Review: Tori Kelly In Oakland
THE PURPLE SKIES ROLLED IN THE BAY AREA as the sun set and Tori Kelly brought her Purple Skies World Tour stop to the Fox Theatre in Oakland. Tori's music, which thrives on emotional connection and vocal mastery, was nothing new to the Fox Theatre as this marks the 3rd time Tori has performed at the venue which she says she “always feels the love when she performs here.”
Tori kicked off the night with “Thing U Do,” followed by “Unbelievable,” and then “Nobody Love,” giving those OG fans some early '10s vibes! Songs like “Cut” and “Diamonds” allowed Tori to show off not only her angel-like vocals but vocal control which is an art itself, while “Dear No One” brought a more intimate, acoustic moment to the night. One standout moment of the show was when Tori let the audience choose the next couple of songs for her to perform. The vibe in the room shifted as fans yelled out their requests which is surprising Kelly could even make a song title out but, ultimately settling on “All In My Head” which she mixed in “Thinking About You,” and a huge crowd request of “Coffee.” This interactive moment made the night feel special, creating a genuine bond and connection between Tori and her audience. Her performance of “Coffee” felt intimate, as though it were a private show rather than a packed theater.
As the night went on, Tori transitioned into a more spiritual and introspective part of the setlist with songs like “Oceans” and “High Water”. One of the most powerful moments of the night came during her mash-up of “Never Alone” and “I’ll Find You,” where Tori’s gospel influences really stood out. Tori’s cover of “Bridge Over Troubled Water” was another standout moment, paying homage to the classic while adding her own interpretation leaving the audience in awe of her vocal control and emotional delivery. The show also featured a new, unreleased song titled “Distance,” which gave fans a glimpse into Tori’s evolving sound and songwriting.
As the show neared its conclusion, Tori brought the energy back up with “Shine On” and an electric performance of “Shelter,” which had the balcony section dancing in their seats. She ended the night with “Alive If I Die” and an R&B edit of “Missin U”. By the end of the show it was a no-brainer that Tori was in the number one spot for best vocalists I’ve seen live. It was a huge honor to have gotten the opportunity to cover the show as she’s such an amazing singer/vocalist. This was one of those performances that made me take a step back and reflect not only about the show itself, but many of the other shows I’ve been able to witness and capture moments for. Concert photography can be so fast paced you sometimes don’t get to really be in the moment. This adds to the specialness of Tori cause that isn’t something that happens often to me personally. It takes a rare performer to evoke those thoughts
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