Tori Amos – The Royal Albert Hall, London – Tuesday 21st April 2026

(Rated 10/5) I couldn’t help looking back at my Alanis review from last year, when thinking about writing my review of Tori Amos’ Tour ‘In Times of Dragons’. My companion for this one remembers having them on either side of a cassette tape. For me, they went hand in hand accompanying my counselling training journey – their lyrics resonating with so many of my life experiences. As I write this a Tori song that stands out is:- ‘Everybody Else’s Girl’; “She’s been everybody else’s girl, maybe one day she’ll be her own”… and that is exactly what I was attempting to do. And I think I succeeded during my self-development as ironically (no, Alanis lol) I now can’t remember how to be everybody else’s girl, except in the sense that I do my best to meet others where they are, but I no longer try to fit or match them or have the same opinions!

And then there’s individual lines from some of her other songs that resonate somehow… ‘Winter’; “When you gonna make up your mind, when you gonna love you as much as I do?” and getting to a place of self-love. ‘Tear in Your Hand’; “I think they’re pieces of me you’ve never seen, maybe she’s just pieces of me you’ve never seen”… the feeling is being seen is just so immensely powerful and transformative. ‘Crucify’; “Why do we crucify ourselves… nothing I do is good enough for you…” and getting to the feeling of freedom of knowing you are good enough and you don’t need to keep punishing yourself… Free Your Heart from those “Chaaaaaiiiins… Oh-oh”. More on that one later 😊

Or there’s songs of Tori’s that I just love for the feelings they give me whatever their deeper intended or perceived meaning. And, of course, songs, films, any art in fact, can have different meanings, or trigger different emotions and memories for those experiencing them other than the writer originally held within themselves as inspiration. I feel Alanis’ lyrics are more obvious, where Tori goes far more into metaphor and myth, fairy tale-like even. She’s so much a storyteller, but those stories all connect with our real lives so profoundly. So, I get different vibes from each of their music – both so good in their individual ways.

I do think Tori Amos is an exceptionally talented singer-songwriter, composer, arranger and she and pianos are absolutely made for each other. What feels like decades ago – and likely was – I went to a Tori concert and remember her bouncing around on her piano stool. I actually can’t now remember then, but certainly these days and on this tour, she plays two pianos – or rather a piano and a key board – individually and both at the same time! She still has the same strawberry blond (though not natural absolutely her trademark and beautiful) hair. She now wears glasses. She still has her drummer Ash Soan and bassist Jon Evans. Tori recognises her voice has changed – dropped a little – and so to be able to make all the arrangements and get all the harmonies she wishes, she now has her ‘backing’ vocalists – her Angels – Liv Gibson, Deni Hlavinka and Hadley Kennary.

Tori’s support act was singer-songwriter and guitarist Isaac Levi accompanied by cellist Meg Ella. It turned out to be Meg’s birthday. For me an excellent and appropriate warm up for Tori. Isaac was nervous and very grateful for the opportunity. They certainly deserve great success.

I believe Tori’s set was two hours long, but it seemed to fly by. I felt mesmerised by the new music and enjoyed hearing some of the old, including ‘Cornflake Girl’ and ‘Precious Things’. The entire set was stunning and gorgeous listening including incredible new arrangements for many of Tori’s songs and absolutely exquisite harmonies between Tori and her singers – her angels. But, OMG, the song that blew me away completely was ‘Crucify’. The whole 12-minute arrangement completely sublime. I’ve been fortunate to find a recording of it and played it since several times. She’s chosen her ‘Angels’ perfectly.

This experience so nearly didn’t happen for me. In part with a health issue, which I’ve mentioned before, but because tube drivers decided to strike on the day. I’d been concerned anyway about going being “too much” post-surgery, when I was supposed to be taking it easy. I had my Mum in my head saying that to go wouldn’t be “very sensible”. And, actually in many ways it really wasn’t! My companion did a stellar job navigating us to the RAH, and home again on various buses. With the volume of other people trying to get home, going directly, and using trains, on the way back, became impossible. We had to get a bus into town and then another all the way out again. I felt so safe with and confident in my friend, though, that in a way it was a big adventure. If only it hadn’t been so cold… making me “think of Winter”. But we had “a little warm in our hearts” thinking of the dear mutual friend who “introduced” us both to Tori Amos’ music.

Tori’s new album is apparently (not yet heard as not yet released) very much about the times and circumstances we now find ourselves in. It serves as a metaphorical, mythological story about the fight for democracy against rising tyranny. Sadly, we really are “In Times of Dragons”. In my own small way, I’m Slaying My Own Dragons of a more personal nature, with Tori accompanying me yet again on a therapeutic and healing journey!!!

Tori Amos – Review by TheRestrictedReviewer © 2026