10.24.1999 Tori Amos / Alanis Morissette 5 1/2 Weeks Tour Mandalay Bay Events Center, Las Vegas, NV Opener: Sci-Fi Lullaby
This tour date was televised on pay per view which I never saw, but I did obtain an audio copy of both sets. The Tori highlight for me was “Riot Poof” and “Bliss” both from her then new album, To Venus and Back.
“Thank you for exposing yourselves,” Tori Amos says by way of introduction because of the seven or so cameras covering the stage for Pay-Per-View. I never saw the actual performance televised, but I always think it’s weird that Tori Amos never worries about censorship in her music. From a riotous version of potty-mouth “Professional Widow” to some not so subtle attacks on gender roles of “Precious Things,” there are a lot of taboo topics in Tori songs that she gamely throws out there. You need more proof? Peruse the words to “Blood Roses” or even “God,” which is probably one of the least provocative of her tunes. Her music is undeniably gorgeous, and the real treat here were extended versions of “Riot Proof” and the main set closer “Hotel” which ran almost ten minutes and stopped just short of the rapture in my book. Add some old standbys, a few glorious minutes with just Tori and her piano, and presto, you have one of the hands-down most visceral shows I have ever attended, and it wasn’t even a full set.
Tori Setlist
God
Sugar
Cornflake Girl
Riot Poof
Bliss
Blood Roses
Solo
Silent All These Years
Merman
Suede
Professional Widow
Hotel
Encore
Waitress
Precious Things