Music

GRAND PRAIRIE – Judging by the confident way she strolled to the Dusendorfer grand piano and perched on its adjustable bench, you quickly sensed popular song stylist Tori Amos was going to be at the top of her game and that Nokia Theatre ticket-buyers would be rewarded for braving the frigid commute.

Saturday's performance commenced with Ms. Amos singing "Body and Soul" to hearty applause.

The former child prodigy, now 44, thanked the responsive audience for supporting her and promised she'd stay with them in the building for as long as they pleased.

At times during the performance there were frequent throwbacks to at least one '70s female pop icon. A clear reference was made when Ms. Amos sang "Raspberry Swirl," inducing euphoria among her jubilant followers. But this brief comparison by no means suggests Ms. Amos is Joni Mitchell incarnate, although Ms. Mitchell is without question one of her exemplars.

During the song "Lust," Ms. Amos frequently gestured sensually, acting out the message in the hit single.

Part of Ms. Amos' first outfit resembled Cowboys cheerleaders' tops. And she just happened to have a pair of blue pom-poms, which she waved randomly throughout the first half of the show like it was halftime on Sunday. That got everyone's attention.

The full range of her voice was highlighted in the hit "Cornflake Girl," from the Under the Pink album. The nearly packed house roared and many leaped to their feet in tribute to her powerful delivery.

Her voice was mellow for most of the performance; however, there were times when Ms. Amos seemed to drag along. Inclusion of more soothing ballads would have made for a better show.

Yet no die-hard fan seemed disappointed as the soft-spoken rocker and her four-piece posse cut loose with most of her familiar compositions.

Although most of the songs were from her earlier discs, a few were from her most recent album, American Doll Posse.

Some parts of the show were superfluous, although Ms. Amos' effort was nothing less than commendable.

Phil Brown is a Dallas freelance writer.

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