Porcupine Tree take the high ground with ease
Porcupine Tree – Manchester Academy MDH 6/4/05
That Porcupine Tree have grown in popularity is more than evident tonight with many of the listings showing this gig as being sold out. I'm not sure it was sold out but it was pretty close. Porcupine Tree have always had a dedicated following but that seems to have been buoyed by many new fans in the wake of 2002's 'In Absentia' & the new album 'Deadwing' that saw them introduce a much heavier element into some of the songs.
Things start a little slowly tonight with three of the first four songs being from the new album, which given the fact that it only came out two days before, understandably meant that certain sections of the crowd weren't familiar with them. By the last of this quartet though, the rousing 'Halo', the band get into the groove a little more & take most of the audience with them.
Going back a few years it was good to hear 'A Smart Kid' during which several lighters were waved aloft, something I haven't seen for many a year although I sense it may have been somewhat tongue in cheek.
Porcupine Tree are nothing if not perfectionists & as you'd expect the sound tonight is pretty much spot on, the only criticism would be that Wes's guitar was a little lost in the mix at times but that could have been due to my position in the crowd.
Back to the action & next up is 'Hatesong' from the 'In Absentia' album & I have to say this featured some quite stunning guitar work from Steve Wilson that was almost matched by some thunderous drumming at the end by Gavin Harrison. The longest song from the new album 'Arriving Somewhere' is aired in full & by now surely anyone with any reservations about the new material has been converted.
Steve Wilson then informs us that they are 'through doing new stuff, now we're gonna play some old shit' which naturally evokes a great roar from the crowd but also facilitates the additional comment ' we don't do requests!' much to everyone's amusement. What we do get though is two songs from 'Up the Downstair' which is due for re-release after being totally remastered (with real drums replacing the original drum machine). The first of these songs 'Fadeaway' is sung by second guitarist John Wesley (primarily due to him being able to reproduce the higher vocal range live) & it's nice to see other members of the band getting their chance at the forefront. This is followed by another from 'Up The Downstair' in the shape of 'Burning Sky'.
Throughout the set the songs are accompanied by Lasse Hoile's surreal film projections which effectively compliment the songs & really take the stage show to a different level.
A truly excellent version of 'Blackest Eyes' fully illustrates the bands ability to combine heavy riffs with more mellow verses & this in particular is rapturously received before 'Even Less' rounds off the initial set in style.
For the encore we are treated to a great rendition of 'She's Moved On' during which Steve hands the solo to Wes & gives him the opportunity to show what a great guitarist he is in his own right. Nobody really wants this gig to end but alas it does with the final song 'Trains'.
The new material goes down well with the vast majority of the audience & the band certainly seem to have overcome the loss of any fans that weren't keen on the heavier sound. Porcupine Tree are a band that just seem to get stronger with every outing & now with a major label backing it may be that 'Deadwing' finally brings them the mainstream acclaim they so richly deserve.
Tonight has been a fine display by consummate musicians that begs the question of how they can better it next time around, somehow though you just know they will. Excellent stuff.
Set List:
Deadwing
Sound of Muzak
Lazarus
Halo
A Smart Kid
Hatesong
Arriving Somewhere
Fadeaway
Burning Sky
Start of Something
Blackest Eyes
Even Less
She's Moved On
Trains