Porcupine Tree
London Hammersmith Apollo
9th October, 2009

Twenty-plus songs from Steven Wilson and co. over 135 glorious minutes proved that the Tree are still one of the best live spectacles out there, their latest, The Incident, fitting seamlessly into their colour-rich prog soundscapes, augmented by big-screen film-rushes and ultra-bright lights that’d knock out a mogwai (aptly, on The Blind House). The acoustic/ electric guitar and thumping beat of Drawing The Line showcased their Coldplay gone hard rock side, while the new title track snapped into dark electronica. Crescendo highlights included the energetic and gripping Time Flies, the acoustic/vocal then fuzzed-up, metallic The Séance, and firs-thalf closer, I Drive The Hearse. The Start Of Something Beautiful was just that on their return, while the Floydian Russia On Ice was followed by some meaty riffage and gothic psych before Bonnie The Cat led into an encore comprising the atmospheric The Sound Of Muzak and clapalong Trains. An express performance.