News: Orange Country Register Concert Review (July 18, 2009)

This positive review of Friday’s show at the Greek Theatre comes from Soundcheck, the Orange County Register’s music blog. Reviewer Cindy Carcamo appreciated the performance, acknowledging a powerful conclusion to the show. Not sure if it appeared in the actual newspaper or not but I suppose only trainspotters like me care about that stuff anyway!

Tori Amos communes with ecstatic minions at the Greek

July 18th, 2009, 12:41 pm

Cindy Carcamo, who in the past has covered Latin rock shows for us, headed up to Griffith Park to see what that most out-there of cult heroines was up to …

Tori Amos shows are usually something akin to cathartic experiences with sprinklings of theatrics and haunting music. Friday’s show at the Greek Theater was no different. The L.A. end of her Sinful Attraction Tour may have started somewhat slow for my taste but it ended powerfully, leaving staunch and riveted fans panting for more.

The petite singer-songwriter, who turns 46 next month, sported a body-lengthening one-piece garb with something of a pseudo-cape in black. Her fiery tresses glowed as she characteristically straddled her bench, reaching to her grand piano with one hand, to whichever instrument suited her mood with the other.

While she delivered pretty straightforward renditions of songs from her generally well-liked 10th album, Abnormally Attracted to Sin, it was her older material that really shined, moving the audience to their feet, even prompting a mini-stampede toward the stage at one point.

“Liquid Diamonds” (from 1998’s From the Choirgirl Hotel) and “Sugar” (from 1999’s To Venus and Back) were delivered with her usual ferocity, but it was the stormy “Precious Things” from her auspicious 1992 debut Little Earthquakes that really connected her to the audience, prompting yells and cheering. Her impassioned execution of that tumultuous piece launched fans to their feet, and their intensity was rewarded with a potent rendition of “Strong Black Vine” (from the new disc) and then the slaphappy “Big Wheel” from American Doll Posse (2007).

Soon enough, it was time for Tori “to wave goodbye now” with “Tear in Your Hand.” Its symbolic lyrics, conveyed by her soaring voice, prompted even celebrity gossip blogger (and will.i.am foe) Perez Hilton, who had rocked out all night, to sing along like a heartbroken teenage girl.