Okay, I get it now.

July 27th, 2008 | Uncategorized

melissa etheridge in VT

Perhaps it will not surprise you to learn that a hornrimmed, IKEA instruction-manual fetishizing geek such as myself has never been a big devotee of the rock and roll. But last night I went to a Melissa Etheridge concert, and I was…how do you sayrocked out.

Can I do this? Post my little bootleg movie here? I guess so. (I apologize for the painfully abrupt cut-off. My little camera would only shoot three minutes at a time.) Okay, this is her encore of Piece of My Heart. Done AFTER her gutwrenching, guitar-string shredding finale of some song probably everybody but me knows. Even this tinny, low-res little video gives me goosebumps. She was fucking amazing!

Holly wore her Lez Zeppelin t-shirt for the occasion.
Rock on.

lez

68 Responses to “Okay, I get it now.”

  1. Pam I says:

    That’s the almighty Janis Joplin’s Piece of my Heart. Here’s a link to the best of the fuzzy old youtube copies:
    http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=tenV9Din7K4&feature=related
    (I’ll take a rest from trying to post html…)

    Janis lives !

  2. elteegee says:

    WOW, thanks for sharing. I loved Melissa when she first hit the scene in the late 80’s – we could all sense she was a dyke, same as the Indigo Girls at the time – though no one had officially come out yet. My enthusiasm for her faded by the late 90’s with all the airing of dyke drama and dirty laundry and what I saw as a softening and mainstreaming of her music. It seems that just lately she has come roaring back with a vengeance however. Several people who saw her shows this spring described them as near religious rock and roll experiences. I may just have to come back around again.

    P.S. I think I’m in love with Holly. How cute is she?

  3. Duncan says:

    I like that Lez Zeppelin shirt!

    Here, try this clip of Etheridge doing “Piece of My Heart” all the way through with Joss Stone.

    http://youtube.com/watch?v=ef-f-l2Pbn8

    Does like rock’n’roll disqualify me as a geek? How about playing it? ^_^

  4. NickelJoey says:

    Awesome! Goosebumps here too! What I wouldn’t give to hear that phrase finally resolve.

    Hmmm . . . wonder if she’s coming to Columbus . . .

  5. Maggie Jochild says:

    Janis, ah, Janis. I once interviewed a woman who was lovers with Janis back in the day.

    Never got into Melissa or the Indigo Girls, though I know they’re fine musicians. I was spoiled by a generation of rockers and songwriters who could actually be out lesbians on stage. (Meg, Alix, Holly, Cris, Tui, Sirani, Naomi, Margie, Woody, Gwen…)

  6. --MC says:

    DD received – I got a sticker, and I do love it so, but since I have no car window or any glass surface to stick it to, I’ll mail it to the first caller:
    c a m p o s m a r k @ g m a i l . c o m

  7. a lurker says:

    wow, that’s orgasmic. I actually am not a rock and roll fan, but I love Melissa Etheridge:)

  8. BrooklynGirl says:

    I got goosebumps from watching a Youtube video! That’s a first. I’ll have to try to go see her. Thanks for sharing.

  9. mulieribus says:

    I went to one of her shows many years ago. Sitting in the third row, I got so faint I actually had to sit down for a while. Her raw energy is so powerful, it suddenly made me understand all those screaming, swooning girls you see in old footage of the Beatles or Elvis.

  10. Kate L. says:

    “I know it’s only rock and roll, but I like it.”
    – Mick Jagger, Rolling Stones, 1974

    Hey, the 70’s were cool in part.

  11. shadocat says:

    She’s coming to the Sprint center…it’s my Xmas present, and I can’t wait!

  12. sunicarus says:

    You go, Alison and Holly!

    Great tee shirt.

    I’m going to see Melissa in August in both Chicago and Saint Louis.

    It’s going to be like a double-feature rock extravaganza.

    I’ve never seen her live in concert before and with her doin’ the tribute to Janis, how awesome!

    Woo Hoo!

    Sunicarus

  13. Ready2Agitate says:

    The 3-min. video is awesome – I too/three got goosebumps. Spent a chunka time today watching Melissa and also Janis on You Tube during the rainstorm courtesy of this entry’s inspiration. And yes, Holly is cute, hot, buff, sexy, political, environmental, and extremely photogenic. Whew!

  14. Cate says:

    that is AWESOME

  15. Dharma Kelleher says:

    I saw Lez Zeppelin last year in Santa Ana. Sara McClellan is so hot! IMHO, they’re better than the original. Melissa rocks, too.

  16. Ian says:

    Rock geeks revere Led Zep.

    Thanks for posting the vid Duncan. I prefer Erma Franklin’s version:

    http://youtube.com/watch?v=TcdHbDqZwhA

    ‘cos I just like soul better than rock. But Melissa Etheridge just blasted that song. She can sang!

  17. Virtual Mo says:

    In Second Life there is a *place* called “Lez Zeppelin”. It is inside a zeppelin, sort of Vincent Pricey. A lesbian dance club, with mud wrestling, cuddling spots, and the requisite dungeon for those so inclined.

  18. Ready2Agitate says:

    Can I also put a plug in for Joan Osbourne? Not a dyke but wow can she sing! (better than Joss Stone IMHO, whom I’d not heard of till I watched the link above!).

  19. rinky says:

    I know exactly what you mean Alison. I used to think Melissa Etheridge was, you know, ok, but when I saw her in concert I was blown away by her. She is awesome and amazingly sexy on stage

  20. kate mckinnon says:

    SO… I have moved my inbox to an annex. HA! It’s great.

    And I wish the picture of Holly was in focus.

  21. Pam I says:

    That’s camera shake, not out-of-focus. AB must have still been all a-tremble. Or the earth was moving.

  22. LEM says:

    The huge thunderstorm and pouring rain. The mud splattered clothing. The biting red ants desperate to climb out of the muck. The beautiful dykes holding each other and dancing throughout. Free Ben & Jerry’s after a soggy picnic dinner. None of the bad got in the way. All of the good enhanced the best concert I have ever seen/heard…by far. Come to My Window – breathtaking. Topped only by Piece of My Heart – earth shattering.. still..after 40? years. I can’t imagine anyone other than M.E. doing the song or J.J. justice.

  23. Anonymous says:

    An absolutely heart-breaking version of “the weakness in me” covered by Melissa comes up after yours…. wow.

    I have got to get to a Melissa Etheridge concert.

    Karen

  24. LEM! Why didn’t I see you? Thanks for adding the atmospheric description.

  25. Ginjoint says:

    I remember the exact moment I first heard “Bring Me Some Water” – the car I was in, the weather, the intersection I was at, and the radio station that played it. I actually pulled over to be able to listen more carefully; I was blown away. A woman. Singing like that. Not high-pitched folk music (I know, I know, I’m a traitor), but this. I immediately went out and purchased the CD, and have been a fan for twenty years now.

    I’ve seen her many times in concert, and she is engaging, witty, and smart. Her musicianship is impeccable – that song you heard her tearing up was probably “Like the Way I Do.” It’s like her voice and guitar just cut right to the heart of the matter – and your pelvis. Didn’t you find yourself turned on (yeah, that way) by her music?

    This past winter, at times when I was really down from breast cancer treatment, I would watch her Grammy performance (while bald from chemo herself) of “Piece of My Heart” on YouTube, and be strengthened anew. I see how her hair has grown back beautifully, which gives me some hope as I’m going through the awful “first hair” stage right now.

    Whelp, Alison, this post did it. I was walking past the Chicago Theater yesterday, where Melissa’s doing two shows soon, and thinking that I should try to get a ticket. (My usual M.O. with concerts lately is to procrastinate until it’s too late – I just missed seeing Alison Moyet with Yaz this way.) But now, I have to call my scalper. (*sigh* Yeah, it’s the only way to get good tickets in this town.)

  26. ksbel6 says:

    I really wanted to go see her when she comes to KC, but we play school softball in the fall, and from Aug 11 through the end of Oct, my schedule is packed. We had a change in the teams in our conference for this season and for 3 weeks in a row we play at least one game on every day of the week except Sunday and Wednesday…it’s going to be crazy.

    I have 2 of her concerts on dvd though, and “The Weakness In Me” is one of my favorites.

  27. a chris says:

    Tangentially: Daily Distresses have been mailed? Supah. S., if you happen to see this, of course you get your mail. I’m just not sure when or how and as fucking tempting as it will be, I am not going to open anything addressed to you from DTWOF Enterprises. *sigh*

    *end illicit communication, expect zero more, delete as desired*

  28. LEM says:

    AB, I saw you and Holly. Lovely, both. Didn’t want to interupt the reverie — yours or mine.

  29. --MC says:

    No more calls, we have a winner.

  30. Ginjoint says:

    Hey, ksbel6, how’s the puppy doing?

  31. Ready2Agitate says:

    >>”I can’t imagine anyone other than M.E. doing …J.J. justice.”

    Hear! Hear! I am hereby interested in M.E. anew.

    Ginjoint, I thought of you with that YouTube video. An inspiration to all women struggling with breast cancer. Gives me chills when she smiles sweetly (very genuinely) during the words (…and I want to tell you) “that a woman can be tough.” And yes, when she stomps her foot on the drumbeat I get a thrill. 🙂

    ps Hope I wasn’t too fw abt AB’s GF in previous post! She’s cute. So is AB. So aren’t all a y’all — Beaver Queen inclusive!

  32. awesome video says:

    Holly looks pretty hunky with her tan and zeppelin shirt. Nice

  33. Anne says:

    Looks like a great environment to see her in. I’m really getting over the stadium/auditorium shows. Maybe it was seeing Lez Zepplin at MichFest that did me in…

  34. Lisa (Calico) says:

    I’ve seen Melissa 3 times since 1989-once in Stowe outdoors. Good stuff. Didn’t make it to this Shelburne show, though.
    We’ve had great regional concerts lately-I’ve seen The Musical Box 3 times this year alone, plus the Cal. Guitar Trio and Sir Paul McCartney (all in QC, the last TMB, CGT, and Paul all outdoors for Quebec City’s 400th anniversary.
    I had never seen/heard a Beatle live before, and just remembering the outdoor show from 7/20 gets me all teary-eyed. And you guys n’ gals also had Sir Elton John-what summer treats! : D

  35. Lisa (Calico) says:

    No ME, no Phish, no Zep, no Springsteen, no anyone without these guys.

    http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=egRaEoS3gP8

    http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=RRBv-XanHvw&feature=related

  36. Ann S. in Madison says:

    Fully agree with the power of ME, both live and recorded. The only time I don’t listen to her is when I’m involved in a relationship breakup. Never, under any circumstances, put on Melissa E if you’ve got a heartbreak. A little broken heart will become a big one, and a big one can kill you if you’ve got ME stoking yer pain. Protect yourself, people, and tell your friends.

  37. Ginjoint says:

    Never, under any circumstances, put on Melissa E if you’ve got a heartbreak.

    Ain’t THAT the truth?! Ooh. Been there, done that, never again. “Stronger Than Me,” anyone? It’s also that I’m getting older, and any love of maudlin drama has severely decreased.

    I stopped at the Chicago Theater box office today and got a great seat for the first show. $103.00. Dang.

  38. Ginjoint says:

    Oops, I forgot – Ready2Agitate, thanks for your thoughts. That’s my favorite part too!

  39. ksbel6 says:

    Ginjoint…thanks for asking, he is doing well. He makes eye contact when you talk to him now (which took much longer than getting him in and out of the house did) and he had gained 2 pounds at the last check up. He is still shaky around strangers, but it is amazing how much better he is today vs. three months ago!

    Also, it is always good to hear about how much better you are doing 🙂

  40. Susan D says:

    that would be “another little piece” by Janis Joplin!!!!
    Thats a 60’s/70’s icon!!

  41. C. says:

    For a minute there I thought you were in Michigan.

  42. Judy says:

    If you like Melissa Etheridge, you should catch her influence, Bruce Springsteen. His concerts are a religious experience. I saw him last night in New Jersey and it was beyond riveting!

  43. Jeez, i thought I was in Michigan for a minute there too what with all the rain and mud and dykes.

  44. natalie davis says:

    alison! long time no talk to…

    any place featuring folk music or the AWEFREAKINSOME melissa e. becomes michigan if you add a little rain, mud, and dykes. especially if they tell my kid he can’t stay.

    quick detour: my 12-yr-old, not the son of two mommies but indeed a political junkie and videogame fan who routinely volunteers for prospective candidates, finally read his first dtwof… and recognized raffi as himself. *that* was sweet… almost as much fun as my first melissa experience.

    keep rockin’ alison!!! hope the sabbatical is treating you well. and in addition to springsteen, i suggest another melissa… the intriguing ms. ferrick. omg… love her!!!

  45. Jo in Oakland says:

    damn! thanks for that! totally gets me psyched to see her in August.

  46. Wendy says:

    I love me some Melissa!! I have her on the ol Ipod and listen to it when I am feeling low. She is amazing!! Looks like it was an amazing show!!

  47. inG says:

    there is this wonderful duet of her and joss stone performing janis at the grammys or something on youtube:

    http://youtube.com/watch?v=ef-f-l2Pbn8

    i i could watch this like five times a day. sigh.
    she’s just awesome.
    and if you watch carefully you can see ellen and portia in the front row during the standing ovations. i’m pretty jealous of them.

  48. Ginjoint says:

    Yeah, inG, Duncan was kind enough to link to that video at the beginning of comments. But hey, a little reiteration never hurt anyone, did it?

  49. Dr. Empirical says:

    One of my faves, Laura Love, will be at Michigan this year. It’s one of the few shows she’s playing this summer, so it looks like I won’t be seeing her for a while.

  50. Nickel Joey says:

    Well, with this post and thread as inspiration, I just bought two tix to see Melissa E. at the Ohio State Fair this Saturday. And in a cool twist of fate, turns out my seats are only three rows up from where my favorite girl couple will be. Yay!

    I’ve never been to the state fair. I’m a little, um, anxious about it. But I guess it’s time, having lived in Ohio for 13 years now. Nothing like a great dyke rocker to get me there!

  51. Ready2Agitate says:

    Ah Laura Love, another brilliante.

    ps Off-topic but since Ohio was mentioned, saw the CSNY movie “Deja Vu” last night and really liked it. Not an amazing film by any means, but worth seeing. Their voices are still pretty good, too!

  52. --MC says:

    Laura Love! Yes, she’s great. I have an autographed LP of her first band, Boom Boom GI, since I used to work with the drummer (Lia Ratgirl).

  53. Aunt Soozie says:

    I love Laura Love’s “My Bootay”.
    “….worship it!”

  54. Dr. Empirical says:

    I thought I had all of Laura Love’s CDs, but I’ve never heard of Boom Boom GI! Looks like I’ve got some Googlin’ to do!

    I’ve got an autographed copy of Shum Ticky, featuring “My Bootay.”

    My girlfriend didn’t understand my need to go out and hear live music a couple times a month. It was fun once in a while, but… Then I took her to see Richard Thompson. She turned to me afterwards and said “Okay, I get it now.”

    Now Alison gets it too!

  55. Anonymous says:

    haha what as leeeezbian. melissa etheridge is pretty hardcore. i mean i’ll barely admit to listening to melissa ferrick ; )

  56. Blushing Girl says:

    I thought I was the only slightly older lesbian out there with a collection of genuine Led Zeppelin t-shirts! Please tell Holly my affection for her continues to grow… and it’s obvious she’s been good for you. Rock on!

  57. Ready2Agitate says:

    “I feed it… with peanut butter.”

    I saw Richard Thompson recently, as well as Lucinda Williams. Both were terrif. Yay outdoor summer concerts!

  58. Dr. Empirical says:

    ” I buy it… I buy it presents.”

    I saw Lucinda a few years back, and wasn’t impressed. Too much droning feedback, not enough musicianship. Maybe I caught her on a bad day. She is a powerful singer.

  59. Aunt Soozie says:

    I watch it… watch it growing…

  60. Susan Stinson says:

    This makes me grin, Melissa Etheridge, Janis Joplin, Lez Zeppelin and all.

    John Paul Jones from Led Zeppelin produced a cd for Uncle Earl (video under the cut), which is not rock n roll, but an all-women Americana string band I love.

  61. inG says:

    @ginjoint
    sorry, really hadn’t seen that. too happy because of the topic.

  62. Dr. Empirical says:

    It give me… it give me pleasure…

    I saw Uncle Earl a few years ago, Philly Folk Fest, I think, and there was a guy in the band.

    Lots of fun, though. They played old-time music, gave it due respect, but didn’t feel obligated to do the note-for-note recreations that too many authenticity-fetishists demand. Respect the source, but make the music your own!

  63. Brazenfemme says:

    If you are interested in a Canadian singer, check out Carolyn Neapole http://www.carolyn.ca – she is soooo amazing! She is also a music therapist. She would often play at my neighbourhood pub and her songs can bring me goose bumps, tears, and joy – all at the same time. When I broke up with my ex, I couldn’t listen to her CD’s for a long time (we used to go to shows together) but seeing her live again was a re-birth.

  64. DaneGreat says:

    Ha! I just happen to be in Chicago this weekend, visiting my sister, and her place is literally across the street from the GIANT MARQUEE that says “Melissa Etheridge.” I wish I was staying long enough to catch the show!

  65. Ian says:

    I don’t read the Queerty blog very often but I was scanning through the posts there and discovered this video clip of Wanda Jackson singing “Hard-Headed Woman”:

    http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=ttifwf8G4nw

    I’ve never heard of her, but after hearing her sing, I think anyone who likes Melissa’s music might appreciate the very early rock n’ roll and gravelly voice.

    Queerty calls her the world’s first female rock n’ roll star.

  66. Deb says:

    Hey all, I’m going to see Melissa in a couple weeks. I can’t wait. Anyone from here going to see her at the Cuthbert in Eugene? It would be so cool to meet up!

  67. melissaforme says:

    If you think that’s good rocknroll, check out this cover of Diamonds and Rust!

    http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=Yb2I5fzsElw

  68. Anonymous says:

    Uncle Phranc by Team Dresch is also pretty cool.