Steve Wilson - unplugged, London 16th April

Don't really know if this can be construed as a review, but Vicky and I (along with about 100 other lucky ones) attended Steve Wilson's launch of 'Fear Of A Blank Planet' yesterday evening at Camden Town, London.

The launch took the form of a short 'unplugged' set by Steve Wilson and John Wesley; SW joked at the beginning that he'd agreed to do the unplugged set, then listened to the album again & realised very little was suited to the format "but we'll do our best" - SW then went on to apologise in advance for his poor piano skills, saying "If I'm looking down all the time, I'm not shy, I'm just a crap pianist...".

With SW & JW sharing acoustic guitar & piano duties, they opened with 'Fear Of A Blank Planet', segueing this into 'My Ashes' (a completely fluffed piano chord prompting laughter from the audience & "I told you so" from SW) & then (for me) the highlight of the short set, the enotionally charged "Sentimental".

These were the only three SW said were playable in that format (and listening to the - signed, thanks Steve/John - album later in the car, I can well understand this), so he played one more song - here I have to admit I'm unfamiliar with some of Porcupine Tree's later albums, so I couldn't identify the song by name, but it was fab ...

Steve Wilson has had a reputation in the past as being stand-offish and somewhat aloof, but on last night's evidence, both during the short set & the meet & greet/signing session afterward, he came across as a friendly & very funny guy (and one whose eye's lit up when Vicky mentioned PA "Oh - I really like progarchives, it's a great site"), and if the brief listening of 'Fear Of A Blank Planet' I've had so far is anything to go by, we have a serious contender for album of the year.

Edited by Jim Garten - April 28 2007 at 11:56

cool !!!!!!

It was a pretty cosy little gathering and he did seems genuinley pleased with the reception and the enthusiasm people had for the new album. The last track they played was a shortened version of Trains - minus guitar solo and banjo/handclaps workout. A pleasant way to spend an hour.
Looking forward to the Forum gig even more now....

Oh bad - I'm not wearing hats at all - so I cannot come to England 

I would think that anyone who would attend release day appearance would be a progger because, at least here in the states, hardly anyone else knows who SW is.  I would have loved to have been there just to tell him thanks for the great music and keep it coming.

Jim Garten wrote: Didn't know you were there... we should all wear ProgArchives hats in future to make sure members can recognise each other...

Vicky Garten wrote: arcer wrote: Jim Garten wrote: Didn't know you were there... we should all wear ProgArchives hats in future to make sure members can recognise each other... Hats! superb idea - conical ones with a big "P" on them instead of a D. Actually it might have been useful in covering up my baldy head. I felt pretty old standing in that queue and wondered briefly if I was having some kind of mid-life crisis: It was worth it though. Funny I was standing outside at the lock scanning the crowd to see if I could spot anybody who might be from ProgArchives. Is there a signal look to PA users? A glimmer of superior intellect in the eyes? A knowing look of cultural brilliance in the mien? Or maybe it's just the vapid Billy-No-Mates expression and faint haunted look as we venture into the light for the first time in years... you may have spotted me ! -short female with bright red hair & new rock boots !

chopper wrote: Jim Garten wrote: Didn't know you were there... we should all wear ProgArchives hats in future to make sure members can recognise each other...   Good idea Jim, should we go for a baseball cap or a Trouserpress-style bowler?   We found at our first Prog Curry night that carrying a copy of "Octopus" helps to identify fellow PA members! (or was it Nursery Cryme?).