December 2, 2011
Beacon Theatre
New York, New York
Shattering Sea
Landslide (solo)
Suede
Way Down (solo)
Cloud On My Tongue
Leather
Putting The Damage On (solo)
Jackie’s Strength (solo)
Mr. Zebra (solo)
Fearlessness
Maybe California
Star Whisperer
Twinkle (solo)
Gold Dust (solo)
Toast (solo)
Siren
Your Ghost
Nautical Twilight
Cruel
Encore:
A Multitude of Shades
Baker Baker
Spring Haze
Precious Things
Big Wheel
I have not been following setlists at all this tour, and I am completley not loving the new album (it's boring), so hopping into the tour experience was a bit weird and otherworldly, since I was not at all mentally prepared. I was mostly excited to see everybody. New York shows do tend to be a little lacklustre, but they are exciting because I always see so many familiar faces. The Beacon Theatre is one of my favourite theatres ever, and I have never had the pleasure of seeing Tori perform there.
I showed up without tickets, and managed to get some that were basically in the ass end of the orchestra behind the soundboard. I think I probably would have enjoyed the show a little bit more if I had managed to get closer. Everyone told me that the Philly show was like amazing, so I was a little bit disappointed by this show. This has much less to do with the strings than with the setlist itself. This show was very much a New York show: as Tori is aware of the music industry presence when she plays the city, she tends to play it safe. The shows inevitably are restrained and filled with unadventurous song choices. This show was no different.
I am finding myself a little more skeptical of these shows than perhaps some other fans. I am very specific in what I like about the shows: I want it to rock. I absolutely love the band. The strings thing is something Tori probably should have done a long time ago and it was really amazing to see her live shows with such a different treatment, but it's still not my preference. But perhaps I will feel differently once I have a couple more shows under my belt.
Highlights:
Shattering Sea/Star Whisperer: As much as I find the new material a little uninteresting (listening to it is kind of like watching paint dry), these two songs were multitudes better live. The strings sound really tight, and Tori's voice sounded remarkable.
Way Down: Wow! Love this song. I've only heard it once before (2005 San Diego). Pele classic.
Gold Dust/Toast: What a weird one-two punch. Ok, let's sing a song about birth. Then let's sing a song about death, which also happens to sound exactly like Gold Dust Part 2. I am a little confused as to why with its lush string arrangement on Scarlet's Walk Tori was still doing Gold Dust solo. Gold Dust is one of my very favourite songs ever, and it was stunning as always.
Siren: YES. Goes without saying.
Cruel: This was the best song of the entire night. I love the reappropriation of the string instruments: they became percussion instruments and gave this song its signiture jungley feel. This was the closest to the spirit of the band shows. Total badassery.
Precious Things: Yes! This was also in a similar vein to Cruel. It's such an angsty and intense song. Again, I definitely prefer the band, but the strings produced a different kind of intensity.
Spring Haze: This was unexpectedly amazing with the strings. Another of my more favourite songs, I think I actually might prefer this to some band versions (intense song but Tori "phin
Big Wheel: The only time I got my dance on for the entire show. This song is weird with strings, but it is so fun and awesome. I'll never get sick of this one.
Death Chamber:
Landslide/Cloud/Leather/Damage: OH MY GOD. Seriously, like shooting up heroin. Almost fell asleep. What's up with that, T?
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