Tori Amos Casts a Spell at Detroit’s Fox Theatre for her ‘In Times of Dragons’ US Tour
On Friday, April 7th, the Fox Theatre in Detroit was packed for Tori Amos and Bartees Strange. Fans came from all over to see an amazing performance by a legend, and they received. With Tori Amos having been to the Fox Theatre many times, it was no surprise that it would be where she performed this run when she made it to Michigan. Bartees Strange also performed a beautiful and genre-fluid set that proved to be a perfect opener and support for Tori Amos.
BARTEES STRANGE
As the crowd filled the beautiful seats of the ornate and historic Fox Theatre, Bartees Strange took the stage to a single spotlight, with a personalized leather guitar strap, his guitar, and a genre-defying set. While he is categorized as being “Indie Rock,” his music incorporates Hip Hop, R&B, and soul, Indie-folk, and some electronic parts that occur simultaneously in many of his songs. “Mulholland Dr.,” “Lie 95,” “Baltimore,” “Sober,” “Doomsday Buttercup,” “17,” and “Boomer” are the songs that Bartees performed, proving that his neighborhood influence shaped the way he created his own music. He often credits his sound to a ‘neighborhood’ of musical influences gathered from where and when he grew up. The crowd that was seated took it all in and enjoyed the performance as it truly showed the range and songwriting abilities he possesses.
TORI AMOS
Stepping into the Fox Theatre and its ornate decor and style, you could feel the crowd growing in anticipation for Tori, with several die-hard fans wearing large feet and ear prosthetics, as Tori has been known to refer to her fans as “ears with feet” ever since 1996, when she expressed her dislike for the word “fans.” The stage was dimly lit with spotlights on Tori’s singers, her guitarist and drummer, and as she walked on in a red satin dress in epic Tori Amos fashion, the cheers erupted and she paused, placing her hands directly on her heart in gratitude. The entire theatre was as happy to see her as she was to perform for them again. Within moments of taking the stage, Tori proved why her live performances remain, to this day and decades later, unadulterated magic. Her beautifully eccentric style and performance have always been one of her greatest hallmarks for her as an artist.
Tori opened with the rhythmic, brooding track “Fire to Your Plain,” seamlessly straddling her beautiful black grand piano with her iconic, fierce pose- the signature copper-red wavy hair trying to become the main character of the show every time she threw her head back. In between the two songs I was present for, Tori showed love and appreciation for each member accompanying her on stage to perform the set that evening, with an introduction worthy of mentioning. The atmosphere shifted as the stage lit deep blues and reds, with a large glowing dragon above Tori and her piano for “Shush,” while delivering raw, theatrical vocal precision. Tori sounded amazing, and the crowd was happily following every movement, lyrics and song. Even being in the room for those two songs, the sheer performance of both and the visually stunning lighting/backdrop was captivating. The theatre was draped in rich lighting, drama, and Tori’s deep connection to the keys of her Bösendorfer grand piano, which offered a masterclass in stage presence.
The entire time I was in the room, I felt the connection and love Tori had for her fans- constantly looking out, gesturing to them as she spoke between songs, and smiling as she sang. She knew how to take that massive room and make it feel intimate. The vocals are still exquisite decades later, and the performance made for an epic Friday evening for everyone who had the pleasure of attending. From the setlist she shared online following the show, you can tell the “ears with feet” will be riding the natural high and soul-healing Tori performed that evening.