Porcupine Tree in Atlanta

[progdirjim(Admin)]

I should have written this before I subsequently killed a bunch of brain cells, but...

Dot and Dale and Dale's wife Sally and I met for dinner Saturday night, so introductions were out of the way early. Just Dot and Dale and I made it to the concert Monday night. Dale picked me up outside of the nearby MARTA (local light rail) station, and we met Dot outside the Roxy theater in the Buckhead (I think, Dale will correct me if needed) neighborhood of Atlanta. After an unremarkable dinner at the Cheesecake Factory, we went to the show. Grabbed some seats in the balcony of a charming yet dilapidated old theater.

Three opened, and in general, I was not terribly impressed. Mostly hard rock with all the typical metal cliches. However, the last song featured acoustic guitar in an almost flamenco style, and the keyboardist played miscellaneous percussion (congas with drumsticks? what is THAT?) - he added more as a percussionist to my ears. That song was nice, and long as well.

Then Porcupine Tree took the stage. If I had to describe them in one word, it would be professional. They opened with the title track of the new album, sounding great (and not as loud as I'd feared). A slightly disturbing (implied violence) video montage played behind them. I believe Anesthetize from the new CD followed (actually, there was a song from Deadwing (I think) in between). If I recall correctly, they played everything from the new album, and much of Deadwing and In Absentia. They also played an older unreleased track that was nice. I would have liked a few older tunes tossed in, but as bands build their back catalog, there's always going to be "I wish they would have played "X""

It was the first time I've seen Steve Wilson without sunglasses.

They announced that they were recording the show for a live album, resulting in insane cheering. That, combined with it being the final stop of their North American tour, I'm sure contributed to this being the best sounding I'd seen them (third time) - and they are ALWAYS good.

I also ran into the band at the airport on Tuesday, and briefly chatted with Steve. He was personable enough, but I got the sense they were ready to switch to "human being" mode rather than "rock star" mode, so I kept it short.

Dot or Dale, feel free to add comments...

[NorCalKurt]

Sounds like the same show I saw at the Warfield in SF, last May. Except I did not run into the guys at the airport. Nice job Jim.

[Roger -Dot- Lee(Admin)]

You did a nice job of summing up the happenings of the evening, that's for sure. I agree on the assessment of the music, and am glad they were at about half the volume of Three. I had the earplugs in for Three (and was glad the investment was made) but found them to be completely unnecessary for PT.

I was wondering why they seemed to be spending more time and effort on the music at the expense of interaction with the audience, but their mentioning that they were recording answered all of my questions.

They were professional. They were good.

But I'd like to know who thought it was an appropriate idea to shine bright stage lights at the audience. I'm sorry, but when I go to a concert, I want to see the musicians, not silhouettes of my fellow audience-members heads.

On a scale of 1-5 on the Dr. Dot Concert Scale:

Musicianship/quality of tune-age: 4
Stage Presence: 2.25, 3.5 after the brief explanation
Light show: 1.25
Sound Mixing, etc: 4
Overall Experience: 4.25

Dr. Dot sez check 'em out!

[Rick and Roll]

Having seen PT three times this year, all with Three, and Three at Progday (four in four states what a fanboy I guess), I'm long overdue to write about it.

Unfortunately the brain cells or lack of come into play because I knew all of the info better earlier..oh well here it goes....

I hope I mentioned how nice Dale and Sallie are - the Salem Hill experience (round 2) was just great.

Let's get Three out of the way. What is fascinating is that Joey Eppard, the singer/songwriter/guitarist, has a solo record (just listened to it today) is all acoustic, with a lot of the songs that appear later on Three records. It's very soulful, combining Stevie Wonder and Coldplay, and a few other things. It has the flamenco in spots also. Sounds nothing like the end product on Three. He's an amazing talent. I seem to have no issues with sound. Maybe in five or ten years my head will burst, but I'll take that chance. I've gotten to know Gartdrumm (drummer) pretty well - all of the band members are really nice. Gartman is the regular drummer, incredibly solid. Joe Stote does more of the percussion and is more flamboyant. Seeing them at such a loud volume is a turnoff, no doubt - they've got a lot of nuance that is lost at that volume.

Before I get into PT, I'm presently listening to Abigail's Ghost. Man they need to pay royalties to the Tree!

When I saw Porc Tree last year, they played some of the latest record, then earlier this year all of it in order, now almost all of it, broken up. Some of the songs change each show but not more than two or three. Drown With Me is a song from the In Abstentia sessions that they've been playing, featuring SW with a big fat acoustic guitar. There's another I can't place the name...

Earlier this year they were doing Lightbulb Sun and Sever, last time was Even Less and Trains. I too miss songs like Hatesong, but that's the way it goes. Halo from Deadwing ends the show and is powerful....they've been not hitting that record very hard of late. The Sound of Musak has been a staple, and of course Blackest Eyes. Jim's "professional" comment is pretty much on...I like to call it polished. Edwin, Wes, and Richard just do their jobs (although it's hard to tell what Barbieri really does sometime). Gavin Harrison, as does Gartman, pounds the living shit out of the drumkit, and is a pleasure to watch.

In Cincinnati, SW was talking to the crowd and the usual hooting and bad manners were going on...he stops and says, "You're not listening are you"? Quite funny.

The videos are somewhat repetitive. I'm trying to ignore the fact that I've seen them so much. But the pictures of the kids taking pills is beaten over your head. As one with a teenager with some issues, the references hit home in a big way. But it's very heavy handed. Some of the videos like on My Ashes tug at the heart, and some are just goofy (the robot on Sleep Together). Anaethestize (screw the spelling) is the long tune and is just perfect.

It's about time for a PT and Three break live for me....I think I have a dozen shows between now and Feb 1 on tap...but I would highly recommend this show many times over.

[OverHillandDale(Admin)]

What a delightful way to have been able to finally meet ProgDirJim and Rog-Dot-Lee. The dinner with them and my wife Sallie was indeed scrumptous. Dinner prior to the concert, quite underwhelming. I think we would have done better at the Johnny Rockets we saw on the way back to the venue. Ah well.

The show was a very good one. And I concur pretty much with the other gentlemen. The importance of the date being their last night on the American Leg of the tour and it being recorded made it a very focused performance.

I felt the musicians were very focused, but I also think they were a little reserved. They held back, as Rog-dot noted, from making much contract or interaction with the audience. Steve Wilson even confessed to being very afraid of getting every lick just right even when "improvising" a solo. And he did, but as I said, I felt it was reserved.

Seeing Porcupine Tree for the first time (a year of firsts for me) showed a fuller dimension of their work to me. Fear of a Blank Planet is an extremely dark piece musically. With the added video they showed on stage it took on a even darker and bleak tone for me. The songs telling of lifes hopelessly lost in grief, drugs, fear, lothing and anger. Not what you would call "uplifting" music. It left me a little empty at the end.

As exemplified by the other reviews, the show was very professional, the musicians excellent, but as a 50 year old, I could not connect to that world and find it pleasing to my psyche. I left emptied by the tone and themes of the music. I can only say they are definately a Glass Half Empty band. But boy can they play their instruments well together. They are extremely talented.

I think, in the future, I will probably stick to their recordings where I can ignore the lyrics and just let the wonderful music waft over me. (To each their own, right.)



3 was quite a bit more passionate, as the opening act, but cliche. Heavy metal guitar and bass licks. I too liked their last song. The lead singer did do a flamenco style strumming/picking and it was a great sylistic change. A very good jam piece. The added percussion elements by the keyboardist were definately a welcome. Started to resemble Rusted Root just a little. These guys were also horsing around a lot. Must also have been last night syndrom. They had also just driven from Dallas, where they played the night before. They were throwing towels and bottles at each other. One finally spewing water all over the other. Kind of fun, kind of immature. Man, am I getting too old for this? I hope not.

Well, time to go put the walker up.

[zvinki]

I saw them twice this year with my 2 sons and some of their friends. Porcupine Tree is worth the price of admission just to watch Gavin Harrison play drums. In my opinion he is one of the most subtle and powerful drummers (not at the same time). And I agree about them being preofessional but I prefer it that way than trying to get the crowd going with their " Hellloooo Montreal!!!! Are you ready to rock!!! Wooohooooo!"

I, unlike the majority of people here, really enjoy Three live. I actually feel that they are one of the best bands that I have seen live in a long time. Even though I don't know their songs I was never bored. I also like a bit of metal in my rock (which explains why I like PT, Opeth, Riverside, Anathema, etc. so much). Like Rick said, the singer/guitarist is an amazing talent with a very unique way of playing. My younger son spoke to him after the last concert and got some pointers on how to play that way (my son is an aspiring guitarist). Apparently he uses his index and middle finger to strum up and down and an occasional thumb to fill in the low end and give some percussion.

It's time for PT to take a break with touring and give us some new material.

My last comment will be regarding the topic of Fear Of a Blank Planet. It is strange for a band to critisize the audience that they are trying to reach but I am glad that they do. My kids and their friends are big fans of PT and it gives me some comfort to see them reading the lyrics and commenting on them. It gives me a chance to give 'em my 2 cents without preaching because they have already thought it through.

[RogorMortis]

I will see PT in Copenhagen in November but without Three, but I will still have some plugs with me just in case as they were renowned to play loud.