Valentine’s Day Massacre memories The set was pure eeriness contained in a setup of silhouette candelabras, fog and purple light. It’s Valentine’s Day, and we have come half across some places. Traveling from the site of the original massacre onto a modern one. We are getting what we came for—finally witnessing Diamanda Galas perform live. Much of her music is recorded live and we have seen video, but this was a necessary event in our lives. She came onto the stage with plastic armor, her hair slicked back and voice everywhere it needed to be. We stood to the left side of the stage viewing her before a grand piano.  We would be treated to all new songs with the exception of “Keigome, Keigome.” She had sheet music which turned out to be lyrics in front of her because she could not remember the words. She declared this rather than confess. It would have been preferable to sit down, but nonetheless the place was small and we were just feet away from the literal lady of the hour. The Greek characters stretched across her legs, she would reveal… translated as “Guilty, Guilty, Guilty.” That song was the highlight of the set as well. This had some amazing effects in the middle, it sounded like live playback on a transistor radio. This was a most divine punishment in her terms. When asked to do a request of “Dark End of the Street,” she responded “Do you see a tip jar girlfriend?” She also ripped into some jazz musician who was playing at the same time across town, and profiting much more than she would be. So, she said “This is not goth… this is JAZZ!” You better believe her too! All in all in awe we let senses absorb the nutrients. We honestly could have snuck into the second show, but we would be going home in the morning. One of her kind assistants ran our CD covers backstage. She was resting for the following performance, but still signed two of them. We hope this to be the start of a tradition.