Live review: Steven Wilson at the Hammersmith Apollo, London
Live review: Steven Wilson at the Hammersmith Apollo, London
Former Porcupine Tree frontman Steven Wilson returned to the Hammersmith Apollo in London after two sold-out shows at the Royal Albert Hall with an outstanding three-hour performance that reminded us how prog rock isn’t dead, on the contrary it is more alive than ever and features a new leader.
The show opened with a 12-minute version of First Regret/3 Years, followed by Steven anticipating what was on the menu for the next three hours. A set split into 2 halves, consisting of a first part dedicated to Hand. Cannot. Erase in its entirety. Backed by guitarist Dave Kilminster, lead guitar in Roger Waters’ The Wall, Wilson’s enthusiasm and skills took the audience into a storm of air guitars, complex arrangements and irresistible melodies only to end up with an intermission before the second half, mainly focused on his old hits. “If you came to the Royal Albert Hall show, I’m afraid to say it’s the same s***”, he says, opening a set that brings back to the audience reminiscences of the best version of Pink Floyd and Porcupine Tree’s classics.
The show closed with the astonishingly beautiful melody of The Raven That Refused To Sing, putting that icing on a show that is a relief in reminding us that, yes, there are still proper musicians who cn do proper music out there.
