The Overview – Stunning

We arrived just in time for Steven Wilson gig at City Hall Newcastle for a 8pm start with good seats in stalls row O.  A six piece band 3 guitars, drums and keyboard with Steve on vocals and multi-instruments. Thomas Dolby like he moved effortlessly between twin keyboards and various guitars playing in full his latest concept album The Overview. It was a powerful and evocative  A devastating 45 minutes  of technicolor with cgi animation linking our small blue world with the solar system and the other nebula and clusters far out in space and time. A truly layered musical experience with salutes to Floyd, Genesis & Yes -the pioneers of progressive rock.

After an interval break the 2nd half was longer with a deep dive into the back catalogue with some frenzied guitar playing and booming bass. Stands out were Pariah duet with Ninet Tayeb on pre/ recorded video link and the bruising ballad The Raven that Refused to Sing with Steve sitting centrally on stage on a high chair sending the haunting plaintive vocal melody down the hall again and again. The song was paired with a desolating but ultimately uplifting brother lost sister animation to match the lyrics.

Spellbinding. A fitting way to end the evening.

Set List

Set 1
The Overview
Objects Outlive Us
The Overview

Set 2
The Harmony Codex
King Ghost
Luminol
What Life Brings
Dislocated Day (Porcupine Tree song)
Pariah
Impossible Tightrope
Economies of Scale
Harmony Korine
Vermillioncore

Encore
Ancestral
The Raven That Refused to Sing

The Guardian Review

https://www.theguardian.com/music/2025/may/12/steven-wilson-review-bristol-beacon

Seven Wilson’s touring band for “The Overview Tour” in 2025 consists of Craig Blundell on drums, Nick Beggs on bass, Adam Holzman on keys, and Randy McStine on guitars. This lineup is also featured on his latest album, The Overview.

Fawkes & Jake – Heavy emphasis and policing of  not taking photos!!. BJH played on the way out Everyone is ..

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