Performing live at the Fox Theater in Oakland CA March 08 2019

Photos and Words by Justine Willard

On Friday, March 9th, Tori Kelly brought her acoustic tour to the Fox Theater in Oakland, CA. The concert had a very intimate feel with just Tori and her guitarist Mateus on stage. Both played and switched between many guitars throughout the night. The stage also included a couch because Tori wanted it to feel like she was just in her living room sharing her songs.


Tori began the night off singing an unreleased song “Language” which really got the crowd excited. Their energy lasted for the entire acoustic show and Tori said that is one of the reasons she always loves coming to the Bay Area. A crowd favorite was “Never Alone” which just recently won a Grammy for Best Gospel Performance/Song at the 61st Grammys. The song is from her latest album Hiding Place that also just won a Grammy for Best Gospel Album. Throughout the night Tori hit several crazy high notes, which the cheering crowd really appreciated.

Another new song she performed was “Pretty Fades” which was the result of a conversation she had with her husband about getting older and how she was afraid of it. She told the crowd she was having a difficult time picking the set list for the tour so she shamelessly went onto her Spotify page and saw which song was most popular which was “I Was Made For Loving You” and added it to the list.


She also took us on a journey through some of her first performances. She began with “Keep on Singing My Song” which she sang on America’s Most Talented Kids when she was 11. Then, her first YouTube cover “Only Exception” at 14, and songs from her first and second EPs, which led to her first tour. To end the night she performed “Change Your Mind” a song, which she released in January of this year.

Tori’s set lasted two hours and offered flawless vocals and beautiful guitar. It’s always amazing watching her perform and I along with many other fans can’t wait for the next time she comes back to the Bay Area.

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