Would you believe I’ve been culturally aware of Tori Amos for years, but before tonight I couldn’t name a song or probably even exactly what kind of music she performed? Apparently all of my cool musicy friends have been on the Tori Amos bandwagon since they were old enough to attend gigs (the 90’s if you must know). I suspect my exposure when I was younger started and finished with watching her on the musical segment of Beavis and Butthead. Not much will motivate my aging millennial self to attend something on a school night nowadays, but when you get the chance to see an icon, you know you’ll regret not seeing her.
The venue was Newcastle City Hall, which has that kind of wabi sabi charm of having period features butting up against modern stage equipment. The toilets were plentiful and clean, and it was like being transported to London when I ordered a beer (£8 if you were wondering).
The night opened with Issac Levi, a handsome young songster from near London. This is his first big tour and props to Tori and her team for giving him some higher exposure. He sings the kind of songs you weep to after you’ve been dumped. His beautiful, melancholy melodies will no doubt play over the sad parts of many a rom com in years to come. The highlight of his set for me was when he covered ‘Iris’ by The Goo Goo Dolls, he combined two things I loved: songs I already know and audience participation on the chorus. Newcastle City Hall audience, you get 5 stars – who knew we could harmonise like that?
Tori Amos is a singer/songwriter/ pianist who in recent years has talked about being an aging woman in an industry that desires and devours young people, but particularly women. I can’t help but notice that this tour is called “In times of dragons” … is she telling us it’s the time of outspoken older women? If she is, I am here for it. For this tour, she shares the stage with: Jon Evans on bass and Ash Soan on drums, with backing vocals from “The Angel Witches”: Liv Gibson, Deni Hlavinka, and Hadley Kennary.
There is something truly intoxicating about being in the presence of greatness, surrounded by other people totally dedicated to the worship of their idol. When Tori walked out onto the stage many people around me leaped to their feet and began clapping and screaming, I knew I was in for something special. The audience can make or break a gig, they provide the atmosphere and tonight you could feel the excitement humming in the air.
The lighting was wonderful. For each song it cast a distinct atmosphere. One song felt almost like the stage was bathed in hellfire. Sometimes the titular dragon was projected onto the curtains at the back of the stage, wings flapping in time with the drums. Others UV was sparingly used to highlight Tori in an eerie and enchanting glow. It really added to the fantasy elements of the show.
Tori’s performance was a thing to behold. Her voice was lower than I was expecting, more gravelly, more sexy. I was informed by a die-hard fan that this was a recent change in performance style, reflecting this more mature phase in life. There was a theory that this is why she has included backing vocals on this tour. She doesn’t banter, her audience chat was minimal, and she does not take a break. From the moment she arrives on stage she is the music. Watching her perform felt like the first time I saw the Rocky Mountains, I knew it would be breathtaking, yet when my breath was taken I was still somehow surprised!
The stage was positively littered with instruments, so I knew I’d be in for a decent amount of variety. Once again, my expectations were surpassed. Tori had 3 pianos/keyboards. She often played 2 at a time, which literally blew me away. Mind blown, not a key out of place. It might sound hyperbolic, but I could not differentiate between where her music started and she stopped. She was the living embodiment of her music, it was rapturous! She could not have achieved such heights without her musical support Jon Evans and Ash Soan. Honestly, they were her equal in terms of skill and they elevated the performance, providing depth and energy.
Not being an enormous Tori fan before the night I didn’t realise just how diverse her setlist was. She’s a prolific producer of music, and each of her albums are different from each other, whilst keeping her distinctive brand. She played songs from many different albums, veering away from her more popular songs until the encore. From the chatter in the audience this was received in a couple of ways. True fans were thrilled to hear a unique set, people there for ‘Professional Widow’ and ‘Cornflake Girl’ were a little peeved. Personally, I say, if you want to listen to the singles you can stay home and choose the set list yourself. This set was obviously curated by Tori to please herself, these are the songs that speak to her now. This is the magic of live music.
At the end of the gig Tori got a standing ovation and a stage rush from her most adoring fans. This was well deserved and watching her reach out and clasp hands with people was really special. She clearly appreciates her fans! I can not recommend seeing Tori Amos live enough. She is an icon for a reason. If you’re not already a super fan, go just for the experience. The lighting, the performance, the support, for me, it felt like a once in a lifetime event. I don’t think I would listen to Tori Amos in the comfort of my own home, the music isn’t quite my style, but the live performance is absolutely worth every penny and hauling your aging butt out in the middle of a work week.
The In Times of Dragons tour continues across the UK and Europe until the end of May and picks up again in the US in July – full dates and tickets here
Tori Amos: Website / Facebook / Instagram
Issac Levi: Facebook / Instagram
Review by Lauren P
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