AT UND MG
Jesus lizard will perform at The Blind
Pig this Thursday. Show begins at 9:30
p.m. Call 996-8555 for more informa-
tion.
ARTS
Tuesday
May 5, 1998
Tori brings bold new material to St. Andrews
ByJao Blrc"6 er
Daffy Arts Writer
One thousand enthusiastic Tori
Amos fanatics crammed into Saint
Andrew's Hall on Wednesday night to
witness the exhibition of her most dar-
ing journey yet into performance art.
One of only 10 shows in North
America, this exclusive performance
was the frst chance for fans to see Tori
perform with her new amplified quar-
tet.
Tori's past perfonnances featuring
only herself and a piano have consis-
tently 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.
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 mir-
ror 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 band-
Mnatesentlredsthe 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 cho-
rus.
- Tori juxtaposed her gentle lullabies
with big tribal drum beats and overdriv-
en sonic guitar eruptions. Blinding
lights flashed and amplified instru-
ments exploded as Tori screamed the
cosmic revelation of "the other side of
the galaxy."
While every new song featured at the
show possessed unique qualities wor-
thy of philosophic contemplation, each
shared several common characteristics.
Phat rhythmic drum beats blended
with deep bass; constantly altered gui-
tar tones and metaphorical prose con-
sistently aided a dynamic shift from a
gentle lyrical verse to an uplifting cho-
rus 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 electron-
ic stimuli will find several of the new
songs to their liking. Songs such as "A
Northern Lad"
and "Jackie's
Strength" lackt
the drum beat
backdrop and Toni Amos
deep bass.
As these
songs evolve Saint Andrews
from verse to April 29
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 cogni-
tive thought patterns of every Tori
fanatic crammed into Saint Andrew's,
the few, carefully reworked Tori clas-
sics brought on euphoric dazzlement.
"Precious Things" was the first song
to get the enhancement. This updated
version remained faithful to the origi-
nal masterpiece while simultaneously
becoming an exercise in dynamics, as
the song drifted from acoustic piano to
a combination of searing guitars, echo-
ing feminine screams, structure-shak-
ing bass notes and pounding drums.
Other songs injected with new life
included "Tear in Your Hand," "The
Waitress" and "God." There was also a
updated version of"Horses" with total-
ly new lyrics immersed in an atmos-
pheric 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 intermis-
sion 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 chang-
ing 'cause I've built my life around
you" serve as an adequate summary of
Tori's relationship to each crowd mem-
ber who waited in line for over 10hours
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 any-
one lucky enough to witness her show
at Saint Andrews will assure you that
her new album is persaps her most
artistic material yet.
Both those who patiently waited to
hear Tori perform her exclusive concert
at St. Andrews and those who are less-
er Tori fanatics can purchase her new
release, "From the Choirgirl Hotel,"
today.
ADRIANA YUGOVICH
Tori Amos performed with intense emotion and a full band last Wednesday for
1000 packed in fans at St. Andrews Hall.
0
Intellectual freedom.
Academic Standards.
http://www.gofast.org
Join us.
ADRIANA YUG5VICH/Da'iy
Attendants of Wednesday night's Tory show got a sneak preview of tracks from Amos' new release "The Choirgirl Hotel." The
album Is avalable in stores today.