Stephanie?” Steven smiled and tossed me the question after spotting my blue Indianapolis Colts t-shirt. I was snapped out of my MLE affixation and straightened my Colts shirt to show Steven, then lifted up a pant leg and said, “Yeah check out my socks too!” which were white with blue stripes and had blue horseshoes on them. Stephanie the Colts fan looked over at my attire and I followed up with, “Nah, her favorite team is the Lions anyway.” That tidbit of information was something I’d learned the last time I’d chatted with her, though I’m surprised I remembered anything from that conversation since I was pretty much drunk as a fly in a gin vat at the time. Anyhoo, Stephanie lamented, “You have to have a back-up team when your favorite team is Detroit,” and the football fans among us nodded knowingly. Steven came closer and we chatted for a bit. With MLE close by, I was trying my best to have a civil conversation with him and hide the fact I was shaking like a scared Chihuahua. We got to talking about the tour, and how it wasn’t a tour but then dates and more dates kept getting added, and he mentioned this tour has the least carbon footprint out of all the tours she’s done because they do not have all of the semis and busses and equipment like they did before. I thought that was really cool and wanted to ask him a few more questions for the Eco-Friendly Street Team, but I didn’t get the chance. MLE was done with group five.

I turned towards her and started to outstretch my arms. My nervousness subsided immensely the second we made eye contact and she recognized her fan buddy. “Heeeeeyy!!” Melissa said, then she teasingly did a little few little Oscar De La Hoya jabs before giving me a big ol’ hug. Rhondda was standing next to me and she warmly greeted Rhondda as well. “Aww, thank you guys so much for doing this,” she said. I wasn’t 100% sure what she meant by that, so I asked her, and she said, “The travel package thing. You guys don’t usually do this sort of thing.” I was surprised Melissa knew we hadn’t done many travel packages. I’ve certainly done my share of meet and greets, and actually on the last travel package I did there wasn’t a meet and greet, but somehow she knew I hadn’t done many travel packages. The Indiana travel package was the third one I’d been on. I told Melissa I love to follow her around and didn’t want to pass up the opportunity to return to Indiana, since I was a Colts fan and Indiana is the home of the Colts.

The first question I asked her was about her upcoming album, and why she was no longer going to call it Fearless. “Well, Taylor Swift has an album called Fearless, and my daughter is a huge Taylor Swift fan and was like ‘ . . mom . .’,” she said rolling her eyes, mimicking the way her daughter must had said it to her. She said she was thinking of instead calling the album Songs of Fear and Love. Rhondda and I both gave kudos to Melissa for her album title choice. I asked her if it was going to be a concept album like The Awakening and she said it would not be; it was going to be songs based on her experiences. She said it was going to have rocking songs on it. She said John Shanks was going to produce it and she would be recording it in July. She mentioned Fritz was not available in July because he was touring with another band, and John had another drummer and other musicians, so Melissa was going to go ahead and use them. I love the band members so I let out a disappointed “oh” and gave a little sad face. She added that Philip would be brought in after to “do his thang.” Melissa said she would bring her regular band members back in if the album wasn’t “delicious and sparkly”, she emphasized with wiggling fingers.

Rhondda asked her if she would be performing any of the new songs, and we got as excited as Melissa did when she smiled and shook her hands in front of her and exclaimed, “YES!” Rhondda and I oohed and aahed and told her couldn’t wait to hear the new song. Rhondda told Melissa she had Tweeted the sound check and would be live-Tweeting the set list for the evening, and Melissa got a laugh out of that. There were more people to be meeted/greeted so Melissa said she had to go and she gave Rhondda and I a group hug and then proceeded down the line.

After the Meet and Greet, we had some time before we were to come back again for group photos. SandyL, Kel, Rhondda and I exited the casino and walked along the edge of Lake Michigan. We walked and talked and I dipped the underside of the tippy toe of my shoe into the water just so I could say I went to Lake Michigan again (I’d been there last year), and we sat on some rocks by the water’s edge and talked for a bit. We were getting a little hungry so we went back into the casino in search of the gang to get something to eat.

Round 2 of Kel vs. Security: Since Kel had shown her I.D. the first time in, I guess she was under the impression they would want to see it every time, so she took out her I.D. and held it in the air and attempted to pass. Since the security guy couldn’t see it from a distance, he stopped her and called her over so he could get a better look at it. I was being slightly harassed by security myself: “Boooooo Colts!” the other security guy said to me. “But we’re in Indiana! Isn’t everyone here a Colts fan?” I whined to him. “I’m from Chicago. We’re all Bears fans here,” he informed me. “Yeah, I guess they’re a good team too,” I responded, not really knowing the Bear’s status as of late but not wanting to cause an issue with security. Kel was walking and putting her I.D. back in her wallet and mumbling something to herself I didn’t ask her to repeat. We found some of the rest of the gang at the slot machines and decided to go to a sandwich place back near the casino entrance. That meant we would be passing by security again. Oh goody.

A half dozen or so of us grabbed a bit to eat and talked about the songs we wanted to hear that evening and filled Dogrescuergirl in with tales of our Meets and Greets. We wanted to hit the restroom one last time before heading back over for group photos, so being the women that we are, went to the restroom in pairs. I entered with Kel, and when I exited the stall she was washing her hands. I washed my hands, then I knew there was something I had to do. Kel stayed at the mirror checking out her hair, and I walked up to her and got real close. I leaned back ever so slightly, looked at her backside, then in a low, husky, I-want-to-take-you-back-to-my-room-with-me sort of voice, purred, “NICE ASS.” Kel’s laughter nearly cracked the mirrors as she about doubled over laughing. “Nice one, Cam! That’s so funny! You make me laugh and laugh!” said Kel, and we both walked out of the restroom still laughing.

Round 3 of Kel vs. Security: There really wasn’t much of a Round 3. By now the security guy recognized Kel and they waved at each other. Plus she was on the other side of me and wasn’t about to stop anyway. I gave the second security guy a quick “Go Bears!” and passed security we went.

Gino, Mare and dischikrocs were hanging around outside of the venue doors and we gave them all hugs and talked to them for several minutes. The rest of the travel package folks came back around and at about 6:20, Stephanie popped her head outside the venue doors and we followed her in for the group photo session. Stephanie took us to a backstage area on the right hand side of the stage. The venue must have multiple uses, because there were chairs and moveable stairs and other odd-shaped furniture thingies piled her and there. The very rear door was open and Steven was outside talking on his cell phone.

Cyndy and Marc pointed out where each of the groups should be standing, and we all piled into our little group photo areas. Marc and Cyndy came over to our group and we were chatting them up. Marc joked, “Since this is the largest group, please show me how you are going to line up.” “Oh we are so ready! We have it all planned out!” we told him, then we started to get into our positions. “I’ll be the celebrity!” said Marc, and we pointed him to the place where the celeb should go. “OK Cyndy, take our picture!” we all told Cyndy. Just then, other voices called out her name, “Cyndy! Cyndy!” Melissa had entered the room and they were calling Cyndy over to start taking the group photos. We were saying, “One minute! CHEESE!” as Cyndy took our photo. “Wait I think I blinked!” I said, and we made Cyndy take another photo. We were giggling that Melissa had to wait while Cyndy took our group photo with our pseudo-celebrity Marc.

Group One took a photo with Melissa, then Group Two took a photo with Melissa, then Group Three, Four, and Five. “Right here, stand right here!” we told Melissa, and pointed to the place where the celebrity goes in the photo. We all smiled nice and purdy for the camera while Cyndy took our group photo.


Photo Credit: Cyndy Poon, MEIN

Melissa turned to our group and mostly to the Brits and Frank said, “You guys have like twenty of these!” She was referring to the group photo pictures. Rhondda piped up with an interesting bit of trivia, “This is actually my first one.” Melissa cocked her head to the side and was a little surprised. Rhondda continued with, “I have an ‘Eiffel Tower’ one, but that’s it.” (‘Eiffel Tower’ refers to photos where MLE is up on stage, and a fan turns around and their friend gets a picture of them with MLE in the background. Melissa has said she’s not fond of these types of photos as it makes her feel like a structure; i.e. the Eiffel Tower.) “Ohhhh . . .” Melissa said, somewhat chastising the Eiffel Tower photo Rhondda spoke of. I had a confession myself: “I have two of those,” I told Melissa while sheepishly holding up two fingers. Melissa playfully smacked the brim of my hat. “You guys!” she said. Melissa had to go get ready for the show so she said, “Bye guys!” and gave us a peace sign then waved to all the other groups as Steven lead her back to her backstage area.

Security told us we could go ahead and enter the venue, and they showed us to our seats. Rhondda and I had seats right on the aisle of Row 2 in the middle section. People who were in the first row were lining up against the stage, so we moved forward and were hanging out close to the stage. We stayed there for ages and were hoping we could stay there for the performance, but unfortunately security came through and moved most people back. Rhondda and I remained standing in front of Row 1 trying to look inconspicuous. Genevieve and Natalia came up and I gave them hugs and was chatting with them and we were all trying to ignore security, but alas, they told us we all had to go back to our seats, so we did.

At 7:40 PM the stage went dark and people started cheering. After about a minute or two it quieted down a bit, then finally at 7:42 PM a back-lit rock star entered the upper stage from the back and started strumming Lucky. The crowd cheered and woohood and sang along with her, and I was happy at the number of people that remained standing throughout the song.

After Lucky, MLE greeted the crowd, “Hey! Where are we? I keep hearing about ‘armpits’. I’ve been in Indiana for four days. Who’s from Indiana? Chicago? Good evening! Welcome to the Live and Alone ‘Not’ Tour. You know I’ll see you next summer. That’s what we’re going to do. I enjoy Live and Alone. I get to do whatever I want.”

Melissa played Message To Myself. I love MTM and was singing and swaying and having a good time, and when it came to Sha la la la la la la la la la Melissa strummed her guitar and looked at me and smiled. After MTM, Melissa spoke to someone in the audience, “Since you made a sign, I’m gonna do that song. I can do that since I have no band.” Melissa then told a story about a recent Indiana experience.

“The other day I was at a restaurant here in Indiana and I ordered a Caesar salad . . . and they asked me what kind of dressing I wanted,” Melissa began. The crowd started laughing at her story. “What? Is this a trick question?” Melissa continued as the audience continued laughing. “I want Caesar dressing on my Caesar salad,” Melissa said matter-of-factly to the still laughing crowd. She then began to sing the song Nowhere To Go. Again I was very pleased that many people at the front of the crowd chose to remain standing.

Melissa finished the incandescent Nowhere To Go and addressed the audience. “The more you speak your truth, the more the world drains away. Say things. Start doing it. Things will change.” The next song was I Need To Wake Up. After that, Melissa swapped out her acoustic guitar for an electric guitar. She started playing Must Be Crazy For Me at the front of the stage. She shook her head and bobbed her head and smiled really big and was tapping her feet in time to the music. She made her way back to the upper stage. She paused for one moment and adjusted a knob on her guitar. “It helps if you turn it up,” she informed, then completed the rest of the song.

Next she played You Used To Love To Dance, and she also accompanied herself on harmonica. Following that she played the song Enough Of Me. “I always worry about people who say their favorite album is Breakdown or Skin.” She followed that up with Chrome Plated Heart where she did lots of foot stomping and hair swoopies. After that she moved to the piano and began playing The Weakness In Me. “It was my theme song. Uh oh! I needed inspiration for all my songs,” she let us know. She gave a beautiful and powerful rendition of The Weakness In Me.

She returned to playing the guitar and pleased the crowd with Brave and Crazy, then Come To My Window. During Come To My Window MLE made big eyes and squinched her face at me and it made me laugh. After that she turned her guitar over and tapped out Occasionally.

Following that, Melissa got ready to debut her new song for us. “It’s OK. I’m gonna do it, I’m just gonna do it. I told myself no no no don’t do it. See that voice inside of me says, ‘Yes, yes, do it’ and my left side of my brain’s like, ‘No no don’t do it.’” Melissa held up her hand like a puppet to the right side of her brain and said in a high-pitched voice, “Yes do it!”, then she raised her left hand like a puppet to the left side of her brain and said, “No don’t do it.” “Yes, Yes,” Melissa said, letting us know which side of her brain won the debate.

“Ladies and Gentlemen tonight I’m gonna play for you, for the first time ever in the whole wide world, a brand new song.” Melissa continued with, “But this song is special ‘cause we’re in Indiana.” The crowd started cheering really loud, and Melissa said, “Wait a minute. Now see that’s weird. I always have the suspicion that people actually download stuff from my brain. How did you know it’s about Indiana? Maybe I know somebody very special. I’m gonna stop talkin’ about it. I want you to be gentle. Will you be gentle? It’s called Indiana.”

Melissa began softly strumming out the notes of the new song Indiana. The first few notes reminded me a bit of the start of Stronger Than Me. The song took on a life of its own as Melissa wove a tale using the wool of Tammy’s life; how she was told she couldn’t make it, then she moved to New York, she was told she could make it, she could fly, there were long roads and she was looking for a home, “Oh Indiana.” The song was warm as Melissa lovingly iterated the tale of her wife’s journey. I could sense the essence and kindness of Tammy in it. I immediately took a liking to the song, akin to taking a liking to Tammy the first time I met her years ago. I was hoping so badly the camera I’d nestled in the inner corner of my elbow betwixt my arm and body was capturing the performance so I could listen to its delectableness again and again and again.

The mostly home-town crowd rewarded Melissa’s performance of Indiana with thunderous approving cheers and applause. “I’m recording it in a few weeks. It’s probably on YouTube already,” Melissa joked with the crowd.

<<cough>> Writer’s Note: I did capture the song and it was actually a few hours before I got the video up on YouTube. <<cough>>

Melissa handed off her acoustic guitar and headed for the piano where she played How Would I Know. After the song, Melissa spoke of her current tour. “What I’m trying to do on this Not Tour is every night I do a different song from another artist that I like. I’m 48, staring at 50. There’s a few bands that I look at. If they can still go, I go! If they can rock, I can rock! Another good twenty years!” The crowd let Melissa know she is more than welcome to keep on rockin’ as long as there are sunrises in the morning and sunsets in the evening. She played a song by the Rolling Stones, You Can’t Always Get What You Want. The audience sang along when she came to the chorus of the song.

Oooh! Oooh! She started playing I Run For Life, and next came one of my favorite parts of the concert if I’m not already at the stage- the Stage Rush! I spotted it start on the left side of the room and nudged Rhondda and she made a b-line for front and center. We both ended up against the stage; I was five feet or so to the right of the microphone. It was a very choice location, as Melissa tends to look left and right at 45 degree angles at the people in the front row. For some reason Melissa stopped playing the song, then said about starting the song again, “I can because I don’t have the band.” Midway through the song while everyone was rocking out, Melissa stepped back from the mic, and the audience continued belting out the song, “I run for HOPE! I run TO FEEL! I run for THE TRUTH and ALL THAT IS REAL! I run for your MOTHER YOUR SISTER YOUR WIFE! I run for YOU AND ME MY FRIEND, I RUN FOR LIFE!!” Melissa strummed on fourth counts and tapped her left foot and her right foot and beamed with pride that the crowd was running away with her song. The mighty rockasaurus reclaimed her song and rocked out the remaining choruses of it. After the song, Melissa said of our ad hoc vocals, “You have no idea how much it means to me.”

After that was I Want To Come Over. When it came to “. . . let me in . . .”, she stopped playing and moved her arms to the side, then raised her arms above her head and wiggled her fingers as the crowd roar got louder and louder. She wiggled her fingers encouraging continued applause, then moved her hands in front of her and raised her arms up, signaling for the crowd to get louder, which we did. Then she lowered her arms with palms down signaling for the crowd to get quieter, which we did. Then she raised her arms and we raised our voices, then she lowered her arms and we lowered our voices, then she raised real quick and we raised real quick then she lowered real quick and we lowered real quick, then she raised and lowered again really quick and we raised and lowered again real quick, until finally she quivered her hands in front of her and grabbed the mic and confessed, “DRUNK WITH POWER!!!” We laughed as Melissa continued with the remainder of I Want To Come Over.

Melissa started ripping the stage apart with Bring Me Some Water. “Here we are in Indiana, at the Horseshoe Casino. Don’t you forget we had this night together! I will not forget it.” Melissa was looking down at her guitar, and must have spotted the set list at her feet. Bring Me Some Water was on the set list after I’m The Only One, which she had not yet played. She shoulders jutted forward slightly as she let out a chuckle. “I completely turned the songs around but that’s OK ‘cause I’m the only one playin’! I’ll have to do another one I guess.” We all cheered that Melissa was going to be doing another one for us, and we were glad she was rocking us with Bring Me Some Water.

After BMSW Melissa handed off her guitar and waved and bowed to the very loud, appreciative crowd, then headed off the stage. We cheered and we cheered and we cheered and we stomped our feet and pounded our hands and arms against the stage because we wanted more, more, more and we wanted it now, now, now. She returned to the stage and began playing I’m The Only One. “I love to see you all hollering, it makes me happy. I’m gonna sing you another song from the bottom of my heart.” I’m The Only One segued into Piece Of My Heart, which she once again ruled and left an earmark in the rock and roll history books. Much to our delight she’d included her “Feed The Dog” love story in the middle of the song again. Melissa thanked us all for coming, handed off her guitar to the guitar tech, handed off her pic to someone in the crowd, did a quick Hands, waved and bowed some more, then off the stage she went.

Ordinarily my friends and I love to lollygag at the front of the stage and swap show highlights, but we couldn’t stay forever because we had to catch the tour package bus back to Chicago. We exited the venue and loitered around Marc who’d resumed his position as a flag pole with the M.E.I.N. sign held high above his head. When we were sure all the troops had been gathered, Marc led us back down the stairs and escalators and back through the casino and back outside to the bus area, then back on the shuttle bus.

I took a seat at the back of the bus next to my friend Rhondda, who as usual, had her hand and eyes glued to her blackberry while still able to carry on several conversations with the people around her. We all swapped concert stories, and after some time there was a bit of a lull until This Moment was played on the busses’ stereo, at which point we all began singing and swaying along to it. Marc carefully made his way down the bus aisle passing out some much appreciated water, which he proudly served to us in recyclable paper cups. A few minutes later, he passed out something even more valuable to us than water.

Marc was distributing each person’s personalized autographed photo of Melissa. I guessed, and was right, that Melissa had signed mine, “Camille, Choose Only Love!! Melissa Etheridge.” Sweet! That rocks. Frank’s autograph was pretty cool; his read, “FRANK! FRANK! FRANK! MELISSA MELISSA MELISSA.” Frank has like a gozillion autographs from MLE from doing a gozillion travel packages so I think sometimes it’s hard for MLE to come up with new things to write to him.

Melissa was, however, able to come up with the most fantastic autograph I’ve ever seen for my friend Rhondda. Marc came and knelt in the empty seat in front on us, the top part of him facing us over the back of the bus seat. He built up the autograph a bit, but even so, nothing could compare to actually seeing it and reading it. The autograph he held in his hands before him, read, “Rhondda, RAIN Rocks! (I learn so much!) Melissa Etheridge.” I think my eyes really did pop out of my head and I let out a big, “WWWWOOOOAAAAHHHH!! No freakin’ way! Oh my gawd!” The rest of the group in the back of the bus leaned forward and sideways and every which way they had to in order to get a view of the divine autograph. Each one of them gave their own rendition of “Ooh!” and “Aah!” and “How cool!” and “Look at that!” I looked at Rhondda, who had literally been rendered speechless. She took the autograph in her hands, partly because it was hers, but mainly to verify it was actually real. After some length of time, I and a few others were still going on and on about how cool her treasure was. I told her, “Rhondda, that is The.Best.Autograph.Ever.” “I know it’s pretty cool,” Rhondda finally broke her silence. She remained astounded for a long time after that and was really touched by MLE’s uber-special message.

The bus pulled back in front of the Hard Rock Hotel in Chicago, and we hugged our friendly neighborhood tour guides Marc and Cyndy, and thanked them for a most excellent travel package experience. Our little group retreated back upstairs and partied well into the night, mostly talking about the concert experience of the evening and of concert experiences yet to come.

Oh, Melissa, thank you so much for being you and doing your delicious and sparkly thang again and again for your much appreciative fans. You’re not alone, and wherever you go setting up a home on stage, we’ll be there. So come on, let it RAIN.

-Camille

[toomuchgirl]

Nice job Camille!

[black]

GREAT CAMILLE!!!!!!! THANK YOU!!!!!

[Kel]

Oh My!! Thank you Cam! That was a lovely review.

[dogrescuergirl]

What’s also cool about Rhondda is the morsels she finds considered part of MLE’s private life are not posted.

And this is just one reason RAIN rocks - total respect.