There are few bands out there who have the artistic vision to create a 55-minute cycle and present it as a single piece. And fewer still who embrace the opportunity to then perform said piece live, in its entirety, as the opening to their live show. Yet Porcupine Tree have consistently proven to be one of the most ambitious of the neo-prog bands and tonight they are doing exactly that. Pausing only briefly after the opening number to explain their intent, Steven Wilson leads his band headlong into a perfectly executed set that utilises a wealth of enigmatic projections as a fascinating backdrop to the engrossing first act of latest album The Incident.
Consummate professionals, the band render this sweeping, conceptual masterpiece in note-perfect fashion, with only mild embellishments (largely thanks to the constraints of having to remain synced to the screen), although the benefit of blasting it all through a massive sound system does lend further weight to both solos and the monumentally violent riffs that briefly appear at key points. Steven Wilson’s voice is on form too, with added emphasis appearing as the excitement of the occasion takes hold of the frontman. Certainly the whole band respond to the energy flowing from the crowd and they turn in an impressive performance in consequence.
An agonising ten minute break follows closing number I Drive The Hearse, before the band re-appear to perform a selection of choice cuts from across their mighty back catalogue.
With so much to choose from, there were undoubtedly those who miss their own particular favourite, but the decision to include the epic Way Out Of Here and the mellifluous Lazarus (this latter accompanied by an almighty sing-a-long), Normal, Trains and half of Anesthetize, as well as other key moments from Deadwing and In Absentia, means that the second half of the set is both suitably heavy on melody and on the metallic moments that increasingly became the band’s stock in-trade between Stupid Dream and Fear Of A Blank Planet.
With projections, decent (serviceable rather than astounding) lighting, and a fantastic sound mix across the night, the crowd leave well satisfied after a lengthy (well over two hour) set that touched on all the elements that make Porcupine Tree such a special band.
