A tearful but terrific Tori concert...

This is long overdue, but we've already made our apologies, so we won't bore you with that. It was with much excitement we ventured forth to hallowed Hammersmith to visit Holy Ms. Amos for her second London gig on the 11th of Septembz. Having endured some forgettable and inoffensive support, and a trip to the wrong seats ("Sorry... are you sitting in our seats? Oh you're not. Ok.") we watched as the wild woman of our hearts came out to raucous applause and sat herself down to play the piano.

1. "Give"
2. "Body and Soul"
3. "Cornflake Girl"
4. "Little Amsterdam"
5. "Hotel"
6. "The Power of Orange Knickers"
7. "Putting the Damage On"
8. "Welcome to England"
9. "Virginia"
   
10. "Bells for Her"
11. "Mr. Zebra"
12. "Not the Red Baron"
13. "Ophelia"
14. "1000 Oceans"
15. "Marys of the Sea"
16. "Siren"
17. "Fast Horse"
18. "Precious Things"
19. "Strong Black Vine"
20. "Big Wheel"
21. "Tear in Your Hand"

The set, above, was not perfect (they almost never are) but had enough pleasant surprises to keep us happy and steered well clear of anything boring or unwelcome. "Body and Soul" and "Cornflake Girl" got the eclectic (but mostly lesbian) crowd going, and gorgeous downtempos "1000 Oceans", "Bells For Her", "Virginia" and "Give" had the audience on the edge of their (wet) seats and craning to get a closer look at the busyfingered Tori.

There were many peaks, but two most noticeable ones were "Welcome to England" (a fitting song, doncha think?) and "Putting the Damage On" which, with a new almost unrecognisable introduction, was so unexpected and striking, it had this 'ere writer shedding a couple of tears. The real beauty of the concert. was that even when Tori was playing a forgotten album track that may not have had much significance to any audience member, she was still captivating. That sort of presence, performance and musical skill are impossible to manufacture, teach or learn, and made the night both terrific and 'an' 'emotional' 'rollercoaster' (*loads gun with cliché, shoots self*).

Whether or not you're a Toriphile (and one of our number isn't) it was a warm, gorgeous concert full of the unexpected wells of nostalgia and feeling that make Tori so unique and beloved, even now. We would recommend you go see her, if you have the chance, and bask in her loveliness.

(Thank you to hoochiew for the lovely picture.)