photo by Fran Abbs

Valentine’s Day 2012 in Dublin was actually pretty awesome, mostly because Melissa Etheridge was here and singing and here, in Dublin.

Did I mention Melissa Etheridge was in Dublin?

Have I ever dreamed of spending Valentine’s Day fewer than 20 feet from Melissa Etheridge? You bet! And she didn’t disappoint. While she seemed hesitant at first, within minutes, she looked like kids do when you give them their favourite toy and let them do as they please with it. Her enthusiasm was — as it always is — endless.

She started with Fearless Love and segued into a chat with us, making jokes about her breakup and how stupidly long it’s been since she’s played in Dublin.

The thing about seeing Melissa Etheridge in concert is that, to all her fans, she means something. You won’t be in the queue long before someone tells you when they discovered her music, and what it meant to them. Part of this is how she treats her fans. She chats during the show, making small talk as though the whole audience is one person, and that one person is an old, precious friend.

Last Tuesday night did not disappoint.

Melissa looked fantastic. If only making 1300 people swoon was as easy as bedazzling all my plaid shirts.

WHAT? Come on, you totally have a few too.

We met a couple of Dutch women who were following Melissa for most of her tour. The two of them met at a gig years and years ago and have been friends ever since. Once they get the email with the European tour dates, they both book time off work, then flights and kiss their significant others good-bye for a month. Since the Dublin date was the first of the tour, they were extra excited.

We were treated to a setlist largely composed of her older music, like Chrome Plated Heart and Brave and Crazy interspersed with some newer ones. The emphasis, though, was on rock and she left out all of her more laid back numbers.

Fearless Love
Your Little Secret
Chrome Plated Heart
I Want To Come Over
No Souvenirs
The Wanting Of You
Come To My Window
You Can Sleep While I Drive
Drag Me Away
Brave & Crazy
Nervous
I’m The Only One
Bring Me Some Water

Encore
Like The Way I Do

The show was inexplicably wonderful. It was marred somewhat by miscommunication between Melissa Etheridge’s fan club and the venue. Several people had paid extra for priority entry and were told by The Olympia they could just come back whenever and their spots would be held. This turned out to not be true, and there were quite a few people whose evenings were soured as a result.

Not much could really sour things once the show began, however. Melissa Etheridge is a dedicated and joyful performer. She doesn’t take breaks. She doesn’t have costume changes. She just rocks out all night.

Were you there? What did you think?