Confidence is Key: Alanis Morissette Concert

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I originally bought tickets to see Alanis Morissette at Merriweather Post Pavilion not necessarily because I like her music (though I do!), but because Garbage was opening for her. My dad and I have seen Garbage perform multiple times*, so I wanted to get us tickets to see them again. But by the time I looked into tickets, lawn seats were sold out! So I ponied up the dough to treat us to real seats; my dad had never had real seats at that venue before, and I think I only had once before, so I figured we'd pamper ourselves.

Last night we arrived just as gates opened and enjoyed our packed dinner (so nice that they let you bring your own food in!). We wandered the grounds a little after we ate, and then we moseyed our way to our seats. We were pretty close, too!

Cat Power was the first opener. I had heard her name before, but I wasn't familiar with her music. I felt bad that she was up on stage all alone and the half-empty crowd wasn't even listening. I think most of us were just waiting for her 30-minute set to be over with. But Garbage was next, and we were psyched! I didn't realize they had a new album out (No Gods No Masters), so unfortunately I didn't know most of the songs they sang. And they didn't sing any songs from their Bleed Like Me album, which is my favorite one (or Strange Little Birds for that matter). But here's a taste of their set list:

The Men Who Rule the World (probably my favorite of their new songs)

Personal Jesus (I liked their choice of cover song.)

And of course they did perform some of their hit songs:

Stupid Girl

I Think I'm Paranoid

Push It

When I Grow Up

I'm Only Happy When it Rains (Great encore song)

Then Alanis came on with her long blonde hair, wear an oversized orange, bedazzled T-shirt. Since 2021 marks the 25th anniversary of Alanis' huge album, Jagged Little Pill, I knew almost all her songs. She sang all the hits from that album, and even songs from there that I thought for sure she wouldn't do. It was fun singing along, and the crowd loved it! I liked how her band would play soft introductions before each song to give you a clue to what song to expect next. And on the large screen behind her, mini music-videos were playing that related to each song, which I enjoyed watching as well.

All I Really Want

Right Through You (I LOVE this song!)

Hand in My Pocket

Ironic (The crowd probably sang half the song for Alanis; we were so loud!)

You Oughta Know (HUGE hit!)

Ablaze (A song for her daughter. I had never heard it before, but I liked it a lot.)

You Learn

Perfect (I wasn't expecting her to perform this one.)

Head Over Feet (The crowd loved this and we were singing along the entire time. Such a romantic song!)

Uninvited (This song always makes me think of the movie, City of Angels.)

Mary Jane (Another one I wasn't expecting to hear)

Your House (I hadn't heard this one before. She mostly kept singing the chorus repeatedly, but the band changed up the style of music each time for a sort-of repeat medley.)

Thank U (An odd choice for an encore, I thought. But I guess it was to express thanks during this whole COVID time when we are all thinking about what we are thankful for.)