Tori Amos with Yoav

Tori Amos came not once, but twice to the Arlington. She arrived in dramatic sweet fashion as her first female psyche “Clyde’. While the second set kicked out in a bang with second psyche “Tori”. In this latest tour, American Doll Posse, audiences have been treated to Amos’ unique concept of four female psyches. Never knowing which characters will appear enhances the allure of her cult loyal fan base. The faithful follow her from show to show not unlike the ‘Dead Heads’ and Phish loyalists. The Arlington show was no exception to this unique entourage that knows her every word and can tell you in great detail the distinctions between each of the four ‘psyches’.

Her performance in the first set captured the emotional intensity and thick orchestrations we’re used to hearing from Amos. Included in the set were songs from her latest cut such as “Bouncing Off Clouds”, “Beauty of Speed” and “Roosterspur Bridge”. Her intermission transitioned the heavy melancholy of the sweet and pretty doll façade with a rave-like light show amping the audiences’ mood. The revised image of “Tori” came knocking with a much funkier sound with songs like “Big Wheel”, “Father’s Son” and “Code Red”.

Yoav

Accompanying the altar ego doll act were Amos’ longtime band mates, Jon Evans, Matt Chamberlain and guitarist Dan Phelps.

Opening the show was Yoav, a fine one-man-act. This barefoot performer thumped away a fancy rhythm on the face of his guitar while he strummed away to his emphatic voice. I have yet to see a soloist as exciting and polished as Yoav.