Review: Alanis Morissette parties like it’s 1995 during superb Bay Area show
Sharing a bill with Joan Jett and Morgan Wade, Alanis Morissette dedicated nearly half of her set to the 1995 blockbuster "Jagged Little Pill."
The moon rose on the big screen in back of the Shoreline Amphitheatre stage, highlighting five musicians but no vocalist. Yet, that didn’t stop the lyrics from ringing out through the big speakers:
“I’m broke, but I’m happy / I’m poor, but I’m kind / I’m short, but I’m healthy, yeah”
That sole voice, coming out to us from some hidden spot, was quickly joined by some 17,000 others in attendance at the Mountain View venue. Then, suddenly, the star of Wednesday night — Alanis Morissette — made her appearance, strolling in from stage left and continuing through a powerful opening version of “Hand In My Pocket.”
It was one of 11 songs from the 1995 mega-platinum blockbuster “Jagged Little Pill” that the Bay Area resident would perform during her return to what she described as her “hometown now.” The only song from that record — which with sales of more than 30 million ranks as one of the best-selling albums of all time — that didn’t make the cut was “Wake Up.” (Although, we plan to include a video of that song at the bottom of our online version of this story so it doesn’t feel left out.)
It was a powerful performance from the Canadian native, who deeply connected with her fans during the course of the 100-minute set that touched upon (at least parts of) 24 songs.
Again, nearly half of those hailed from “Jagged Little Pill” — the iconic album that turns 30 next year and inspired a pretty good Broadway musical of the same name. That seems about right, given the significant place that this album holds in the hearts of tens of millions of fans.
There was some other topnotch material performed on this night — including “Hands Clean” from 2002’s “Under Rug Swept” and the pair of longtime winners from 1998’s “Supposed Former Infatuation Junkie” that comprised the encore — yet the tunes from “Jagged Little Pill” were what truly made the evening great.
The 50-year-old alt-rock champ — who increasingly appears like a shoe-in to someday be inducted into the Rock and Roll Hall of Fame (despite her slam against the organization for being sexist) — sounded great on vocals as she followed up “Hand in My Pocket” with an even-more powerful “Right Through You” and then ventured into “Reasons I Drink,” “Lens,” “Sorry to Myself” and other gems.
After rocking her way through “Head Over Feet,” “You Learn” and a demanding version of “Smiling” that left the star on her knees, Morisette and her band members would huddle up at a small patch at the front of the stage for a powerful acoustic set that featured “Rest,” “Mary Jane,” “Ablaze” and “Perfect.”
She’d then croon the start of the iconic “Ironic” with the help of four fans who were brought to the stage. As those starstruck fans exited, Morissette would be joined by daughter Onyx for the next batch of “Ironic” lyrics.
The main set closed in spectacular fashion with — what else? — “You Oughta Know.” It’s a take-no-prisoners cut that is built from pure unadulterated rage, one that basically stopped everyone right in their tracks the first time they heard it back in 1995. And it’s lost none of its power through the decades.
Morissette then returned for an encore that included a version of “Uninvited” that rivaled “You Oughta Know” in terms of pure intensity and then closed the show in joyous fashion with a sweet goodbye of “Thank U.”
The headliner was accompanied at this show, and on this Triple Moon Tour, with a couple of superb acts.
First up was rising star Morgan Wade, who showed why she’s one of the biggest talents in all of real-deal country music as she delivered such winners as “Take Me Away” and “Wilder Days” as well as combo-cover of the Outfield’s “Your Love” and Rick Springfield’s “Jessie’s Girl.”
Then it was time for Joan Jett and the Blackhearts, who turned up the Rock and Roll Hall of Fame heat while powering through a solid 15-song set. Highlights included the signature hits “I Love Rock ‘n’ Roll,” “Crimson & Clover” and “I Hate Myself for Loving You” as well as a cool cover of Sly and the Family Stone’s “Everyday People.”
Alanis Morissette setlist (based on our notes and information from setlist.fm):1. “Hand in My Pocket”2. “Right Through You”3. “Reasons I Drink”4. “A Man” (partial)5. “Hands Clean”6. “Can’t Not” (partial)7. “Lens”8. “Sorry to Myself”9. “Forgiven” (partial)10. “Head Over Feet”11. “You Learn”12. “Smiling”13. “Rest”14. “Mary Jane”15. “Ablaze”16. “Perfect”17. “Ironic”18. “Not the Doctor”19. “Are You Still Mad” (partial)20. “All I Really Want”21. “Sympathetic Character” (partial)22. “You Oughta Know”Encore:23. “Uninvited”24. “Thank U”