Diana Krall Comes to Atlanta

[Rick]

Finally, I have been able to hear Diana in person, and I have no regrets about going! There is no way I would have missed this concert after missing her May 2002 appearance at the Fox Theatre in Atlanta.

Diana's Atlanta appearance was at the Chastain Park Amphiteatre, which is a favorite concert venue here in Atlanta. The weather turned out to be great, after several days of bad thunderstorms in this area.

Like one of the other members of this forum, I was a bit mystified by the selection of Ollabelle to be Diana's starting act. They performed some gospel, some country, and even reminded me of Fleetwood Mac in one of their songs. Not that that is a bad thing. (The first time I heard Norah Jones, I thought it was Stevie Nicks!) Ollabelle performed for a half hour starting at 8:00 and then there was a half hour intermission, long enough for me to go back to the Starbuck's concession and refill my iced mocha frapaccino.

Then promptly at 9, Diana came on stage, and she looked absolutely stunning. She didn't say a word, and immediately started playing an instumental on the piano, which I didn't recognize. Of course, her piano work is just superb! The first song she sang was "All or Nothing At All" and it reminded me of why I am such a huge Diana Krall fan! I have heard other renditions of that song, including the one by Karryn Allison, but Diana's is my favorite, hands down! Much of the evening, she performed cuts from the new CD "The Girl in the Other Room," including "Temptation," Stop this World," "Narrow Daylight," "Abandoned Masquerade," and my favorite "Almost Blue." She also did "Let's Face the Music and Dance," "East of the Sun," did the uptempo rendition of "Devil May Care" like on "Live in Paris," "Fly Me to the Moon," "Maybe You'll Be There," and "S'wonderful." Notably absent were "I've Got You Under My Skin" and "Look of Love."

The big thing was that the performance was too short, but then that goes along with "Give them just enough so they want some more!" At the end, Diana and the other three musicians left the stage while the crowd cheered. Moments later, Diana returned alone and sat at the piano and played "S'wonderful" after which she left again. Then there was a standing ovation, whereupon she returned and perfomed two more songs. Unfortunately, at the moment, I cannot remember which two she did!

The amphiteatre was filled with only a few empty seats in the back. Some guy made the "I love you, Diana!" remark and her reply was "I am high maintenance!" She certainly is happy being married to Elvis Costello. Any doubts I may have had about their collaboration was gone when I heard the song "Almost Blue."

[daddymack]

Rick I'm glad you had a good time at the concert.I'm a huge Krall fan.How did the audience respond to her Girl Next Door songs?Did you enjoy the album?Did she banter with the crowd?She seemed a little subdued in Maryland.But Diana was magic on that piano?

[dasher]

Hi Guys -

I also went to this concert - I've been looking for a forum to post my reaction...is this the same Remi that was on the "official" DK fansite? What was the webmaster's name, Paul? If I remember correctly, Remi is absolutely nuts about Diana! He'll get his fix when she visits France.

Yes, I enjoyed the show here in ATL. This was my 7th concert of hers. I have been seeing her since 1995.

You got most of the songs on your post, the only ones I can add are "I'll String Along With You", "Black Crow", and the two tunes that you missed in the encore were "Gee Baby, Ain't I Good To You" and "Frim Fram Sauce", both of which she did solo. The intro you said you did not recognize I think was just a sort of "warmup jazz shuffle" to get them loose. I count 16 songs total for the show. She played for an hour and 45 minutes.

As far as the question about the banter with the audience, yes, she did a good little bit of chatting with us. She mostly talked about Mr. Costello and who among them (she and he) was the luckiest to be with the other.

I did my best to get some pictures of this show, but my little disposable camera took bad pictures. I think only two or so came out of the 27. Perhaps I can figure out a way to get them on this site.

Ok, there you have it...no autographs this time, Chastain Park is so hard to get one in!!

Dan in Downtown Atlanta

[Rick]

Thanks, Dasher, for the recall on which two songs Diana performed solo in the encore. One of the interesting things about her performance of "Gee, Baby, Ain't I Good to You" was her quotation of Nat King Cole's song "Mona Lisa," which I am sure many in the audience missed.

I enjoyed Diana's banter with the audience, and got a laugh out of the "high maintenance" remark.

I wanted to take my camera, but the house rules prohibit cameras, and mine does not have a zoom lens, anyway. I was back behind the tables on the left side of the amphiteater, so I was able to see more on the large screen TV monitors than I could directly.

The audience was very receptive to Diana's new songs, but I think we all wanted to hear the standards she performed in previous CD's. I enjoyed the concert a great deal, and would have been happy to go to a repeat performance.

[dasher]

Dude! We may have been very near each other. I was to the left of the sound booth there, just off the floor. That is, if you were in the audience looking straight ahead at the stage, I was to the left of the sound booth, one row off the floor of tables.

I must say, I paid $7 to see her in 1996 at the Roxy in Buckhead. For this show, I had to part with $73...

I know this will elicit response (or maybe not), but I must say, this band she has with her is not as good as her earlier bands. I am paying particular homage to Russell Malone. His playing with her singing was just fantastic. Mr. Wilson just cannot hold a candle to Russell (IMHO).

I'd like to see her get him and Christian McBride to tour with her - now that would be a smoking show!

[dasher]

Ooops, I forgot to add, yes, I saw that cameras were not allowed. I just don't pay any attention to it. I try not to be too "in everyone's face" with the pictures and I took most of these with the flash off. Hence, they all were black.

Once I think the concert is coming to a close, I work my way up to the front of the stage and pop off as many as I can.

Remember, something is only illegal if you get caught doing it.

[bozburn2004]

As I posted earlier, my dad got me tickets as a graduation gift. The greatist I can think of!

I was in the box seats, left when looking at the stage. It was among the greatist nights of my life. I was probably 20 yards from her. My only regret is that before she sang "I'll String Along...", I had to use the restroom. She also didn't do "I'm Coming Through" or "Departure Bay".

On my way there, I heard the "I Love You Diana!" and her saying that she's high maintance. I also made use of the Starbucks stand, and on the way out, purchased her special program, mouse pad, and of course, her poster, to be posted in my dorm room.

[Rick]

I was in the letter "O" row almost as far to Diana's right as I could get. The concession stand wall was right behind me. My ticket cost around $72 and my mother got it for me as a birthday gift, no doubt the most memorable birthday gift!

I think I now know why Diana may have been more subdued than we might expect at the concert. I understand that she was suffering with a toothache and that she was to have a root canal the following Monday, meaning that she had at that time to suffer with it through not only the Atlanta concert, but the Houston and Dallas appearances as well. I didn't know it at the concert. She did a great job of hiding the problem. Knowing this, I don't blame her in the least for not wanting to hang around and talk or sign autographs! I certainly hope she got the dental work done and that she is feeling much better.

The end of the concert was getting a bit rough for me as well, since I had downed two of Starbuck's frapaccino mochas, but I was determined to miss nothing, so I stuck it out and delayed the restroom break. It was, of course, worth it. There is no telling when Diana will be back here!

I hope by the time she gets back here, I'll have a zoom lens digital camera than is very concealable so I can make some pictures. I think the reason they ask people not to bring cameras is because of the flash, particularly after dark.

I didn't know they were selling posters, mouse pads, and so on. I'll have to check on line where they were selling the stuff from the "Look of Love" tour to see if they have those there.

[Rémi]

is this the same Remi that was on the "official" DK fansite? What was the webmaster's name, Paul? If I remember correctly, Remi is absolutely nuts about Diana! He'll get his fix when she visits France.

All your questions about that Rémi guy (as for Paul Nish and the old website, etc.) are answered in the FAQ page!
For your last comment, I won't get my fix this year because I won't see Diana at the Olympia Theatre in Paris on September.
Well, actually I won't go to any of her concerts as long as the price of her tickets will not be back under 50/60 €uros (unless I'm invited as a VIP ). It just has become too much expensive for me.

[dasher]

Remi -

Sorry, I thought I looked at the FAQ page and thought it was all about "why isn't my email working?" and functional stuff like that. I don't mean to load you down with stupid emails if the answers are right there in the website!

Remi, did you, by chance make an eBay purchase of a DK autograph maybe a year + ago? I remember giving my mother an autographed advertisement to sell on eBay and I think I remember her telling me she sold it to someone in France. That wouldn't have happened to be you, would it?

My other Atlanta posters, yes, with my ticket being $73 smackers, I will have to be convinced I can get an autograph or two after the show before I plunk down such spinach. As far as liquid refreshment, I had to stick to Havana Club and Coke to keep me hydrated. Ahhh, the pause that refreshes...

[bozburn2004]

The concert merchandice store was on the opposite side of the concession stand, where the metal Coca-Cola sign was. Most of the non-CD/DVD items they had were of The Girl in the Other Room, not that that's a problem... I'll be using the merchandice to spread DK thoughout my dorm...

[Rémi]

Remi, did you, by chance make an eBay purchase of a DK autograph maybe a year + ago? I remember giving my mother an autographed advertisement to sell on eBay and I think I remember her telling me she sold it to someone in France. That wouldn't have happened to be you, would it?

No, sorry it's not me. I personally don't trust Ebay.

[crash8_durham]

Remi I like your sig. When I was first learning to play guitar I was a big Dire Straits and Marc Knopler fan. I still play without a pick most of the time because I found out back then that Knopfler had taught himself to play guitar and that he didn't use a pick. I thought it was cool so now I am just used to it.

As for DK in Atlanta at the Fox theater, I have acrophobia which is the fear of heights. My parents and I discovered this when I was about 7 years old when they took me to a concert in Atlanta at the Fox theater. They had tickets in the balcony and when I walked through the curtain I freaked. I had to sit in the lobby all night.