|   Porcupine Tree Concert Review | Troy
Nov 26, 2002 9:48 AM | | Slithered up to San Francisco's Fillmore auditorium last night to see Porcupine Tree. The 49ers were playing on Monday Night Football which makes me think that the PT PR flack needs to have some lessons in researching for local date conflicts. We got there at 7:30 for the 8:00 show and the place was almost empty! Good thing the 9ers tanked early because the place was almost empty right up until the show started. By showtime however, the place was packed. Everybody must have been hiding out in local sports bars.
They were in SF last August at a much smaller club. This show was much tighter, partly because the stage was twice as big and the band seemed more relaxed. They also seemed more polished and refined after touring for the past 6 months. At one point Wilson asked who was at that summer show and about half the crowd raised their hands. Word seems to be getting out, but I can't begin to figure out how . . . Has anybody ever heard PT on the radio? Anywhere?
The show was simply blistering. The chord progressions this band uses just make the pulp in the roots of my teeth liquify. There is so much tension and release in their music. "Gravity Eyelids" was a ripper. The thing builds so relentlessly with all this spooky power that when the big guitar break kicks in, it cuts the tension like a chainsaw only to build again to another, different guitar pimple-squeezer. Richard Barbieri on synths is so low key, but he plays these giganitc minor chords on all the black keys that adds all the paranoic feeling to this band. I think the band needs his playing to create their signature sound more than Wilson, even. It's haunting and powerful stuff. They played a lot of "In Absentia" and "Lighbulb Sun" ("Hatesong" killed. And yes, they had copies for sale. $20.) and a bunch from "Stupid Dream" (show closer "Tinto Brass" peeled the paint of the walls). That was it though, nothing any older than that. Fine with me, this was a hard rocking, very dense and dramatic set. I had a really good time.
Damn, do I have a hangover today though. And now I gotta go pick up a cord of firewood for the winter. Yeah, I really feel like doing THAT this AM. Talk about scheduling conflicts. Bleaugh. |
| Slick Band | MasterCylinder
Nov 26, 2002 9:57 AM | | Would have liked to have joined you -- especially in such an historic setting.
I have all 3 of those discs you mentioned, but no more. Sounds like the set list I would have requested.
Did they do "Blackest Eyes" or "Even Less" ? I also really like "A Smart Kid"; some setting in a nuclear winter and such............... |
| Slick Band | Troy
Nov 26, 2002 10:26 AM | | Yeah, the Fillmore's a good venue. A bit of a boomy old barn, but it's got a lot of atmosphere. I miss Winterland, THAT place had soul.
Yeah, they did play both "Blackest Eyes" and "Even Less". They were a couple of highlights for me. "Slave Called Shiver" was surprisingly intense too. |
| re: Porcupine Tree Concert Review | DarrenH
Nov 26, 2002 10:24 AM | | One day I am going to see these guys. I am not much of a concert goer any more but I will make an exception in this case. Thanks for the review.
Oh, and I have never heard anything by them on the radio.
I hear ya, nursing a hangover is a bitch.
Darren |
| Dang - are they comin' to SD? | CZ
Nov 26, 2002 5:14 PM | | I haven't seen a show since Camel last toured. Is PT coming to southern CA?
Great review, Troy. How was the drummer? I was depressed when I noticed that Maitland no longer beat for them. Even YECH admitted he was good when he listened to Coma Divine
And I need to get that Levin disc you talked about a few threads down.
Now I remember why I dropped out for a while - I can't afford to come here.
Cheers,
CZ |
| LA tonite | Troy
Nov 26, 2002 6:32 PM | | Then they are off to England.
The new drummer is really good. As good as Maitland, easily.
Wilson mentioned that they would be back in the spring . . . |
| Shite! | Daigoro
Nov 29, 2002 11:46 PM | | I would have driven up to LA in a second to see those guys if I had known that!
Kind of disappointed that they aren't playing any of their older stuff, but I can understand why. Maybe they are working on another live album and figure Coma Divine covered their early work well enough. |
| Yeah... | DustyChalk
Nov 30, 2002 11:23 AM | | ...the rumour goes, they were filming at a recent Bal'm'r gig. So a live DVD or something isn't a ridiculous thought. |
| That's crazy talk | Daigoro
Dec 3, 2002 12:01 AM | | A DVD of PT? Oh let it be so.
Thanks for the heads up on that one Peter! I shall keep one prog eye peeled for that possible release. |
| PT in Toronto | ForeverAutumn
Nov 26, 2002 7:03 PM | | Hi CZ. Nice to meet you. I saw PT in Toronto a few weeks back and the drummer was excellent. My husband is a drummer so he really pays attention to the drumming when we see a band and he was very impressed.
:-)
FA |
| Sounds good to me | CZ
Nov 26, 2002 10:00 PM | | The pleasure is mine, ForeverAutumn.
Since your drummer hubby AND Troy (who's opinion I trust) say the drummer is impessive, that's good enough for me.
Cheers,
CZ |
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