ATP Review - Strange Glue Magazine
One of the most indelible memories of my early years is
watching Beth Gibbons and Portishead perform live at the Roseland Theatre in New
York, smoking a cigarette, while belting out note perfect renditions of ‘Glory
Box’ et al.
So skip forward ten years, and Portishead are not just content with performing
live for the first time in a decade. They are immersed in creating memories for
their legions of fans who have flocked to see them. And how they succeed….
Portishead are simply sublime. It doesn’t matter whether they are playing
material from Dummy, Portishead or their as yet untitled third album, you’d have
to be Julian Cope not to be captivated by the imagery, the stage presence and
the aura that is Portishead.
So after ten long years (not counting the Bristol tsunami benefit concert),
Portishead completed their first full set in nearly a decade. Beth, clearly
overcome by the reaction of the audience, jumped down to thank them. Then
realising she was a bit short to climb back onstage, she had to seek help from
those around her to get back up.
Thanking the crowd once more, she said: “I’m sorry if we played a note wrong or
whatever, but thank you so much for being so nice to us.”
Needless to say the appreciation was roared back towards her direction. Time has
not changed Portishead, but they have evolved into a band so big, so important,
that it’s nice to see that they haven’t become arrogant and pretentious. Maybe
they could sit down and have a chat with Julian Cope.
From Strange Glue Music