Can Alanis Still Rock LA?
She may have a new look, but it's the same Alanis.

>> New look, same great sound. >>

>> The criticism that Alanis Morisette and many of her contemporaries face is that they’re all mellowing with age or faded away all together.  There have been many claims that, now married and a mom, Tori Amos has lost that certain edge that she was known for; the same charges have been lodged with Liz Phair and Sheryl Crow.  And who even remembers Fiona Apple?   Somehow success, personal happiness and growing older allegedly take the edge off and make the artist less relevant.

For many, the jury has still been out on Alanis.  There are rumors of an impending Hollywood marriage, she’s enjoyed plenty of musical successes, has a budding film career, and, like everyone else, has grown older.  But does that mean she’s really mellowed?

If her recent performance at LA’s wonderful Greek Theatre was any indication of how the fire’s burning, it still rages.   On a dual headlining show with fellow Canadians Barenaked Ladies, a packed house greeted Alanis on a pleasant summer night, with a crowd that had been sufficiently warmed up by the campy Ladies, who played for nearly two hours to open the night. 

>> Alanis kept the crowd entranced. >>

But where the Ladies mixed in their few major hits with selections that their more dedicated fans would appreciate, Alanis has such a catalogue of hits to pull from that she didn’t see the need to play anything even moderately obscure in her hour-and-a-half set.

Working from her groundbreaking first release, Jagged Little Pill, and mixing in her other hits, she didn’t even play her current single, “Eight Easy Steps,” until her first encore.  This left few opportunities for fans to sit back in their chairs and relax; most stood early, got swept up in the hit parade, and stayed standing until the end.

A telling moment in the show occurred when, in the midst of her first major hit, “You Oughta Know,” with raging flames being shown on the video screens behind her, Alanis seemed completely caught up in the moment, the passion evident on her face.  If her internal fire has faded at all, it wasn’t evident this night.

>> It was hit after hit, all evening long. >>

The evening became a sort of homage to the success of Alanis’s music, and how her quirky, distinctive style and honesty have been able to connect with so many different people, as the decidedly mixed crowd proved.  “Hand In My Pocket,” “Ironic,” and “Thank U” drew the loudest ovations, both at the beginning and end of each song, though Alanis really didn’t allow a lull to fall anywhere in the evening.

Another facet that showed no sign of fading was Alanis’s crystal clear, dynamic voice.  Her pitch was still amazingly precise, even at her most passionate moments, and she showed no signs of slowing down the pace and high energy level of her live show.  Whether constantly moving from one side of the stage to another, playing guitar or blowing the harmonica, Alanis seemed lost in the moment and completely dedicated to the songs.

>> Alanis and her harmonica. >>

Easily the most noticeable changes to Alanis, which drew a few comments from fans nearby, were her shorn locks and glittery makeup.  In the past, her waist-length hair, flowing clothes and natural look were basic Alanis trademarks.  Sporting very short hair, tight white jeans and makeup, Alanis caught a few people off-guard, but her energy and stage presence quickly put that out of their minds.

Over time, some things do change, as evidenced by Alanis’s new look, but the essence is still the same.  The passion, fire and energy are still burning as strong as ever, even if they do come in a slightly different package.