Here’s a video of a rather infamous Tori Amos show in Holmdel, NJ, during the Summer of Sin tour in 2005. The microphones cut off at the beginning of Father Lucifer. While Tori tried to get herself back together, the microphones cut out again and again.

The video’s a bit shaky, since I was shooting from all the way back on the lawn. Thankfully, the PNC Bank Arts Center has huge video screens so you actually are able to see Tori’s facial reaction to all of this.

Hopefully nothing like this will happen during her new tour for American Doll Posse, which began last night in Albany. I will be at both Boston shows, DC, and Plat VIP for Chicago. Expect more videos and photos.

The transcription of the video is below the cut.

Here…here….
Father Lucifer, you never looked so sane
You always did prefer the drizzle to the rain
Tell me that you’re still in love with that milkmaid
How’re the Lizzies?
How’s your Jesus Christ been- (initial microphone cut-off)
[Hanging!]
[Crowd applause.]
(Tori holds up a hand, looks slightly baffled, and waves in an ‘oh, well, what can you do?’ manner)
Okay, hold on. They’ve got power out there, we don’t have it up here. Hold on. Okay. That’s okay. It’s those right-wing Christians coming after me. (Tori smiles)
[Crowd laughter, applause.]
(sings) Testing, testing (begins to play a simple improv tune which continues to end), testing, testing- (mic cut-off)
[Crowd response.]
(Tori looks at crowd, attempts to speak into mic, looks backstage)
(Sound comes back on piano, Tori jumps to the mic)
Okay. So. Did somebody step on something? (mic cut-off)
(Tori throws her hand up in disbelief, looks out to crowd)
(Sound comes back)
Hello. (apparently hoping to get a word out before cut off again)
(Tori plays while looking at the crowd, seeming embarrassed, and looks backstage again)
(Tori engages in inaudible conversation with person backstage, quickly turns to mic)
This is Marcel. (Tori turns her back to crowd again, continues conversation)
[Crowd applause.]
(improv tune continues, mic cut-off)
(improv tune continues, mic cut-off)
(Tori speaks into microphone without success, mic starts up)
So the monitor desk is down. (mic cut-off)
(Tori waves to crowd, but is powerless without mic)
(Tori engages in conversation, holds up a finger to the crowd)
What, hang on, so what’s happening, I feel like we’re, um, sharing this- (brief mic cut-off) event together. This horror story. So what needs to happen is, the sound guys are now starting to wee themselves. And, um, this never happens, so we just need to figure out what’s going on. And then when they give me the okay…just pretend I’m Tori’s double. Um, testing! I’m not gonna leave you like this, don’t worry.
[Crowd applause.]
(Tori continues playing)
I see guys on their hands and knees. (pauses, holds up a finger) Normally, that would be appealing!
[Crowd laughter.]
(Tori engages in offstage inaudible conversation)
Okay.
(Tori stops playing)
So this is Johnny, who’s a very good person. And he’s suggesting we take a five-minute break, so that, um, the guys can fix it, and if you all need to wee, I would do that. (Tori motions with an open hand) Or, um, pass the peace pipe. I would do that! (Tori motions with a closed fist) And you’ll be warned when I’m coming back. I’m not gonna shortchange you. I’ll see you in a minute.
(Tori waves, exits stage)