Portishead @ Hammersmith Apollo, London
Originally published on my old blog.
A rare chance to see a favourite act, who did not disappoint
A rare chance to see one of my favourite acts, Portishead.
They hadn't released a record in forever. Beth, the singer, famously reluctant to play live. But then they announced a record, and some London shows - Hammersmith Apollo, then later Brixton Academy - and that was no choice at all, Hammersmith is a wonderful place for a show. The new album, Third, hadn't even been released yet, so much of the audience knew little or nothing of the new tracks.
Our friends Deidre, Ishbel and Simon were there too and we all got to witness Portishead deliver an atmospheric, hauntingly beautiful triphop down memory lane. When the band came out they seemed a bit rusty and a little uncomfortable, and sure enough, two songs in they went off stage for a technical mishap with one of the sequencers. Five minutes of roadies panicking later they were back, delivering a set that wavered from beloved memories stripped back to their bare essentials, through to the dark, staccato sound of the new material. A stunning visual performance added to the mix, with a gorgeous live camera montage on the backdrops.
Beth Gibbons has become a little more confident since 1998, but we still often found her with her back to the crowd, swaying in time with the band, then statuesque and transfixed in the lighting effects when she sang.
It didn't quite hit the heights of Wellington on the "Portishead" album tour. Ten years on, the band lacked the lush contribution of a dedicated DJ, and the new songs seemed harsh, even jarring. But it was a very very very good gig, and not perfect but undeniably strong. Totally worth the wait, and we're dishing out the 5 out of 5. The photos from this one are some of the best gig photos I've ever taken.
Photos from the gig
