Tori brings bold new material to St. Andrews

One thousand enthusiastic Tori Amos fanatics crammed into Saint Andrew's Hall on Wednesday night to witness the exhibition of her most daring journey yet into performance art. One of only 10 shows in North America, this exclusive performance was the first chance for fans to see Tori perform with her new amplified quartet.

Tori's past performances featuring only herself and a piano have consistently been some of the most intense musical experiences. The new addition of a drummer, guitarist and bassist have only enhanced the concert experience with dynamics never before possible.

ADRIANA YUGOVICH/Daily Tori Amos performed with intense emotion and a full band last Wednesday for 1000 packed in fans at St. Andrews Hall.

Wednesday night's show was an opportunity for Tori fanatics to hear songs from her new album "From the Choirgirl Hotel" before its release, as well as extravagant new versions of a few older songs.

Things were tense as show-opener David Poe struggled to tame the army of Tori fanatics. Once Poe finished his short set, an arsenal of psychedelic multi-colored lights illuminated the stage. Various strategically placed mirror balls in preparation for Tori and her quartet spun across the claustrophobic walls of Saint Andrew's.

The crowd erupted into piercing screams as, one by one, Tori's bandmates entered the stage, followed by the high priestess herself.

The cacophony of affection was silenced as Tori began playing the opening gentle piano melody of "Black Dove" - her first of eight new songs to debut.

Everyone listened closely to the angelic lyrics of the new song's first verse. Tori's bandmates remained in the shadows as the song began like any classic Tori song. The intimate silence surrounding Tori's voice and her piano was then violently destroyed with the transition from opening verse to chorus.

Tori juxtaposed her gentle lullabies with big tribal drum beats and overdriven sonic guitar eruptions. Blinding lights flashed and amplified instruments exploded as Tori screamed the cosmic revelation of "the other side of the galaxy."

REVIEW
	Tori Amos April 29 St. Andrew's Hall

While every new song featured at the show possessed unique qualities worthy of philosophic contemplation, each shared several common characteristics.

Phat rhythmic drum beats blended with deep bass; constantly altered guitar tones and metaphorical prose consistently aided a dynamic shift from a gentle lyrical verse to an uplifting chorus thick in layers of sonic revelry and symphonic strings.

Other songs such as "Liquid Diamonds" and "Cruel" were seven- to 10-minute extended excursions into Portishead-style, big-beat, deep-bass, trippy guitar slow jams that had more than a few Tori fans grooving along.

Old-school Tori fanatics not turned on by space-age rock and roll electronic stimuli will find several of the new songs to their liking. Songs such as "A Northern Lad" and "Jackie's Strength" lack the drum beat backdrop and deep bass.

As these songs evolve from verse to chorus to verse, subtle slide guitar and gentle beats almost subliminally appear to intensify the piano with profound framing.

Though the new songs off "From the Choirgirl Hotel" stimulated the cognitive thought patterns of every Tori fanatic crammed into Saint Andrew's, the few, carefully reworked Tori classics brought on euphoric dazzlement.

"Precious Things" was the first song to get the enhancement. This updated version remained faithful to the original masterpiece while simultaneously becoming an exercise in dynamics, as the song drifted from acoustic piano to a combination of searing guitars, echoing feminine screams, structure-shaking bass notes and pounding drums.

ADRIANA YUGOVICH/Daily Attendants of Wednesday night's Tori show got a sneak preview of tracks from Amos' new release "From the Choirgirl Hotel." The album is available in stores today.

Other songs injected with new life included "Tear in Your Hand," "The Waitress" and "God." There was also a updated version of "Horses" with totally new lyrics immersed in an atmospheric musical setting of mysterious guitar noises and a melodic drum and bass arrangement.

The entire show wasn't all Pink Floydian light shows and Grateful Deadesque jam sessions. The band exited the stage for a mid-set intermission that Tori referred to as "secret time." Tori nostaligically collaborated with her piano on intimate songs such as "Here in my Head" and "Cloud on My Tongue.."

The final encore of "Landslide" also consisted of good old-fashioned Tori, without all the rock and roll theatrics - a beautiful reworking of the Stevie Nicks' classic and an adequate song to end the evening.

The lyrics "I've been afraid of changing 'cause I've built my life around you" serve as an adequate summary of Tori's relationship to each crowd member who waited in line for over 10 hours to get tickets to the exclusive show.

Many fans may have been less than enthusiastic when Tori declared that she was going to tour with a band, but anyone lucky enough to witness her show at Saint Andrews will assure you that her new album is perhaps her most artistic material yet.

Both those who patiently waited to hear Tori perform her exclusive concert at St. Andrews and those who are lesser Tori fanatics can purchase her new release, "From the Choirgirl Hotel," today.

05-05-98