...and, sadly, not in Seattle.

I'm not a fan of ironic covers in principle, but I don't think this one is ironic. When I saw on Idolator this afternoon that Tori Amos covered Britney Spears' song "...Baby One More Time", I was anxious to race home to listen to it. Overall, I like it; this track, more than any other in Spears' catalogue lends itself to being covered by singer-songwriters because the simplistic lyrics can be slowed down and sound earnest with the right singer. I do agree with Idolator's Maura Johnston that the cover would be improved if Amos left the bridge intact. Here, though, Amos's strong, but vulnerable, voice contrasts nicely with a song whose multi-layered pop production renders it almost flawless.

Here's Amos covering "...Baby One More Time" from Monday night in Oakland:

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at WaMu Theatre

When Tori Amos walked out on stage for her Friday night set at WaMu Theater, she was wearing a long, green dress with gold, lame’ tights. It was an odd costume, to say the least. She helpfully explained mid-set that she wanted to wear “Emerald green for the Emerald City”.

But before I get strung up by any rabid Tori Amos fans, let me say that 1) she has built a long and fruitful career on not giving a fuck about what anyone else thinks and 2) she looked positively radiant, stunning and, yes, beautiful. In short, she looked like the rock and roll goddess she is.

When Amos sashayed to her piano and keyboard setup, it was slow and seductive, teasing the crowd who was rabidly in love with her. But from the first time she touched her piano, for the song “Give”, she handed control her music to the instruments and she became their catalyst. She straddled a stool in between a grand piano and keyboard, each adorned with a mic, shifting between the two almost randomly and playing with abandon. Her band consisted of a bassist and drummer, and they were flanked on each side, to the back of the stage.

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So I was browsing around the iTunes music store and I stumbled across a section called "Alternative for Adults". Having just turned 30, I was curious what they expect adults who like alternative should be listening to these days. Well, I was slightly mortified. Here is the list:

Brandi Carlisle, Augustana, Ray LaMontagne, Patty Griffin, Bright Eyes, Amy Winehouse, Fountains of Wayne, Martin Sexton, Amos Lee, Angelique Kidjo, John Mayer (?!), Joss Stone (equally ?!), Norah Jones, Ryan Shaw, Son Volt and Tori Amos.

Is this what we're all doomed to turn into or does iTunes have a low opinion of what adults who do not want to listen to mainstream want to hear? Honestly, I would consider maybe 3 of those acts as "alternative," while the rest just seem to be NPR neo-country/neo-jazz. Of course, I suppose that is alternative in its own sense. How do we deal with aging as modern rockers? Should I just give up now and start buying the Ray LaMontagne back catalog and burn my Fugazi and Atari Teenage Riot CDs? *Sigh*

Apparently the moms just ain't into Miss Feist.

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But why did they send me a preview CD that will not play on anything CD playing object I own, not my iBook, not my car, not my DVD player? Come on, if you want a review, make the damn thing playable

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My mother always said "if you don't have anything nice to say, then don't
say anything at all!" So... I will refrain from anything more than Tori and
Feist have new records.

That said, I am super stoked about the new Black Rebel Motorcycle Club as
well as Dinosaur Jr..

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