Almost three years ago, CBS Sunday Morning broadcast a story about a quirky Russian-born New York piano playing singer-songwriter right around the time I was bored with my then-current musical diet and was looking for something new and different. I bought her Begin to Hope album and was soon hooked.

Regina Spektor is now my favorite female musician, which may not be the highest praise I can give, as before she came along I don’t think I had a favorite female musician. I love the variety of styles in her various songs. I love her unique sense of humor, her insightful observations, the lush arrangements of her piano-based compositions, and that she sings part of her song “Folding Chair” in dolphin language.

So for my first concert in two years, I saw Regina play tonight at the beautiful Louisville Palace, the last stop of her current tour of the U.S. It was a perfect match of venue and artist, and I’ll never forget her gracious words of appreciation for her fans and the conclusion she came to after walking around downtown Louisville: “You have one fucking awesome city!”