Porcupine Tree Tour 2009

[japanesebaby]

the tour will be starting already next week - how time flies :

http://www.porcupinetree.com/tour.cfm

September 2009
Sep 15 2009  SEATTLE, USA: Moore Theater
Sep 16 2009  PORTLAND, USA: Roseland
Sep 18 2009  SAN FRANCISCO: Warfield
Sep 19 2009  LOS ANGELES, USA: Club Nokia
Sep 21 2009  CLEVELAND, USA: House of Blues
Sep 22 2009  CHICAGO, USA: Vic Theater
Sep 24 2009  NEW YORK, USA: Terminal 5
Sep 25 2009  BALTIMORE, USA: Ram's Head
Sep 26 2009  PHILADELPHIA, USA: Electric Factory
Sep 27 2009  BOSTON, USA: House of Blues
Sep 29 2009  MONTREAL, Canada: Metropolis
Sep 30 2009  TORONTO, Canada: Queen Elizabeth Theatre
October 2009
Oct 08 2009  LEEDS, UK: Academy
Oct 09 2009  LONDON, UK: Hammersmith Apollo
Oct 10 2009  BRISTOL, UK: Colston Hall
Oct 12 2009  AMSTERDAM, The Netherlands: Heineken Hall
Oct 13 2009  PARIS, FRANCE: Olympia Theater
Oct 14 2009  BRUSSELS, Belgium: Ancienne Belgique
Oct 15 2009  HANOVER, Germany: Capitol
Oct 17 2009  BREMEN, Germany: Aladin
Oct 18 2009  COPENHAGEN, Denmark: Vega
Oct 19 2009  STOCKHOLM, Sweden: Arena
Oct 21 2009  HELSINKI, Finland: Ice Hall
Oct 23 2009  OSLO, Norway: Sentrum Scene
Oct 24 2009  LUND, Sweden: Mejeriet
Oct 25 2009  HAMBURG, Germany: Docks
Oct 26 2009  BERLIN, Germany: Huxley's
Oct 28 2009  WROCLAW, Poland: Hala Orbita
Oct 29 2009  LEIPZIG, Germany: Haus Auensee
Oct 30 2009  NUREMBURG, Germany: Lowensalle
Oct 31 2009  VIENNA, Austria: Gasometer
November 2009
Nov 01 2009  BUDAPEST, Hungary: Petofi Hall
Nov 03 2009  LJUBLJANA, Slovenia: Media Park
Nov 04 2009  MILAN, Italy: Alcatraz
Nov 05 2009  ROME, Italy: Atlantico
Nov 06 2009  BOLOGNA, Italy: Estragon
Nov 07 2009  PADOVA, Italy: Teatro Tenda
Nov 20 2009  LISBON, Portugal: Incrivel Almadense
Nov 21 2009  PORTO, Portugal: Teatro Sa Da Bandeira
Nov 22 2009  MADRID, Spain: La Riviera
Nov 23 2009  BARCELONA, Spain: Sant Jordi Club
Nov 25 2009  WETTINGEN, Switzerland: Sportzentrum Tagerhard
Nov 27 2009  STUTTGART, Germany: Carl Benz Arena
Nov 28 2009  MUNICH, Germany: Tonhalle
Nov 30 2009  LUXEMBOURG: Rockhal
December 2009
Dec 01 2009  NEU-ISENBURG, Germany: Hugenottenhalle
Dec 02 2009  KOLN. Germany: Palladium
Dec 06 2009  WOLVERHAMPTON, UK: Civic Hall
Dec 08 2009  NEWCASTLE, UK: Academy
Dec 10 2009  MANCHESTER, UK: Academy
Dec 11 2009  GLASGOW, UK: ABC
Dec 21 2009  MUMBAI, INDIA: Mood Indigo



they've recently added a show in mumbai,india - that's a pretty exotic location:

http://www.indiecision.com/2009/09/05/porcupine-tree-to-play-mood-indigo/

[crowbi_wan]

These guys have a strict no camera, no recording policy.  A few minutes before the gig started, someone on the PA announced this policy.  Going even further than just stating the policy, the announcement included anyone caught will be asked to leave.  Also, if anyone in the audience spots someone using a camera or recording device they should alert security.  It seems the band finds cameras and recording devices distracting.  Huh, someone stealthing a show is distracting?    Okay, I can see how flash photography would be distracting.  And perhaps hundreds of cellphones distracting to the audience.  But damn, no cameras at all.  They just don't want videos being taken.  Whatever.    in case you're wondering, I did see people being escorted out of the venue for taking pictures.  Shame on them for trying to capture a memory of some band they enjoy and paid good money to see. 

As for the show, the first 50 or so minutes consisted of the first disc of their new double album.  They take a 10 minute intermission after than and return with what I can only guess are a collection of past material.  Sorry, I'm not familiar with their body of work at all.  Regardless of that, it was a pretty enjoyable show.  Coming back to the US early next year was mentioned.  Not sure I'll be in attendance for that, though.

First set:

Occam's Razor
The Blind House
Great Expectations
Kneel A Disconnect
Drawing The Line
The Incident
Your Unpleasant Family
The Yellow Windows Of The Evening Train
The Flies
Degree Zero Of Liberty
Octane Twisted
The Seance
Circle Of Manias
I Drive The Hearse

I didn't get a picture of the second part of the set.  No clue what was played, though I'm listening to it now.  8)

[jmusiclover]

Similar to the 3x Placebo warm up shows a few months back, strictly no cameras. Not only did they have security around the balcony constantly shining torches on anyone who dared to take a picture but were also sweeping the crowd during the gig - this pretty much killed it for me - needless to say, I won't be going to see them again anytime soon, they've just become yet another 'commercial machine', trying to control something which basically they can't. Surely it's better to let the fans go to the gigs, take a few 'amateur' photos and have a good time - we are after all, paying their wages. I can understand it if someone turns up with pro gear in a deliberate attempt to bootleg & profit from the gig, but it's not really that common. I'd rather spend my money going to see bands who allow open taping or turn a 'blind eye' to those stealthing

[crowbi_wan]

Complete Seattle setlist:

First set:

Occam's Razor
The Blind House
Great Expectations
Kneel A Disconnect
Drawing The Line
The Incident
Your Unpleasant Family
The Yellow Windows Of The Evening Train
The Flies
Degree Zero Of Liberty
Octane Twisted
The Seance
Circle Of Manias
I Drive The Hearse

Second set:

The Start of Something Beautiful
The Sound of Muzak
Lazarus
Russia On Ice
Anesthetize (middle section)
Normal
Bonnie the Cat
Way Out of Here

Encore:

Mother and Child Divided

[japanesebaby]

saw them in helsinki last week.
a bit mixed feelings. first of all, they "robertfripp-ish" no cameras policy does annoy me a lot. i could understand that they'd tell people not to use cameras let's say in the first twenty rows or so and ask for no flash to be used. i could understand that. but if someone takes a pic with his/her cellphone from the upper stalls it's just ridiculous if the band insists it's "distracting".
with that aside: superb sound, great musicianship, nothing bad could be said about the performance. and i don't mind them playing the whole album in this tour, it's reasonable since the album is such a thematic whole. but still, i did enjoy the second set (old songs) a lot more. i was most delighted to hear three songs i've never heard them play live, 'russia on ice', 'start of something beautiful' and 'normal'.
they could change the encores though. 'trains' is not a bad song but seriously, it's almost becoming a bit of a downer by now. they'd have so many other ways to end their shows in a more memorable way.