Tori Kelly – Riverside Church – New York, NY – October 30, 2018 (A PopEntertainment.com Concert Revi

Updated: Sep 25, 2023

Tori Kelly – Riverside Church – New York, NY – October 30, 2018

After three years, Tori Kelly is back with her second studio album Hiding Place which features her latest single, “Never Alone.” Kelly, a singer/songwriter from California, released her debut EP “Handmade Songs by Tori Kelly” back in 2012, followed by her second EP “Foreword” in 2013, and her first full length album Unbreakable Smile in 2015. Kelly also took on the big screen in 2016, playing Meena in the movie Sing.

Kelly’s latest album leans more towards the genres of gospel and R&B, which is different from what Kelly has released in the past but making it even more personal to her and who she is as an artist and as a person.

Kelly is currently on her Hiding Place Tour, making stops all across the United States. Kelly played a show in New York City on Monday, October 30th at Riverside Church. Fans were at the venue hours before the show was set to begin, in hopes of getting the best seat possible. When I arrived, the line was already wrapped around the Church. As fans braved the cold, spirits were high and soon enough the doors were open and the time had come for Tori Kelly to take the stage.

With no opening act, Kelly, her band and backup vocalists arrived on stage. The first song of the night was “Masterpiece.” As the show went on, the band and singers left the stage leaving just Kelly and her guitar on stage to perform a number of songs for the crowd, starting with a mashup of “Nobody Love” and “Expensive.”

This show was unlike any other show I’ve been to before, partly because I’ve never seen anyone fill up such a large room with her vocal power as well as Kelly did. There was no better venue to hold a show like this. The Riverside Church was the perfect place to compliment Kelly’s gospel sound and lyrics. The way the Kelly’s voice and the lights of her set bounced off of the Church walls encapsulated the whole room sent chills through my body.

The crowd was excited and loud, but in the most beautiful way possible. As Kelly sang “Psalm 42” a hush fell over the crowd as everyone listened intently and quietly sang along. Kelly, her band, and her backup vocalists closed out the show with “Never Alone,” incorporating a sing-along portion as well. Kelly gave each section of the room a part to sing and when all the parts came together the whole room was singing at once, which kept going as Kelly said her goodbyes and thank yous as she left the stage. Tori Kelly’s effortless ability to fill the room with just her voice and beautifully written lyrics made this a show I’ll never forget.

Ruth Bekele