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Tori Amos; E
((Henry Fonda Theater; 863 capacity; $ 17 top))
Some believe Amos is an overdramatic, manipulative string-puller who turns on the tragic emotion when the song calls for it, actual emotion be damned. The second approach sees Amos as a tender, dynamic performer exorcising years of mental and physical abuse as well as self-doubt through her music.
Amos (who celebrated her 29th birthday at a post-concert reception) draws on her childhood and her destructive relationships with various family members for many of her songs.
The beautiful "Winter," the show's best tune, dealt with living up to a parent's lofty expectations. In "Crucify," Amos questions the validity of her pain ("Just what God needs, another victim") but then justifies it ("Got enough guilt to start my own religion").
Halfway through her 75-minute concert, Amos delivers her most affecting song, "Me and a Gun," a first-person story of sexual assault and coming to emotional grips with the incident.
Though the song is almost painful to see performed live, the obvious cleansing effect of the performance on Amos makes it one of her most important pieces. Her dynamic versions of the Rolling Stones' "Angie" and Nirvana's "Smells Like Teen Spirit" were also highlights.
Opening the evening was Polydor/PLG artist E, a man who makes up for the brevity of his name with an impressively unique and interesting mix of folk, pop and rock.
Sitting at his keyboard throughout (even when playing his guitar), E spun decidedly Beatles-influenced tunes of disillusionment ("Fitting In With Misfits"), love ("Are You & Me Gonna Happen") and humor ("L.A. River").
E's highlight, though, was when people began shouting for the Lynyrd Skynyrd classic "Free Bird," E actually played it, guitar solo and all.
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