REVIEWS:

From Pamela:

Hello hello, I know I'll be in such a good mood for a long time because the concert last night at the State Theatre in Detroit, was absolutely fabulous!  The concert was better than I ever dreamed it could be!  I spent the first few minutes in awe of the talent staring me right in the face!!  What a gift....  Fiona said the audience was awesome and it was great to perform for a group like us.  We couldn't stop cheering after every song.  I came to the concert anticipating a performance a little less than the level of her albums (most artists can't dream of performing at the same level as their album...)  I was quickly amazed & oh so impressed!  Near the beginning of the show, Fiona came to the microphone and said she just wanted to share a fact she learned, Jenny Craig owned fat Al Capone's car (I think she said car...something like that...sorry).  It was hilarious!  The audience laughed and laughed.  The energy was great!  There was lots of her dancing (which I LOVE)!  Someone in the audience called her a "sexy bitch" during one of the songs and she could hardly continue with the song because she was laughing.  It was funny!  After she finished the song she joked around and asked the audience if the "sexy bitch" was her or the guitar player (or was it bass player?).  Then the person who called her that apologized and asked if she was offended.  Fiona said she wasn't.  It was quite funny!  This concert was the best I've been to.  Fiona keeps it real, she puts on a real performance....not some fake, uptight show.  My respect for Fiona continues to grow!  Fiona, if you're reading this...you're the best, love ya!

Pamela

pictures courtesy of Rachelle

From Rachelle:

The State Theater is unique for so many reasons.  Built in the 1920's as a movie house, it is now the smallest venue in Detroit where bands who love their fans show up to a packed house.  Sitting in the front row is truly amazing as the stage is no more than three feet high.  I was fortunate enough to be sitting there last night to watch the woman who has helped heal my soul and I was blown away.  I have been hearing about her having problems with her voice or coughing but nothing could be farther from the truth.  She opened with On The Bound and the audience was hers all the night long.  Sullen Girl had tears steaming down my face and you could hear a pin drop as everyone was showing her the respect she deserved by keeping quiet.  During one song however, a female voice shouted out "Sexy Bitch"!!

After Fiona finished the song she said "I wanna know who said that - Are you one of those people following Keith?" (the bass player).  You must be talking to him - he is such a sexy bitch".  Just then, a teenage Fiona fan walked up from the fifth row extended her hand to Fiona and apologized if she had offended her.  Fiona said "No, not at all".  Then said how nice it was that the girl had apologized.  She commented halfway thru the show about how "fucking great" we were and she wished every city was like us because we made it so easy.  It really was a beautiful audience.  You know, the kind that bumps into you in the bathroom or bar and says excuse me.  After he set and on her way out to do her encore, I gave her a bouquet of flowers I had brought.  She took them from me with one hand and squeezed my other hand gently as I said just what I felt in my heart "Thank you".  My moment with Fiona.

Fiona with flowers from Rachelle

After the show we waited by the tour bus where she eventually came out and signed stuff.  I couldn't get close enough but looked to my right and there was Keith the bass player standing right next to me.  It was so funny because people didn't even know who he was!  He said - oh I saw you guys in the front row.  He signed my CD sleeve and I just told him how great they were.  Today I am still soaking it all in.  My film is at the one-hour photo and I will send some on to you when I have them.

Rachelle

picture courtesy of Leah

From Leah:

Fiona Apple w/ sg Jurassic 5
7:30 PM
Friday, March 10, 2000
State Theatre
Detroit, Michigan

What a wonderful show Fiona put on at the State Theatre on Friday. I had been looking forward to this concert since I got my tickets last month. Counting down the days. I couldn't stop smiling and jumping around the day of the show, before the show. It made me so full of energy, just to know in a few short hours, I would be seeing Fiona. Main Floor. Section A. Row C. Amazing seats, if I do say so myself. I thought maybe the seats weren't going to be THAT close, but when I got there, and I sat down, I thought to myself "WOW! I'm so close! This is spectacular!" I wore a huge grin on my face, that didn't fade away until I woke up the next morning. We were running a bit late that night, loads of traffic poured onto Woodward - the street in which the State was located. Missed Jurassic 5's set, but I guess that's okay. Many people seemed to be enjoying them as I looked around, sat down, as they were just finishing their last song. I studied the venue - it is very cool. Very cool ceilings, walls, etc. It was dramatic. It set the scene for Fiona's show. People began to pile in as they knew Fiona would soon be out on stage, gracing us all with her beautiful presence. The venue was packed, for it being a sold out show.

Finally, everyone started screaming. Fiona wasn't even out on stage yet. I could tell this was going to be a great show, if the audience was already excited when Fiona wasn't there. People are always like that at concerts, but this was different. This was Fiona. Next thing you know, Fiona comes bouncing out from backstage. She looked so happy, and that made me happy. She was dressed in a pink tank top, and a long black skirt- one of her usual outfits these days. She was also wearing those snazzy little black boots she seems to have been wearing a lot lately. Very cute if I do say so myself. Her face was free of makeup, and her hair hung loose, down her back, a bit messy. Very natural. Fiona is real.

picture courtesy of Leah

After a few songs, she got up by the mic. "You know what, I was watching the History Channel and you know who owns fucking Al Capone's car?" "Who?!" "Fucking Jenny Craig!" The audience burst into laughter. I know I did.

picture courtesy of Leah

Fiona introduces her band. She's running around on stage, trying to figure out where to start. Jazzy drumroll music plays in the background. Her band is amazing. Someone in the 2nd or 3rd row makes a comment about Fiona being a "Sexy Bitch". She looks like she's laughing at her piano - how cute. After the song, she gets up to the mic and says, "Hey, who said that Sexy Bitch thing? Who was that directed to, me or Keith (her bass player)?" Everyone screams. "Because we all know that Keith is one sexy bitch". The girl who makes the comment runs up to the stage, concerned if Fiona is offended or not. She's not. She shakes the girls hand, she moves back to her seat and gives her friends a "High 5".

After the encore, and when the show was finally over, I was almost in tears. I wanted more Fiona. I'm happy with what I got though. It was one hell of a show. Probably the best I've ever been to. She's great live, and if you ever get the chance to see her, don't pass it up, you'll never forget the night.

Fiona, & Nick

From Nick:

After much anticipation... here's my tale of meeting Fiona....

uh.... I think I just spelled "anticipation" wrong. Anyway...

I got to the State Theater in Detroit at 5pm to meet up with about 10 other people who were fortunate enough to be able to meet Fi. 

They took us in at about 5:30pm and we waited in the lobby. After about 10 mins. they let us go down to the front row and watch her band warm up. I naturally was the first one down there and in the front row/center stage. The band was just there and no Fiona.... which was still cool because i was able to see Lucky and Keith. Which are realllly cool. I didn't get a chance to meet them, but they were having a great time. They were warming up and started to play "A Mistake" and then about half way through the went into a reallllly hard rock version of the song. It was really funny. They all just started laughing of course. 

About 15 mins. into the warm up with the band I heard someone say "her bus is here" and naturally I assumed it was Fi. About 5 minutes later, I don't know if I expected a bright light, a red carpet or a big announcement.... but everyone was just setting up and then she just walked out on stage. Everyone got quiet and she just looked around, said HI to us, then started talking to the band. She did her soundcheck for 20 mins.... she did part of paper bag and I really can't remember any others... I was too busy staring at her.

After the soundcheck a security guy came up to us and pointed at me and said that we "are going to start with you [me] and everyone else will follow". So as she came down from the stage, we walked towards each other. I had no clue what to say... I just kept telling myself to stay calm. She said Hi and I said HI and then I asked her to sign a book of her (which I got from her record company in New York [I work for a radio station]) She signed it and then asked what it was and I explained where I worked and that it was to promote her latest album. She looked impressed. Then I asked her if i could get a picture with her and she said that she "was a little sick". I said "you look great" she kinda laughed and said "no, I don't want to get you sick" to which I replied "I would love to get sick from you". She kinda laughed and said yes but she wanted to sign my girlfriends flat instead. She signed it and then a security guy saw my camera and said "no pictures" then a kinda whine came out.. "but she just said" and Fiona said to the guy "it's alright". We posed for the picture and then I gave her a letter that I wrote her. 

That was it... I walked away and started crying. It was simply amazing!!! Oh yeah... I also watched the concert from the 5th row. It was the BEST night of my life! 

If you have any questions, let me know. E-mail me at craignet@msn.com or nick@tower98.com

Nick Craig