Ani Tours

Massey Hall, Toronto, ON

1st April 1998
Setlist Photos Tape
SETLIST PHOTOS YES

Andrew's review Bridget's review Jeff's review

Last night's show was completely sold out. (2700) It was a fun show, but ani looked uncomfortable on stage. First full gig with keyboards, everybody's mother was at the show except ani's mom. Some screw-ups, and pretty standard set...the new album, plus 2 (3?) new songs along with untouchable face, letter to a john, cradle and all, anticipate, the slant, shameles w/ a poem stuck in the middle and joyful girl. A couple different arrangements...first two verses of gravel were ani singing with only keyboard backing at a much slower pace. Overall, a good show, but I'll take the pre 1997 stuff over it any day. The evolution continues.

Andrew

Well what really bugged me over all about the show was the audience. I felt like I was at a New Kids concert. There was this girl in front of me who I could have killed. She was screaming and throwing her hands up, grabing her face ect. You would have thought she was watching the Beatles or something. Everyone would cheer and get all excited for ani's songs on the new album but when she played an old one they didn't even know it. I guess this just bugs me 'cause I like her old work so much better. Oh part way through the show ani's sound was all fucked up. First the bass on her guitar was really high and buzzing and she was getting so mad...then there was no bass on her guitar at all....then some one shouted out "April Fools!" and I couldn't tell if it was from the audience or the side of the stage but I'm assuming it was her crew 'cause everything was fine after that.

Well all in all it wasn't one of ani's best shows....but good seeing her none the less.

Bridget

98 04 01 rough notes

  1. ??? (lyrics: do you know what time it would be if we were on mars? (hat shaped hat?))
    Ani: "What a ruckus!" "I feel all grown up because we've got a band now." "We got a lot of mom's here tonight. Chris, Kate, (show openers - ex Bourban Tabernacle Choir (a legendary Toronto Band)) Andy and Goatboy's moms are in the house."
  2. ??? (lyric: the kind of cat that doesn't like being held in my lap)
  3. Fuel (different music. Julie played one of those little plastic pianos that you blow into)
  4. Little Plastic Castle
  5. As Is
    Ani: "Thank you for coming. I meant to say that between playing songs and balancing my cheque book."
  6. A Letter to John
  7. The Slant (totally different version)
  8. ??? (lyric: God's work isn't done by God it's done by people)
    (someone requests "Puddle Dive". Ani responds, "I hate to tell people what to do")
  9. Two Little Girls
  10. Untouchable Face (very powerful, with 2,700 people singing "FUCK YOU")
  11. Anticipate
  12. Swan Dive (solo)
    (forget's lyrics so starts rambling: "where's the fuckin' bass? I feel like a folk singer. There's another verse that's very important..." Someone yells "I just need a vacation" and Ani says "no, that's not it" and another person yells "April Fools")
  13. Pulse (cool spoken word version)
  14. Independence Day (crowd favourite)
  15. Cradle and All
  16. Loom
    Ani: "This is Julie's (new keyboard player) first night performing a full concert with us. She's doing amazing. Next week she'll have my job."
  17. ??? (Spoken Word: "The world is smoother then a shiny ball bearing")
  18. Shameless (groovy, slow, almost unrecognizable 1st verse. Then it blasts back into the chorus and the stage lighting fires up. Worth the price of admission. Absolutely amazing.)

    --encore 1-- Crowd screaming louder then any concert I have ever been to.

  19. Gravel (slow piano introduction. Similar to Shameless in thrill level.)

    --encore 2-- Crowd screaming even louder then that. Had to cover my ears.

  20. Joyful Girl (with guitar tech Reg) "written for my mom"
Concert ended.

I have to say that I miss Sara Lee. While Jason is talented, Sara was more fun to watch. I'm also not so sure about the keyboard woman...

Also, about 70% of the show was brand new material. It's hard to go to an Ani concert and not hear songs like "Both Hands" or "Face Up and Sing"....

Afterwards... People were gathering around Ani's bus. It was raining outside. Goatboy came out and pledged that Ani had left in a taxi the minute the concert was over and said "save yourself the disappointment and go home". He seemed very sincere so I said "Thanks for telling us" and then I left.

Jeff Harris

Ani Tours