PJ Harvey - Live Review
Manchester Apollo Thursday 08/09/2011
Only a matter of days after winning the Mercury Music Prize for the second time, Dorset’s Polly Jean Harvey took to the stage at the famous Manchester Apollo. Announced only a couple of weeks before the event was the surprise that there would be no supporting artists at this show, which is always a disappointment, as it's exactly this kind of slot that can propel aspiring and lesser known talents to the attention they deserve. All the same, this lack of support created an interesting atmosphere within the auditorium, where you could sense the anticipation that the audience were expecting something unique, something more than a run through of greatest hits, or an old favourite's latest offering.
As you would presume, the band were greeted on stage by a very warm reception, and as PJ and her band settled into their positions a single spotlight illuminated PJ in her gothic attire, while at the other side of the stage a yellow mist formed around the band, which set up for a dark and mystical evening. Her feathered headdress stood up from her head like a pair of horns, and with the low lighting gave her a mythical presence on stage. As the crowd settled, the opening manoeuvres of the title track from the award-winning album itself 'Let England Shake' began with the melancholic strumming sound of the autoharp, setting the tone for the night ahead. The instrument itself, despite its similarities in sound to a guitar, gives a completely different dimension to the performance. Seemingly being cradled gently within her arms, almost as you would expect a mother to hold their baby, the image portrayed was far removed from the often aggressive stance that can be taken from a guitar player, and gave the show a tender feel. This brought a reflective tone to the performance, very fitting with the lyrical content of 'Let England Shake' with its 'horrors of war' themes. And it was her vocal performance of these songs that transcended far beyond what has been captured on the studio recording of the album, moving it in to the realms of the exquisite. The show was beautifully constructed with the set list flowing through a catalogue of new and old, interchanging between tracks from the current album and older songs such as 'C'mon Billy', gracefully reworked to match her current sound.
Every song performed was note-perfect in terms of instrumentation and vocals, with her vocal range hitting breathtaking highs throughout, filling the room and focussing all eyes on her, and this despite the powerful musicianship of her band that included her ‘musical soul mate’ John Parish. You could tell that the music they were playing meant just as much to them as it did to PJ herself. The harmony of the lower male voice was a beautiful caveat to Polly's angelic voice, creating a natural and emotive tone, filling the low end of the tonal spectrum with a deep rumble that complemented the overall sound excellently.
As only a very new listener of PJ Harvey, and this the first show of hers that I've attended, I truly didn't know what to expect. I certainly had enjoyed 'Let England Shake' before this gig, but it in fact wasn't one of my favourite albums. However the live performance blew me away; the raw emotion of her voice being the main contribution to what was one of my favourite performances for a long time. The energy that was forged on stage was much more powerful than I could have imagined. It captivated me throughout as a relative 'newbie' to her music, and made me feel inspired and appreciative of such a fine performer.
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