Venue:
The Dome, Brighton
Date: 07/04/2018
We are both avid gig goers, sorry I thought I was writing this in the eighties. Truth is we don’t really do gigs, early shifts, elderly mothers, laziness and being a bit tight are the reasons probably why we don’t usually bother. But this was a Saturday night and we both love PSB and Jane Weaver so we got off our arses and made the 20 mile trip and we were so glad we did.
After a lovely drink in the bar next to the Theatre Royal (much nicer the the Dome) we took our seats in a prime spot with a perfect view of the stage.
Jane Weaver came on at about 7.30 with her band (Guitar, Keyboards & Drums) and was very good. Playing a lot from the last album ( Modern Kosmology) I thought she was a strong and engaging performer only handicapped by the lack of space on stage for her because of PSBs equipment. I felt she wanted to let go a bit more than she was able to. But she has an incredible voice and would work well with a larger and more versatile band.
PSB came on at 9 and were absolutely stunning. Now a (sort of) four piece they produce a marvellous noise and with the extraordinary visuals it is a real show.There were plenty of songs from Every Valley which I feel worked even better Live. Bringing on at times a small brass section (whose name I missed I’m afraid) and the Derbyshire folk act Haiku Salut for They Gave Me a Lamp it’s was the most enjoyable 105 Minutes we’ve had in a long time.
The audience:
Allsorts. Kids, OAPs and everything in between. Including a pillock dancing in front of everyone and blocking the view until being told to sit down in no uncertain terms by another bigger audience member.
It made me think..
That PSB are a perfect live band who put on a ‘proper’ show. And we need to get out more often
Saw them in Edinburgh this evening. Can only agree with your reviews of both PSB and Jane Weaver. PSB really have become a remarkable stage act. It was hard to believe at times that they’re the same band I saw just 5 years ago at The Caves – a more compact venue than the Usher Hall – a duo with a decidedly homespun stage setup. They’ve evolved and in a good way.
I sas them in Middlesbrough last Monday (16th) and agree too. The venue (The Empire) is a converted theatre and had a slightly sepulchral and Stygian feel, not unlike being underground, which only made the atmosphere even better given the bulk of the material. They were truly wonderful and they’ve even come on since I saw them at bluedot in 2016. Great staging and real emotional power.