Review of Steven Wilson in concert, Copenhagen the 13th of april 2015.

[Niels (Mod)]

Steven Wilson - Amager Bio, Copenhagen 13th of april 2015.

4 days after my 50th birthday (which went totally unnoticed by my american "friends" ), I was fortunate enough to witness Steven Wilson on his current "Hands.Cannot.Errase"-tour of Europe. 

There was no supportband, and I was quite happy about that, because at my age, I need to be home at an early hour. Did I mention my recent birthday?!!

Amager Bio is not a big venue. It can hold around 1,500 people. There were probably around 1,200. I stood maybe 10 meters from the stage, and had a great view. 

The stage-show was impresive, and I love it, when there're films and videos in the background at a concert, but not of the band, as there are at Stadium-concerts, where you almost can't spot the band in reallity. These films was among others clips of "the woman" from the new album, and it was a treat seeing her "alive" (I really do think, she's a knockout, the actress playing that role), but also animated movies and other stuff. The light"show" was also impressive. (and not only blue, as in these pictures).

Steven Wilson is a likeable fellow. He talked quite a bit between the songs, but he had some interesting and funny things to say, so it was all right.

Among others, he said "I've made music since the 90's. Some of it is good, and some of it is shit". This night, he only played the good stuff imo. He also mentioned, that they were a "boy-band", well at least the bass-player, because he is a former member of the band Kajagoogoo. Remember them, from the start 80's, with "Too shy, shy, hush-hush, I do I"?

They played all of "Hands.Cannot.Errase", excep for one track ("Transience"), but with other songs in between, though. The other songs played were kind of picked out, to fit in with "Hands", I guess.

When the last song from "Hands" was played, the band left, only to return behind a thin curtain, where other disturbing films were shown. At the end, 2 of the best tracks from "The Raven" were performed, and it was a treat to witness a Wilson-concert at this time and stage, where he has 2 that great albums to pick from, and all the PC-albums as well.

The band played extremely well, as they do on the album(s), especially the drummer and the lead-guitarist. But Wilson also played very well on both rythm-guitar, leadguitar, bass, piano and acustic guitar, and live, he sings almost as good, as he does on the albums. I was especially impressed, that he could sing the title song from "Raven", without changing anything, you know where he sings "plleeeeeeeaseee..."

After 2 hours and a couple of minutes it was all over. It was one of those rare concerts, where time went extremly fast, and for my sake, they could had played for at least an hour more, but beacuse of my age these days, it was probably for the best for me, going home. The friend I had along, did'nt really know much about Wilson, and didn't expect much. He became an instant fan, and bough the blueRay-version of "Hands" at the concert.

One of the highlights was when they played "Sleep togther" from Porcupine Tree's "Fear Of A Blank Planet"-album. It sounded like a cross between NIN and Zeppelin. Wilson can really rock out on stage. That track sounded much better live, than on album, where it sounds great.

(The pictures are not from last night, but it kind of looked like this, only much, much better in real life)

Set-list: (or I'm almost positive, that this is the set-list. This is from the day before, but I don't think, he changed the set-list that much, and even at the age of 50 (!!!!), I still have a pretty good memory, only later this year, I will probably forget a birthday or two)

Footage from the very night (I actually think, that you can spot the back of my head (the tall one), because it seems to be filmed very near the spot, I was standing)

• First Regret
• 3 Years Older
• Hand Cannot Erase
• Perfect Life
• Routine
• Index
• Home Invasion
• Regret #9
• Lazarus (Porcupine Tree-song)
• Harmony Korine
• Ancestral
• Happy Returns
• Ascendant Here On...
• Ekstra:
• The Watchmaker
• Sleep Together
• (Porcupine Tree-song)
• Ekstraekstra:
• The Raven That Refused to Sing

Oh, did I mention my 50th birthday, you bastards.....!

[RJhog (Admin)]

Niels, I apologize for missing your birthday.  I wonder if it showed up on Facebook, as I actually pay more attention to it there than here.  However, in my defense, I didn't think Danish folks celebrated American holidays (like a birthday, for example)...

I certainly enjoyed reading your review.  I'm glad you enjoyed the show.  It's always fun when someone you know, who doesn't know of the band you are seeing, comes along and really enjoys it.  But I am disappointed to see that he didn't play his only great song...Luminol.

Thanks for the review and the tongue lashing.  I'll try to do better next time, but at my age, I'm sure that I will have forgotten all about this in 359 more days.

[Niels (Mod)]

It's okay, Jeff. I was kind of taking the piss 

Yeah, Luminol wasn't exactly missed by me. I'm sure he played on the "Raven"-tour.

Never mind the 51th birthday. This was the important one 

It WAS on Facebook. You must have noticed the danish congratulations?

[Scott]

Great review!  Would love to see him in such an intimate venue.  I bet the sound quality was phenomenal!

[Niels (Mod)]

You're absolutely right. It was an awesome sound quality.

The musicians he uses, both on the two or three latest albums and live are phenomenal.

My friend, who didn't know any of the songs, or musicians, was especially impressed with the guitarist. 

If I wasn't a true fan before the concert, I certainly am now. I listened to nothing but Wilson and PC yesterday.

I've actually only seen "Prog-artists" at the Amager Bio-venue (Fish, Devin Townsend, YES and Steven Wilson), and this concert was the very best one.

[Scott]

Been listening to PT's Deadwing quite a bit lately.  Amazing album!

[Niels (Mod)]

I do wonder, which of his music he refer to as shit?

RJ would probably say "Hands", but I think, that "I'm on the same page" as Mr. Wilson, since he also said from stage, that one of his absolute favorite tracks on "Hands" is "Routine". That song, I still have as best song of the year. (and even though I follow you, regarding the Toto-album getting better and better, nothing can beat "Hands", hands down!!)

I listen to all of "Fear Of A Blank Planet" yesterday. Also an amazing album.

And then I did something rather stupid: I ordered the deluxe box-set of "Raven" from the german Amazon, for almost  ... 200 $. I know it's insane, but it's sold out, and I can only find it at that price, in europe. I only want the best of the best, and actually I don't have the CD, only a download from ITunes. Still it's an insane price, and I must go on rehab very soon!!!

[Niels (Mod)]

If anybody cares , I've added some footage from the concert, I attended. Not a very good film, but still.

[Scott]

Good stuff Niels!  Thanks for posting and following up...  Love to watch these kinds of videos...

[Niels (Mod)]

Thank you, Scott. I knew, I could count on you 

Ups, the video is gone. I guess we were the only ones, that saw it.

[Scott]

wow, that was fast!  The Internet police arent messing around!

[RJhog (Admin)]

You put the video up and it's gone?

[Niels (Mod)]

Yep! I was checking Youtube for videos from "my" show, and I found one, wrote a comment on Youtube, and posted it here. Scott saw it, and 10. min. later, it was gone ("Copyright Claim from Porcupine Tree")

Personally I never takes pictures or anything like that at a show.