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Review: Tori Amos brings the Cambridge crowd to its feet




A lot has happened in the world since I last saw Tori Amos live (at the Royal Albert Hall in London in June 1998) but thankfully the American singer-songwriter and former child piano prodigy is still making music and her latest album, Ocean to Ocean, is one of her best.

Tori Amos at the Cambridge Corn Exchange, Saturday April 1, 2023. Picture: Adrian Peel
Tori Amos at the Cambridge Corn Exchange, Saturday April 1, 2023. Picture: Adrian Peel

Opening the show, on Saturday, April 1, was the angelically-voiced and very well-received Norwegian songstress SKAAR, who performed beautifully written songs accompanied by a pianist and by herself on guitar. She also endeared herself to the audience by telling stories and displaying her slightly ‘kooky’ personality.

Taking the stage slightly earlier than expected (by me, anyway), many in the sold-out crowd rose to give Tori Amos a standing ovation.

Backed by two outstanding musicians, bass player Jon Evans and drummer Ash Soan, the talented Ms Amos took her place seated between two keyboards on one side and a grand piano on the other. Throughout the evening, she alternated between the instruments, or expertly played one with one hand and one with the other.

The first song of the set was the impressive Bouncing off Clouds, from Tori’s 2007 album American Doll Posse. Trying to remember when she last played the Corn Exchange, she said: “Correct me if I’m wrong, but I think it was 1994.” She added: “Some of you would have been young ’uns. I wasn’t.”

Ocean to Ocean, the title track of the new record, came next and was excellent, drawing an enthusiastic response, particularly from one or two fans on the front row. Amber Waves, from her 2002 LP Scarlet’s Walk, was also brilliantly performed.

The backing musicians left the stage for the melodic Strange and upon their return, Tori went all the way back to 1996, when one of her most successful albums Boys for Pele was released, for the lilting Putting the Damage On.

She announced that she had been experimenting and “mixing it up a bit” for these English shows as far as the setlist was concerned, following gigs in Scotland and Ireland. She acknowledged that it was a risk and that her choices might not all hit the mark.

Indeed, there certainly were some songs that were much better than others, but the star’s stage presence and charisma ensured that one never got bored. Metal Water Wood, where the highly-skilled pianist played the melody line on a small, as hitherto unseen keyboard on top of the grand piano, was an example of a song that worked wonderfully. And the audience certainly seemed to agree.

Tori returned to Boys for Pele once again for the sublime Caught a Lite Sneeze and then incorporated Depeche Mode’s Personal Jesus into the very welcome and more uptempo groove of Body and Soul, to stunning effect.

The encore consisted of the gorgeous Sugar and then finally the song I’d been waiting for all evening - Cornflake Girl, one of Tori’s biggest hits, which came out the year she last played the Cambridge Corn Exchange, 1994.

It definitely didn’t disappoint - many of the audience members were once again on their feet warmly expressing their appreciation - and leaving the best till last ensured I left the venue singing it (under my breath, of course). Let’s hope it’s not another 29 years before Tori Amos next heads this way.

Tori Amos at the Cambridge Corn Exchange, Saturday April 1, 2023. Picture: Adrian Peel
Tori Amos at the Cambridge Corn Exchange, Saturday April 1, 2023. Picture: Adrian Peel

[Read more: Seth Lakeman is on his way to Cambridge]

For more on the artist, visit toriamos.com.



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