From: owner-jewel-digest@smoe.org (jewel-digest) To: jewel-digest@smoe.org Subject: jewel-digest V4 #173 Reply-To: jewel@smoe.org Sender: owner-jewel-digest@smoe.org Errors-To: owner-jewel-digest@smoe.org Precedence: bulk jewel-digest Thursday, April 1 1999 Volume 04 : Number 173 * If you ever wish to unsubscribe, send an email to * jewel-digest-request@smoe.org with ONLY the word * unsubscribe in the body of the email * . * For the latest information on Jewel tour dates, go to: * http://jewel.zoonation.com and click on "TOUR" * OR * go to the OFFICIAL Jewel home page at http://www.jeweljk.com * and go to the "What, When, Where" section * . * PLEASE :) when you reply to this digest to send a post TO the list, * change the subject to reflect what your post is about. A subject * of Re: jewel-digest V4 #xxx or the like gives readers no clue * as to what your message is about. Today's Subjects: ----------------- Concert review and other misc stuff....... ["Harinder Grewal" Subject: Concert review and other misc stuff....... OK, this is a really long one, but I havent posted in about three weeks or so, so forgive me ok? Once I get started, I just cant stop.... Ok, here goes... NP - my recording of the concert yesterday :) Wow, what a day yesterday was! What an AWESOME concert!!! Wish I could have another one :( I'm at work now, and still dizzy from yesterday. It was really nice to meet you too, Jean. But doll?! Hahahahaha!!! Don't believe I've ever been described that way before! Thanks :) I just saw the New Paper review - quite an ambiguous one - the writer described the concert as brilliant, but seemed pissed Jewel asked whether we knew what a yodel was and said that we were her social experiment. The writer sarcastically says something like "sorry we're not as clever as your lyrics". I trust you'll put the article up, Jean? :) It's not even a full page article, like good concerts usually get. I know they have a site, I'll look for the URL and maybe post it later if you dont. Also, don't forget the Showbuzz, telecast last nite while the concert was on. If you thought the first Showbuzz interview was inane, catch this, it's actually worse!!!! (I watched it after getting home last nite, probably while you were typing your post, cos I got to bed at around 2). You can catch the repeat today afternoon, or early tomorrow morning. And don't forget TWG tonight -Jewel performed Hands. I saw the ad - she compliments Gurmeet on his voice - what a joke!!! :) OK, before I get into the review, just a few thanks you's and apologies - I haven't exactly been a very faithful lister or good correspondent. I've been wanting to thank everyone who e-mailed me following my response to Sean's Singapore post. I really enjoyed reading all your views, including the one suggesting I take a chill pill :), and wanted to respond to them all, but sadly cannot. I also got some good advice, especially from the "elders", and a lot of concert reviews - thanks for those Tasha! I enjoyed your post too Bill :) Apologies to all those who've been expecting responses, I really haven't been able to.... Also, I had a lot of thoughts about why the list should be unmoderated, and the lack of singles releases in the US, but heck, I'm not going to go into that now... The Review!! 1. Pre-concert Yesterday saw me waking up from a very restless sleep cos I just could not get the fact that I'd be seeing Jewel the next day out of my mind. I went to work as usual, but took a half day off. My sisters and I (my friends could not make it at the last mo:( planned to try catch Jewel as she went for the sound check. We got to the car-park leading to the backstage area at around 3.30 in the afternoon, since we kinda knew they would be arriving soon. I don't know whether it was the management or Lushington (the concert promoters - what promotion - two ads in the papers in all?!!!), but there were no barriers, etc up when we went there, but as soon as we got there, they started cordoning off the area. We were asked to leave, or they would call the police!!! We refused to leave, as it was after all the car park and a public place. We did move aside as they cordoned the area off next to the entrance, though - there were like 8-10 big burly guys, and just us three short girls. So anyway, the turquoise van arrives about twenty minutes later, and we rush over. The uncordoned area through which the van goes is quickly cordoned off too. We couldnt believe it - it was just the three os us, and we're not like rowdy or whatever. So anyway, the barriers were like up to our shoulders, but we're being good and not pushing or whatever, but the damn bouncers gathered around us and we couldn't see anything! I was really angry by now, and told the guy standing in front of me "Now look here - we're outside the cordoned area, we're behaving ourselves not trying to push our way through or whatever, and all we wanna do is say hi, maybe get some stuff signed and a couple of pix. Would you mind stepping aside so she can at least SEE us?!" He mumbled something, turned around, but did step slightly away. Another guy moved away, so that was enough space for us. We called out to Jewel, asking her if she would sign our stuff. She was out by now, and replied in this really weird squeaky little girl voice "On my way out, ok?" SO that was that :( The music started very soon after they went in - started with Near You always, I believe. Like we did for the Alanis Morissette concert 3 yrs ago, we tried to get into the theatre to see the sound check by using the entrance which is never used. Unlike that time, though, it was locked :( SO we went back to the other entrance, and hung around outside. I heard Life Uncommon and was really happy she was rehearsing that cos that's one of my fave songs. I recorded that. The sound check didn't go on for long. In fact, after some time, I realised that we hadnt heard Jewel in a bit, that it was all instrumentation. That's surprising cos the harbour Pavilion has a rather crappy sound system. SO anyway, we headed back to the car park, and about ten minutes later, about 45min after they'd arrived, they came back out to the van. We were surprised, and ran to the area while hurriedly getting our stuff out as the band filed into the van. Jewel stood out talking to some guy. We didn't like call her or anything, I guess we thought she woudlnt bother. She got into the van, but then saw us, and came back out. It didn't feel good, though - she looked as if she were merely going through the motions, that it was obligatory. She immediately put her hand out for the stuff to sign and said she'd only autograph an item each. I would have preferred not to have anything signed, as I wanted more to tell her how much her music meant to me, and stuff. She seemed very distant, though, a little uninterested, and I didn't feel comfortable imposing further. I wished her a good concert, I'm not sure she heard, she didn't respond. She did autograph both album sleeves I handed to her, though the POY one is on the back :( My sisters got nicer (as in you can make out her name autographs, maybe cos theirs were in their dairies? Hmmph?!! I dont know, but my autographs definitely do not look like the ones I've seen on the net. Concert 1. Steve - Almost no one had heard of him before last night. But when he started with the Chair Song, man, he had the house. Everyone laughed along. The Star Trek song - absolutely brilliant. He challenged the crowd, saying he'd heard Singapore audiences were really quiet. Midway, he half-joked that we were better than Australia and NZ! Aw, don't worry, he was probably just being diplomatic. :) 2. Jewel - As Jean mentioned, yes, I got the set-list :))) Almost got a drumstick too, it was definitely heading my way, but this guy behind me reached for it. I have the set-lists for the No Doubt and Corrs concerts, too, but those were just plain paper and one the back of a coaster. This is definitely the best - very nice pictoral paper. OK, the following were performed: Near You Always Deep Water (What's )Simple Is True Hands Jupiter (You Were) Meant For Me Solo (listed as solo on the set-list, no details. Set included the Cold Song, Morning Song, Innocence Maintained, Enter From the East) Barcelona Life Uncommon Foolish Games Down So Long Down Love Me Just Leave Me Alone Who Will Save Your Soul Encore: Absence of Fear Angel Standing By Yodel The concert proper - what can I say - my first real sit-down concert, and I hated that. I've never had to sit at a concert before, and this time, I almost got thrown out for standing! I was in the last row on the ground, and the only people who were behind me were higher up on elevated seats, with the first two rows having no seats. So I wasnt really blocking anyone. But the usher still threatened to throw me out, during YWMFM- spoilt that song for me. I refused to sit back down as I could not see anything. If only the usher had known he could throw me out for another reason - for recording the concert! Haha!!! OK, Jewel had on a black leather vest-shirt thingy, the same kind she had on at one of the Sydney concerts (a few snippets were shown on TV here), and a pair of purple pants (I dont mean what the Brits call pants. Brits would call them fitted trousers?) The concert started out a little slow, in my opinion. I am used to everyone rushing forward once the lights go out. Jewel was brilliant, but the audience remained seated. I didn't like that. But they were really really enthusiastic and obviously into the music, and that was cool.The cheers and whistles were really wild, especially when the intro to the popular singles started. The bad thing about that was that my mic would only record what was loudest/nearest, so whenever everyone (esp me) cheered, no music was recorded :(. The first few songs were really good, but there was no interaction with the crowd yet, not even a hello or whatever. She laughed what sounded like a hysterical laugh (it really did, I swear) and finally said hi after "Jupiter" (the fifth song), and then told the story of the guys going shopping that day, and asked them to all come forward in their costumes, which were supposed to be Asian costumes, but looked more like pajamas! Steve especially looked cool, and Jewel said as much. The others were ok. Doug's outfit didn't suit him, though, not his colour. Later on, when Jewel introduced the band, she did so not by the intrument they played, but the colour of the costumes (there we have Steve Poltz in the lovely jade, ____ in basic black evening wear, etc), laughing all the way. Anyway, after having them all come upfront, Jewel launched into an explanation of her new mission - to bring Steve's album to Asia. She said that Steve's label (she pretended not to know what it was) refused to carry the album in Asia, cos they didn't think it'd sell. Steve made a very cute sad face :) Anyway, she asked us whetehr we'd enjoyed Steve's set, and when the crowd replied yes enthusiastically, she said we should all hound Polygram and the radio stations to bring the album in. She said she had wanted to call Polygram herself, but Warner wouldnt give her the number:). She then started on how she met Steve when she was 18, volunteered to sing with him, was like that girl on Friends, whats-her-name and when everyone shouted out Phoebe, she was like "well, arent we little Friends connoisseurs!" She said she'd been a Phoebe, but earned a lot less, and was just about to start on her Mexico drug bust story when she noticed a little box thingy at the front of the stage, and went over to stand on it. It was just a little thing, maybe less thna 10cm high (from where I was :) but she was like, "wh-oa, dan-ger girl, I need a superhero cape, DUDE!" dragging the words out with with her arms stretched out like Superman. She kept ~dude~ ing throughout, saying she was full Phoebe now :) She was so hilarious, she had the crowd laughing at the end of every sentence. The way she told the story, her expressions, and the story itself - I wish I could get a recording? Mr BB - are there any plans to release a concert video? Please say yes? The crowd was so taken with Steve, they roared at each cute thing Jewel described him doing - him getting high in the presence of the every little sinful thing, him carrying those sacks of pot, etc. Anyway, the concert, like I've mentioend, was awesome. I especially loved that my faves Innocence Maintained and Life Uncommon were included. And although the earlier songs were awesome live, I have to say the best part was the launch of the rocked out versions, beginning with DSL. I could not understand how people were still sitting to that song - it so rocked! As usual, Jewel called those at the sides & behind to come to the front after DSL. I was prepared, and even though I was in the last row, managed to make my way to the front, hehe, cos I was already standing, see, and was prepared to move. I also managed to get a front row seat and stood on it, Jean - no way I would have been able to see anything otherwise. That sure was cool, huh? :) Made eye-contact with Jewel and Doug, who waved at me, hehe. Jewel was like, do me a favour and move up, will you'll, I want to sing a few new songs and want you to tell me whether you like them. Like she needed to invite me! I'd been ready to go forward form the start! When she gave the girl the mike, and the girl went "I love you Jewel, you're the best, or whatever" Jewel looked a little embarassed, and went like "OK, that's quite enough from you!" She was also nice to sign the guys' stuff (I think it was the poster he kept holding up) just before leaving the stage at the end. But, when she bent over to sign it, we could see down her vest. Not all the way though. But enough to get some guys pretty excited :) Loved her challenging Doug on the guitar - man, that part of the show, from DSL esp was sooo cool!!!! As luck would have it, my tape finished just after WWSYS ended, and althoguh I managed to switch tapes cos they all left the stage for a bit, I accidentally pressed the tuner insetad of the record button. So I didn't get all that :( I was sooooo disappointed cos I so wanted the yodel especially. I enjoyed that so much, it was incredible. Whoa, I'm just getting to the end of the tape now, and WWSYS is on - WOW!!!!!!!!!!!!! Dang, wish I'd bought tix to the Malaysia gig as well….. Oh, the bit at the end where Steve jumps up and down to the drums - Awesome!!! I'm suffering major withdrawal symptoms now!!! Oops, my tape just ended. Prematurely. So I didn't get the end whre Steve does that jumping up and down :( The Yodel song - MrBB, if you'll gotta release live trax on singles, how bout this one? It's so damn cool! When Jewel picked up the guitar for this song, she was like, You're all probably gonna think this song is REALLY strange. It's called the yodel song. When everyone cheered really loudly, she was like, "you'll know what a yodel is?" looking sceptically at us and smiling. When we all answered in the affirmative, she went like "ok?", y'know, like not quite believing, sortof in a "if u say so" tone. It was soo good to see her enjoying the yodel song - I think it was one of the songs she enjoyed the most, along with the LMJLMA. It's really nice to see her smiling when performing... My disappointments? 1. NO merchandise. And can someone please explain why Jewel's Cds were selling like hotcakes at the concert. Does anyone else think thers' something wrong with that? POY and Spirirt will probably be on the charts this week cos of this. But who the hell goes to the concert if they havent even invsted the money and time in the CD? Geez! 2. No Steve and Jewel duet :( Wait, I do vaguely recall Steve and jewel sharing a mike for a bit - what song was that? 3. No Nedra. I wanted to see and hear her sing with Jewel:((( 4. No poetry 5. Lousy ushers. Spoilt YWMFM for me, pestered me to sit, and wanted to confiscate my camera, but I promised to put it away. Until I got to the front, haha!!! I think I may have got some pretty decent shots. If I do, would anyone want to put them up? I've got no scanner and no site, but I can send you copies.... I also have pretty decent shots of Sheryl Crow and the Corrs up at different sites, if anyone's interested... I got two favours to ask , now that I'm on a roll (I'm sorry, but I promised there'll be no more posts from me for a couple of weeks at least.) 1. Anyone know any period when Jewel and Sheryl Crow (at the very least) and maybe also Sarah McLachlan, Alanis Morissette, Garbage, Catatonia, or the Corrs, etc are touring in around the same place at around the same time (within a time span of around 3-4 weeks)? 2. I would love to have some angelfood (does that refer only to audio?). How do I get some? Are there any video releases at all? MrBB - I know you don't pass personal messages to Jewel (I read the FAQ, hehe), but if dont mind it really and decide to make an exception, would you tell Jewel I hope she had a great time in Singapore, it was sooo really nice to see her here, that she was so awesome, and woudl she please not listen to Sean and put Singapore on the next tour as well? :) Hopefully then there will be more Singaporean EDAs, and we can book really early and get front row seats, get a banner or smoething, and if there's enough of us, we woudlnt feel pressured to sit down, and woudl get everyone else up too... Jason - glad u enjoyed the concert too. Were you at the right or left of the stage? I was on the right (facing the stage), and noticed that the very worst seats on the right were wayyyyyyy better than those on the left. The seating was very lopsided, cos there was lots of space left over on the right of the extreme right block. The whole block on the extreme left couldn not see ANYTHING but stage equipment, and occasionally a side profile, I suppose. I'm amazed they remained seated. Now they got a really crummy deal. And, the CD you got from Borders - its a US import. It's not been released here. Borders imports a lot of their CDs from the States. Anyway, thats' enough form me.... Now to listen to my Steve Poltz tape (hehe, jealous Jean?:))) Dont worry, a copy's coming your way... Those who got this far - thank you so much for reading! I wish everyone has as great a time at the gigs they're going to... Cheers! harin ------------------------------ End of jewel-digest V4 #173 ***************************