News: Albany Times Union Concert Review (October 10, 2007)

David Malachowski reviewed last night’s show at The Palace Theatre for the Albany Times Union. Thanks to China2Ny for finding the link before we did!

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Amos casts wondrous spell at the Palace

By DAVID MALACHOWSKI
Special to the Times Union
First published: Wednesday, October 10, 2007

ALBANY — Tori Amos came to Albany again for a magical, memorable night of music and words, and maybe her best show in Albany to date.

The 44-year-old Amos’ set was culled primarily from her ambitious “American Doll Posse,” a harder-than-usual collection of songs that found the artist assuming five archetypal personalities based on feminine gods in Greek and Roman mythology, each of whom have their own personality and (of course) wardrobe.

Purple gauze turned red as she came out smoking — literally and figuratively — and sat down at a long black grand piano. The crowd screamed as the bass-heavy “Yo George” filled up the high ceilings of the old theater.

A crack band of guitar bass and drums stood in the darkness as Amos weaved her spells sweet and sour. Tribal drums propelled the anxious “Devils and Gods;” “Almost Rosey” swirled like a top; “Big Wheel” got the crowd clapping at the predestined moments, while the pounding “Sugar” was unearthly and powerful from a scream to a whisper. The sultry “Cornflake Girl” (from “Under The Pink”) was another high point. “Mother Revolution” was haunting and spare, “Caught a Lite Sneeze” was mechanical and rigid, while “Ireland” and “Marianne” were both little treasures.

Amos was alone at the piano for the staggering take on Leonard Cohen’s “Famous Blue Raincoat.” Soon the band rocked out again with the ominous “‘Code Red,” and the thunderous “Precious Things” and “Tear in Your Hand” as the audience stood in awe.

Amos sprinkled her fairy dust over the set that was still far more rock than in the past, but this stretch was an admirable move that made her set more diverse and dynamic. Amos documents thoughts many of us have and think, but don’t articulate, and that’s why her fans have a cultish flair. For those who have never seen her, this was a fine initiation, for longtime fans, a set beyond. This night at this Palace, Amos didn’t rest on her considerable laurels but moved forward.

Opener Yoav offered a hypnotic set while folks filed in and chatted with their friends.

David Malachowski is a local freelance writer from Woodstock and a regular contributor to the Times Union.

MUSIC REVIEW

TORI AMOS
When: 8 p.m. Tuesday
Where: Palace Theatre, 19 Clinton Ave., Albany
Length: Amos, 2 hours; Yoav, 30 minutes
Highlights: Amos’ “Yo George,” “Famous Blue Raincoat,” “Cornflake Girl” and “Pieces of Me”
The crowd: 1,400 true believers who were not let down.