sbagman
16 May 2003, 01:40
Well it doesn't seem like his new CD has caused many ripples in the mainstream, but for PG fans like myself it's been ten agonising years waiting for the next album. "Up" is a difficult album to listen to, as it lacks anything resembling a single (most tracks are highly moody, and over six minutes long). As such, I was a bit sceptical of how such complex songs would come across live. Still, the opportunity to see my favourite artist was too good to miss.
The concert was better than I thought it would be. I knew PG was well respected in Italy, but I didn't expect the place to be as packed as it was, especially considering he's a foreign singer out of the limelight. The Italian crowd really warmed to him, and when he came out to introduce the support act, the vocally brilliant Blind Boys of Alabama, the crowd went nuts, chanting his name.
The show itself was very entertaining. Firstly, Peter endeared himself by speaking Italian the whole way through. Despite his advancing age and girth, he was very energetic throughout the performance. The props and imagery were quite amazing... "downside up" was sung with his daughter Melanie, and the two of them attached themselves to a second "stage" lowered from the roof, which enabled them to walk and sing upside down. Another highlight was Peter rolling around inside a huge clear plastic ball during "Growing Up", and managing to make it bounce in time to the thumping beat by jumping up and down inside it. He alse cycled around the stage while singing "Solsbury Hill", and wore a jacket covered with flashing lightbulbs during "Sledgehammer". For some reason, I hadn't expected such antics from him, now in his mid-50's. The audience participation during "The Barry Williams Show" was quite good too, with PG manouvering a news-camera around the stage and focussing on sections of the crowd, with the images being projected on a big screen behind him.
Musically, it was great. Tony Levin and David Rhodes were fantastic, and there was a good mix of traditional instruments and the more synthesised stuff. Peter's voice sounded much better than I thought it would, and stronger than ever. His unique sound came across best during the more reflective songs, particularly "Father, Son" and "Here Comes The Flood".
For those interested, Peter played (in order as best I can recall):
Here Comes the Flood (PGCD1)
Darkness (Up)
Red Rain (So)
Downside Up (Ovo)
Sky Blue (Up)
More Than This (Up)
Mercy Street (So)
Solsbury Hill (PGCD1)
Digging in the Dirt (Us)
Growing Up (Up)
Sledgehammer (So)
Animal Nation
Signal to Noise (Up)
Come Talk to Me (Us)
In Your Eyes (So)
Father, Son (Ovo)
Even if you weren't a PG fan, for the show itself and the professionalism of PG, it was a very enjoyable three hours, and for a big fan such as myself, a very memorable one.
Not sure if the "Up" tour is headed to Oz, but if so, consider going along.
Sbagman.
The concert was better than I thought it would be. I knew PG was well respected in Italy, but I didn't expect the place to be as packed as it was, especially considering he's a foreign singer out of the limelight. The Italian crowd really warmed to him, and when he came out to introduce the support act, the vocally brilliant Blind Boys of Alabama, the crowd went nuts, chanting his name.
The show itself was very entertaining. Firstly, Peter endeared himself by speaking Italian the whole way through. Despite his advancing age and girth, he was very energetic throughout the performance. The props and imagery were quite amazing... "downside up" was sung with his daughter Melanie, and the two of them attached themselves to a second "stage" lowered from the roof, which enabled them to walk and sing upside down. Another highlight was Peter rolling around inside a huge clear plastic ball during "Growing Up", and managing to make it bounce in time to the thumping beat by jumping up and down inside it. He alse cycled around the stage while singing "Solsbury Hill", and wore a jacket covered with flashing lightbulbs during "Sledgehammer". For some reason, I hadn't expected such antics from him, now in his mid-50's. The audience participation during "The Barry Williams Show" was quite good too, with PG manouvering a news-camera around the stage and focussing on sections of the crowd, with the images being projected on a big screen behind him.
Musically, it was great. Tony Levin and David Rhodes were fantastic, and there was a good mix of traditional instruments and the more synthesised stuff. Peter's voice sounded much better than I thought it would, and stronger than ever. His unique sound came across best during the more reflective songs, particularly "Father, Son" and "Here Comes The Flood".
For those interested, Peter played (in order as best I can recall):
Here Comes the Flood (PGCD1)
Darkness (Up)
Red Rain (So)
Downside Up (Ovo)
Sky Blue (Up)
More Than This (Up)
Mercy Street (So)
Solsbury Hill (PGCD1)
Digging in the Dirt (Us)
Growing Up (Up)
Sledgehammer (So)
Animal Nation
Signal to Noise (Up)
Come Talk to Me (Us)
In Your Eyes (So)
Father, Son (Ovo)
Even if you weren't a PG fan, for the show itself and the professionalism of PG, it was a very enjoyable three hours, and for a big fan such as myself, a very memorable one.
Not sure if the "Up" tour is headed to Oz, but if so, consider going along.
Sbagman.