TORI AMOS, with guest Rufus Wainwright, in Abravanel Hall, Tuesday, Nov. 6; one performance only.
A strange little girl came and played some beautiful, emotionally charged music in Abravanel Hall Tuesday night.
After a quaint set from Rufus Wainwright, Tori Amos, the woman with the waifish voice and the lethal lyrics, performed a two-hour concert that featured her trademark black Bösendorfer grand piano and two electric keyboards in a stripped-down performance that showcased her quirky humor and musical commentary.
The disturbing cover of Eminem's " '97 Bonnie & Clyde" opened the show. Amos gave the dark narrative from back stage.
In fact, the audience didn't see her until the song was over and the shredded curtain dropped.
Amos stepped onto the stage, acknowledged the audience and, with audience members' approval, began the opening arpeggios to an older tune called "Icicles."
The sold-out audience offered rich applause as the singer, with nary a word, slipped into "Sugar."
Her clean soprano was highlighted by the nimble notes that flowed from the piano.
Before she continued with "Happy Phantom," the musician stopped and talked with the audience about the coming Olympic Games and mentioned how much she loved ice skating.
A raw solo version of "Past the Mission" — from the album "Under the Pink" — delighted the audience as Amos, without the aid of Nine Inch Nails' leader Trent Reznor, who originally sang the song with Amos, switched between her piano and electric keyboard during the song.
Newer songs, such as "Horses," from "Boys for Pele," and the progressive "Black Dove," from the album "From the Choirgirl Hotel," were also part of the eclectic set.
Amos also performed such other covers as Joni Mitchell's "River" and R.E.M.'s "Losing My Religion."
"Crucify" and the obligatory a cappella version of "Me and a Gun" got their haunting messages across.
So did the staple "Little Earthquakes."
Amos came out for two encores, concluding with Tom Waits' sentimental "Time."
The pianist/singer showed she still has what it takes to mesmerize an audience.
Even when she hit the wrong chord and stopped to start "The River" again, the audience laughed but stayed with her.
The last time Amos played Abravanel Hall was five years ago. And, as with that performance, the hall proved that it is the perfect place for an intimate concert of this nature.
But no matter where she plays, Amos will always have her fans' support.
And that was certainly true Tuesday evening.
Even though she didn't play one of her more popular tunes, "Cornflake Girl," the audience members didn't seem to mind.
They just cheered the songs she did play.
E-mail: scott@desnews.com