I've seen them twice before (Deadwing tour and the pre-FOBP tour, where they premiered some of the material that would show up on the new CD).

 

This shows set was well conceived, with newer material interspersed with older material from as far back as "Signify." While the new material was awesome, and a lot of the crowd knew the music, it was the stuff from "In Absensia" really blew there minds.

 

It's funny, but as Porcupine Tree becomes more popular, more people attend their shows, not all devoted fans, and if PT are playing something that these folks don't know, they will actually start talking and laughing during the songs. Very freakin' annoying, I can tell you. It must be hard for a band like PT to play a lesser known slower track for fear of a bunch of assholes ruining the mood of the piece with their inane drunken babble.

 

Luckily though this didn't happen too often, mainly because PT is so compelling to watch, especially their video accompaniment. At the end of the show, I felt like Steve Wilson should have thanked the cinematographer personally since s/he added such a tremendous amount to the show.

 

PT ended with "Let's Sleep Together", a rendition that, along with it's video piece, brought the house down. The song just rocked and built and built to a fantastic climax. Awesome moment in rock art.

 

Note: During the show, Steve Wilson said he had never taken a drug in his life, and he said it in such a serious way, that I don't know what to believe. I suspect he's taken at least one "drug". I mean, why write "Voyage 34" unless you have some sort of experience with hallucinagenics? Yeah, I think was kidding. But damn he was serious. Maybe it's a British thing, to tell Americans jokes in a total deapan manner. He was pretty serious the whole show. Except for the drug joke (which I think was a joke), he never joked or tried to be affable. He's a serious guy.

 

PT really contrasted with "3", the opening band. What was really noticeable was a lack of the generic high end, trilly, hammer-on filled guitar solo sound that filled the "3" set. PT has wisely avoided the cliched guitar sounds of their peers. Their sound is unique. And that's one of the reasons why they are head and shoulders above them.

 

What can I say? Go see them. The video show alone is worth the price.