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On March 14, 2003, Billboard.com posted a review of Tori's March 6, 2003 concert in New York City at Radio City Music Hall. Read it at Billboard.com or below.


Tori Amos / March 6, 2003 / New York (Radio City Music Hall)

Tori Amos' last trip to New York saw her full theater production sandwiched into the non-traditional and striking, but cold and unbending walls, of Riverside Church. This time around, the passionate pianist took residence inside the famed Radio City Music Hall, a warmer, more acoustically sound room that allowed her to soar.

For Amos' first of three shows at Radio City March 6, she brought out her "A" game. From older favorites "Precious Things" and "Cornflake Girl" to "A Sorta Fairytale" and "I Can't See New York" from her latest album, "Scarlet's Walk" (Epic), she boldly performed as if she owned the stage.

With Amos on piano and keyboards and only bassist John Evans and drummer Matt Chamberlain backing, the room swelled with sound. Amos' confident and sexy vocals demanded rapt attention, although at times her enunciation and idiosyncratic phrasing -- most noticeably during "Winter" -- seemed silly.

Mid-set found Amos alone at the piano underneath a lit "Roadside Cafe" sign for several songs, including a stunning rendition of "Icicle" and a less necessary version of Fleetwood Mac's "Landslide." Rejoined by Evans and Chamberlain, "Rattlesnakes" stood out, as did newer songs "Strange" and "Taxi Ride," both of which came alive in a concert setting.

Few are the artists who strike a chord inside their audience as Amos does with hers. With her effortless keyboard skills and telling, sometimes jaw-dropping, lyrics, she seems to personally touch fans through her performance, allowing each to be empowered, comforted, or understood, but never alone. This is Amos' gift, and in concert it is given freely.

Here is Amos' March 6 setlist

"Wampum Prayer"
"A Sorta Fairytale"
"Caught a Lite Sneeze"
"Pancake"
"Cornflake Girl"
"Honey"
"Take to the Sky"
"Black Dove"
"Wednesday"
Improv/"Winter"
"Icicle"
"Landslide"
"Strange"
"Spark"
"Sweet Sangria"
"Rattlesnakes"
"Precious Things"
"I Can't See New York"
"Iieee"

Encore one:
"Taxi Ride"
"Tear in Your Hand"

Encore two:
"Talula"
"Putting the Damage On"


-- Barry A. Jeckell, N.Y.