If you are reading this, you must be at least somewhat familiar with Steven Wilson's work; to paraphrase the man himself (when explaining the thought process behind choosing the encore for the evening): "I don't exactly have any f**king hits do I?"; and so should know what to expect in terms of the style of music being showcased. This tour is in support of his new album The Raven That Refused To Sing (And Other Stories) which has recieved acclaim from critics and fans alike, so expect to hear all the new tracks along with a selection of the most popular songs from the prvious tour (see setlist for details).
The band that Steven has assembled, both for the recording of his most-recent album and this consequent tour will not disappoint, each is a true master of their craft with decades of experience, however this does not, as you might expect, make for a sterile business-as-usual atmosphere on stage - the performance is of course tight, and Steven seems to have encouraged real passion and the band really do seem to be having a great time playing the songs Steven has penned with each other.
The sound mixing for the evening was superb; there were six musicians on stage and at any point I could pick out exactly what any one of them were doing in the mix - this was one of the best sounding gigs I have ever experienced. In addition to the sound experience, there was a stunning visual show for the majority of songs projected behind the band, as well as an additional screen in-front of the band for two songs.
I will definitely make the effort to see Steven Wilson live again, especially so if the same band is assembled.
O2 ABC @
- Glasgow @
- Sat 2 Mar 2013 @
Favourite moment: Govan's jaw-dropping solo on Drive Home, The Holy Drinker and No Part Of Me @
Setlist: Luminol, Drive Home, The Pin Drop, Postcard, The Holy Drinker, Deform to Form a Star, Watchmaker Intro Video, The Watchmaker, Index, Insurgentes, Harmony Korine, No Part of Me, Raider II, The Raven That Refused to Sing. Encore:Radioactive Toy @
Opening act(s): None @