Intense Tori Amos Enraptures Audience In Florida
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Intense Tori Amos Enraptures Audience In Florida
Oct 1, 2001, 1:20 pm PT
Despite the fact that Tori Amos' last two major tours have been with a bona
fide rock band, Amos' two hour solo show at Ruth Eckerd Hall in Clearwater,
Fla., did not lack intensity.
A testament to her musicianship, Amos kept fans enraptured on her second date
of a major North American tour with just her famous Bosendorfer grand piano,
and Rhodes and Wurlitzer organs. The performance felt more like an intimate
gathering of friends than an official rock concert.
Amos did not need the aid of backing musicians, nor did she need to bloat her
performance with flashy lights or costume changes. Watching Amos, a classically
trained piano virtuoso, writhe and spasm at the keys was far more engaging
than any gaudy display of fireworks. At some points Amos simultaneously played
both the organ and piano, adding rich musical flourishes to the songs. Amos
owns her songs; witnessing her spread-eagle on the piano bench living the
music lucidly illustrates her passion.
With regard to music, Amos judiciously divided her set among songs from all
her albums. Her newest, Strange Little Girls, an album of covers, provided
the evening's eerie opener, her take on Eminem's gruesome "'97 Bonnie and
Clyde."
A slashed curtain descended with a photograph of Amos portraying Eminem's
dead wife. Amos spoke the words from offstage with a backing track as
spotlights probed. Reds and blues stabbed the audience. The sinister
rendition felt like a twisted funeral for the woman, with the audience
disquieted and stunned. As the song concluded the audience rose in a standing
ovation and Amos appeared onstage.
Other emotional high points came as Amos did an a capella rendition of "Me
and a Gun," a stark recounting of her own rape. During the song it seemed
that the oxygen had been vacuumed from the room; Amos hypnotized the crowd.
Her receptiveness to fans surfaced as she played "Never Seen Blue" and
"Northern Lad," both requested earlier. During "Hey Jupiter," her last song
for the evening, Amos forget the lyrics to the second verse. She stopped
playing, asking "O.K., what happens now?" Fans near the front offered the
coveted lyrics and Amos resumed her playing to laughter and furious applause.
Fan favorites and older songs got makeovers, including "Crucify," which Amos
played with an extended introduction on the Wurlitzer. Before playing the
reworked tune she said, "This song wanted to do something different with
herself, wear a different dress for a while." Amos' staple "Winter" also
featured a more intricate piano introduction and lyrical improvisations.
Canadian troubadour Rufus Wainwright provided a muscular opening set. The
self-dubbed "male Tori Amos" played solo with an electric piano and a set of
guitars. Although Wainwright's music translated well live, he made it clear
that when performing with his band, the songs resemble the ornately
orchestrated album versions better. Despite not having the band Wainwright's
music never sounded derivative and was, in fact, well received by the crowd.
-- Brian Orloff
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