Morissette enters new year with low-energy House of Blues show

Spencer Patterson

Monday, Jan. 3, 2005 | 8:22 a.m.

Alanis Morissette played the role of God in the 1999 film "Dogma," and she slipped back into the part as midnight approached on Friday.

"You can stop beating yourselves up for all the things you're sorry for from last year," Morissette said during her New Year's Eve show at the House of Blues at Mandalay Bay. "It's all right, you're all forgiven."

Morissette also called upon the crowd of about 1,200 to send its collective prayers to those affected by the devastating Indian Ocean tsunami.

"They need our love right now," the 30-year-old, Canadian-born vocalist said. "So let's make as much noise as possible for them."

Although some of the audience did as asked, the resulting cheer was from the loud racket one might expect from a primed Las Vegas crowd minutes from 2005.

In fact, the atmosphere inside the House of Blues was surprisingly mellow throughout Morissette's 90-minute performance, with many of the party-goers remaining listless even as confetti rained on their heads.

If Morissette was put off by the subdued environment, she did a fine job of enthusiastically soldiering ahead.

Early in the show, she pointed her microphone toward her fans, hoping to receive a vociferous shout back. When none came, the singer merely smiled and moved forward with her lyrics.

The new year marks an interesting point in Morissette's career, the 10-year anniversary of her breakthrough album, major-label debut "Jagged Little Pill."

Most of Friday night's set focused on that material, with nine of her 17 numbers coming from that 1995 chart-topper, including hit singles "Hand in My Pocket," "You Learn" and "Head Over Feet."

After her five-piece band worked up a quick version of "Auld Lang Syne," Morissette rang in 2005 with the song she is still most identified with, "You Oughta Know."

Looking a bit like a dominatrix in an all-black outfit made partially of leather, the singer whipped her hair around as she sang the chorus.

"And I'm here to remind you / Of the mess you left when you went away / You, you, you oughta know," Morissette snarled, attempting to conjure the angst that made the track a female empowerment anthem a decade ago.

Morissette proved her piercing voice is still a powerful instrument, easily reaching her highest notes during "Uninvited" from 1998's "City of Angels" soundtrack.

However, bouncy tunes such as 2002's "Hands Clean" came off better than Morissette's ballads, some of which -- 1998's "Are You Still Mad" in particular -- seemed a bit too somber for the occasion.

Morissette's fans finally came alive during a second encore, singing every word to "Ironic," yet another Top 10 hit off "Jagged Little Pill," before heading for the doors.

Here's hoping that on the way home, some resolved to bring more energy to the rest of the concerts they attend in 2005.