Porcupine Tree Dates

[Bob Lentil]

For those who don't know, Porcupine Tree is currently touring Europe. They hit the United States/Canada in mid-May with Robert Fripp opening for some shows on the west coast. I had an opportunity to see them after In Absentia was released, and they put on a great show. I highly recommend checking them out if you get a chance.

Porcupine Tree Tour Dates

[VAXman(Admin)]

Originally posted by Bob Lentil
For those who don't know, Porcupine Tree is currently touring Europe. They hit the United States/Canada in mid-May with Robert Fripp opening for some shows on the west coast. I had an opportunity to see them after In Absentia was released, and they put on a great show. I highly recommend checking them out if you get a chance.

Porcupine Tree Tour Dates

I learned of this just this afternoon at the Photo Store. Jeff -- who works at the shop is into P Tree and other prog -- told me PTree would be at Irving PLaza and the Trocadero. I'll be going to one or the other or both.

Saw Richard Barbierri perform solo at the Marillion weekend. This should be a real treat to see the whole PTree lineup.

[lotus]

Just to say a couple of words:

If PT performs near to your location and you do not go, YOU COMMIT A CRIME!

Supported by Anathem (45 min act, nothing special to mention about them, that means, they are very young and still have to learn and practise a lot), PT performed a 2 hours gig in Bochum. It was a little too loud, too crowded (place sold out with aprox 600 ppl) and a little too warm, but it was worth it. Prog Rock at it's best.

[mossy]

Thank you lotus.

We procrastinated on the LA and Anaheim gigs and now they're sold out!

Seriously considering San Fran. It's a bit far and would entail more than an overnight but I don't want to commit a crime. :0)

And I know it would be one to miss this gig.


m

[mossy]

By some fluke, PT are now coming to the House of Blues in Vegas on June 14th. Bought our tix this morning.

We had a small turnout for The Musical Box at this venue, and I'm curious what it will be like this time.

General seating and an open floor downstairs with no seats at all, so we'll be able to get close to the stage.

m (now happy she procrastinated on the LA gigs)

[VAXman(Admin)]

Originally posted by mossy
By some fluke, PT are now coming to the House of Blues in Vegas on June 14th. Bought our tix this morning.

We had a small turnout for The Musical Box at this venue, and I'm curious what it will be like this time.

General seating and an open floor downstairs with no seats at all, so we'll be able to get close to the stage.

m (now happy she procrastinated on the LA gigs)

Good for you mossy.

I'll be seeing them at Irving Plaza NYC... and meeting up with yet another moonie... Spike.

So far, I think I hold the record for moonie contacts:

KeithieW, JamForte and Laxmi, that ol' fart RogerMortis , RickandRoll, QuantumJo, ProgDirJim, Caylx, DeKhands, the fellow from the glass hammer choir (forget his handle), Tom Gagliardi, and I'm sure I missed somebody else but...

Unfortunately, I have yet to meet up with the lovely you.

[Rick and Roll]

they are playing at the 9:30 Club in DC. If I go I will be late, this is one time I'm hoping they'll be late. I have to see if I want to risk getting mugged, since it's a lot of money to park in the lot and dangerous if not.

Mossy, I think it will be packed.....they're getting really popular.

If I go I'll report fully.

[mossy]

Yes, please do, Rick. Please don't risk getting mugged

Vegas is a strange town (understatement) and anything that isn't metal, and doesn't draw a huge crowd for a casino concert hall, sort of falls through the cracks as far as attendance. Definitely my biggest beef with here, the lack of decent venues for smaller, up and coming more alternative types of acts. We'll see.

Vax, I thought maybe there was a chance to meet you and Mrs. Vax if Marillion played out here, oh well. It will happen at some point, hopefully, and more than a quick word in the holding tank at the airport in Newark.

m

[VAXman(Admin)]

Originally posted by Rick and Roll
they are playing at the 9:30 Club in DC. If I go I will be late, this is one time I'm hoping they'll be late. I have to see if I want to risk getting mugged, since it's a lot of money to park in the lot and dangerous if not.

Mossy, I think it will be packed.....they're getting really popular.

If I go I'll report fully.

9:30 Club in DC is really nice inside. You'd never know it from looking at it from the outside though. It's in a tough neighborhood too. I was there in October for one of the Marillion gigs and one of the patrons walked out after the show and was mugged -- beaten quite severely in fact -- by a group that drove up in a car, jump out, beat him up, and drove off. Sort of a thrill for them I suppose. Not much of a thrill for the fellow that was beaten.

Park in the lot behind the 9:30. Chain-link fenced in lot with razor wire on the top. It's worth the peace of mind for the few extra bucks. It'll give you that nice cozy San Quentin prison exercise yard feeling.

[VAXman(Admin)]

Originally posted by mossy
Yes, please do, Rick. Please don't risk getting mugged

Vegas is a strange town (understatement) and anything that isn't metal, and doesn't draw a huge crowd for a casino concert hall, sort of falls through the cracks as far as attendance. Definitely my biggest beef with here, the lack of decent venues for smaller, up and coming more alternative types of acts. We'll see.

You'll just have to become a Wayne Newton grouppie mossy.

[quote]Vax, I thought maybe there was a chance to meet you and Mrs. Vax if Marillion played out here, oh well. It will happen at some point, hopefully, and more than a quick word in the holding tank at the airport in Newark.

Lucy (their mgr) had talked about playing the venue at the Las Vegas Hard Rock but the fees were rediculous. It probably costs as much as all the venue fees for their NA tour in the fall.

[Rick and Roll]

Originally posted by VAXman

Park in the lot behind the 9:30. Chain-link fenced in lot with razor wire on the top. It's worth the peace of mind for the few extra bucks. It'll give you that nice cozy San Quentin prison exercise yard feeling.

Absolutely. Had a friend who got a limo to see Fish there once. The locals were quite amused.

The old 9:30 venue was a bit better.

I usually park by the McDonald's and walk a few blocks. But vax, I'll heed your advice this time. It takes a third party to illustrate my naivete.

[VAXman(Admin)]

Originally posted by Rick and Roll
Absolutely. Had a friend who got a limo to see Fish there once. The locals were quite amused.

The old 9:30 venue was a bit better.

I usually park by the McDonald's and walk a few blocks. But vax, I'll heed your advice this time. It takes a third party to illustrate my naivete.

...and drink before you get there! $5 for 8oz. of beer. Congress isn't the only thing that costs too much in Wash. DC!

[Rick and Roll]

Saw them Friday night in our nation's capitol.....I'll probably not park in the lot or at least not pay in advance. I could have found a lot of spaces.

Anyway, LOTS of youngsters. That was at first unnerving, but it's cool that they have that following. Bodes well for the future. My sister got tickets for 4 boys in her 10th grade class. They went to the front. I briefly considerd the upstairs railing, but I saw a few old friends and we stayed on the floor. Had to stay in the center, it was quite loud, especially the bass drum.

There was a very large man behind me, and he was whistling after each tune. I have never used earplugs, but whistling irritates me and hurts my ears. Steven Wilson says "how's everybody..." and I yelled "OK except for the whistling". Given the size of the man I do not know why I did such a foolish thing. Turns out my luck was good, he leans over and said "sorry, I just get a bit excited". Whew......

My timing was excellent all that night. Maybe this Friday the 13th stuff was garbage. Then I remembered Chippenham

There was no opener, just a video of the band over their career. It repeated about 20 times (at least). They played about 2 hours, maybe a bit less. For 15 dollars (+ svc chgs!) it was a steal.

OK, the show. Steven looks younger every day. It must be the hair. When I saw them at Nearfest 2001, I wasn't a fan, and I was drinking a bit and still reeling from Deus Ex Machina, so I concentrated little. I liked it OK, but forgot the set over time. If I would have paid more attention and also saw them in Baltimore in 1996, I may have been into them earlier.

Turns out I've been missing something. They're just great. Colin Edwin on bass is rock solid. I think that smile is permanently affixed to his face. On the next to last tune he had some technical issues but they were minor.

The drummer was just incredible. He was so good, hit the drums so hard, and always there, never showy. The keyboardist wasn't asked to do much, and I would have wanted to see more. But he did solo a bit.

The second guitarist was John Wesley. Besides the name John Wesley Harding, something was bothering me about the name. I knew I'd seen him. After the show I realized he opened up for Dream Theater at the same venue about 4 years ago. He's not a progger, but Steven let him contribute a lot. He filled in the vocal and guitar parts needed from the studio versions. Wilson handled almost all of the solos, and I was impressed with him. He's got a great feel for the song, and when to go off and when to lay off.

Opener was Deadwing, so crunchy. The played the first six tunes from Deadwing (not consecutively). Arriving Somewhere (But Not Here) is a great tune. Especially the Metallica part in the middle! Mellotron Scratch was excellent, and on Halo, Wilson really got into the vocal. Powerful stuff.

The encores were Shesmovedon and Trains, which was great. There were about 3-4 tunes I didn't recognize (wish I knew them more). They did do Blackest Eyes and Even Less (nice solo on that tune). My favorite of the non-Deadwing songs was Hate Song. The whole band was kicking, and the drummer in particular was stellar.

Steve had this interesting affectation. He would point, using his whole hand with his thumb up and four fingers extended. Sometimes he'd point at his head, sometimes down (like when he'd sing "Not Here") and mostly forward. I know it's a weird thing to say, but when he does it 5-6 times a song, it's very noticeable. Maybe it's PT-speak for, "this is a great fucking show".

Great show. Now Sunday I get to see Phil Keaggy. There's a contrast!

[mossy]

Great review Rick...glad you enjoyed the show. Now we know what to expect in mid June.

Happy to see they're doing tunes off Lightbulb Sun - my fave PT release.

Haven't really given Deadwing a proper listen yet.

thanks again,
m

[VAXman(Admin)]

Originally posted by Rick and Roll

The second guitarist was John Wesley. Besides the name John Wesley Harding, something was bothering me about the name. I knew I'd seen him. After the show I realized he opened up for Dream Theater at the same venue about 4 years ago. He's not a progger, but Steven let him contribute a lot. He filled in the vocal and guitar parts needed from the studio versions. Wilson handled almost all of the solos, and I was impressed with him. He's got a great feel for the song, and when to go off and when to lay off.

John Wesley... thin, curly mop, grufty beard?

He's the guitarist that's been working with Fish for several years. John Wesley opened for Marillion on their US tour last fall doing a solo gig. He played along with his own samples he captured and looped there on the stage. It'll be great to see him again on Friday in NYC then.

[Rick and Roll]

Originally posted by VAXman
John Wesley... thin, curly mop, grufty beard?

He's the guitarist that's been working with Fish for several years. John Wesley opened for Marillion on their US tour last fall doing a solo gig. He played along with his own samples he captured and looped there on the stage. It'll be great to see him again on Friday in NYC then.

That's him.....neat that he double dips with Marillion and Fish.

Enjoy!