Review: Alanis Morissette captivates local crowd during Acrisure Arena concert
There was something alluring about Alanis Morissette in 1995 when she took MTV and pop radio by surprise. Her album "Jagged Little Pill" was worlds apart from anything else at the time, and it featured a smart mix of bold rock, enjoyable pop and sophisticated ballads.
It was evident during her concert on Thursday at Acrisure Arena that Morissette remains just as captivating and contemporary. The 90-minute concert opened with a video compilation of clips celebrating the prominence of "Jagged Little Pill," interview clips of Kelly Clarkson and filmmaker Kevin Smith speaking on her influence and artistry and footage of Morissette speaking on issues of gender equality.
It felt like 1995 again as the opening chords to "Hand In My Pocket" started and Morrissette rocked the stage in black leather pants and a tank top, beaming and strutting back and forth with the same energy and captivating vocals.
During the first few songs, Morissette's video production featured messaging on gender equality and the pay gap, statistics on sexual violence and domestic abuse and international human rights issues. But it wasn't all political. Another graphic appeared that said "Wholeness over Wellness" and other uplifting messages.
Setlist: Here's everything Alanis Morissette played at her Acrisure Arena concert
Alanis Morissette tour setlist features both classics and deep cuts
The setlist featured many songs from "Jagged Little Pill," but some other highlights were "Reasons I Drink" from her 2020 album "Such Pretty Forks In The Road," the 2012 song "Lens," and the bonus track "Sorry to Myself" from the 2002 record "Under Rug Swept." She also performed partial versions of the songs "A Man," "Can't Not," "Forgiven," "Are You Still Mad" and "Sympathetic Character" throughout the concert.
Like many artists seeking new ways to connect with the audience and change things up, Morisette and the band changed it up by running through the crowd to a small stage near the soundboard to perform four acoustic songs. The highlight among "Rest," "Mary Jane" and the peculiar "Your House" was "Ablaze," an affectionate song Morissette wrote for her children.
Before she performed "Ironic," she introduced the crowd to her husband and three children who appeared on stage with her and asked if everyone could sing "Happy Birthday" for her son Winter, who just turned 5. Two of her children stayed on stage to sing with her.
"All I Want" and "You Oughta Know" were obviously the crowd pleasers and most energetic songs, but those two hits were not the encore. She saved the best for last and tantalized with her 1998 hit "Uninvited" from the "City of Angels" soundtrack and sent everyone home with the gratitude anthem "Thank U."
Morgan Wade and Joan Jett opened for Alanis Morissette
The "Triple Moon Tour" featured opening acts Morgan Wade and Joan Jett and the Blackhearts. Wade's rustic alternative country sound, inspired by Bruce Springsteen, Lucinda Williams and Steve Earle, was a perfect match. She fearlessly embraced her rock 'n' roll influences with a cover of The Outfield's 1985 hit "Your Love," and her live band wrapped up their set with a snippet of KISS' "Detroit Rock City."
Known as the "Godmother of Punk," Jett's performance was louder and edgier in comparison to Wade and Morissette. It's no surprise her video introduction included Bikini Kill's feminist anthem "Rebel Girl," which blasted through the arena before the 65-year-old Rock and Roll Hall of Fame inductee took the stage. She wasted no time getting to "Cherry Bomb," the rock anthem she wrote with late record producer Kim Fowley in 1976 as a founding member of the all-female rock band The Runaways. Ever the rock maven, Jett's performance was solid as usual with her hit-single adaptations "Crimson and Clover," "I Love Rock 'n' Roll" and "Do You Want To Touch Me (Oh Yeah)."
She shared a story with the crowd about how she "didn't fit in" when she was growing up, and dedicated the empowering tune "Different" to anyone who felt the same. Towards the end of the set, Jett urged the crowd to "please vote" without specifying for who.
Brian Blueskye covers arts and entertainment for the Desert Sun. He can be reached at [email protected] or on Twitter at @bblueskye.
This article originally appeared on Palm Springs Desert Sun: Alanis Morissette captivates local crowd during Acrisure Arena concert
