Porcupine Tree live @ IIT-Bombay's Mood Indigo
You ever had one of those times, when something HUGE happens, and you wish you could put it all into words, worthy of the experience, that you were eloquent and the right and the big words came to you easily, but they desert you, or bombard you with such speed and randomness, that its all a mess in your head. Its one of those times for me, right now. I flew back from Mumbai in the morning, my whole body aching, my voice gone, my ears ringing and head buzzing.
Why? I SAW PORCUPINE TREE LIVE!!! Excuse me for a second while I spazz out just at that thought. *major fangirling fit*
The whole experience was very strange for me, in a way. The only PT fans I know, are online, and to be in the company of people, who knew and loved PT's music as well and much as I do, to be with girls who like me, swooned everytime Steven threw his head back or did those things he does with his fingers, was unreal!
Through the entire show, I was at this heightened plane of sensation. I swear it was like the music had invaded and was running through my veins. Ive never felt more, if you get what I mean. It was spectacular, it was orgasmic; the concert was visually and sonically stunning! The visuals must be given a special mention, cuz they were as brilliant, moving and disturbing as PT's music is.
This was PT's first concert in India, and while there were a million things wrong with the management and organistion of the event (the arrangements were poor, and IIT-B evidently were ill-prepared for the crowd), PT were worth it. Worth every penny of the 25 grand I spent, worth every bruise on my feet as people stepped on them. After and during the opening act, there was a LOT of pushing from all sides, and with no space to even breathe, we all swayed, tripped, fell, crushed each other. I was scared shitless, and after a whole day of standing in lines, waiting and little food or sleep, I was terribly short on patience. But yelling and cursing didnt work and I guess, everyone had had enough. People were antsy, the men were rowdy and ill-mannered, but that isnt anything new, its India after all.
I was a few feet away from the stage, and thats where I wanted to stay till the end of the show, but there wasnt any space to even move my hands, forget trying to take a picture or record anything, So after a lot of heated deliberation, (I didnt want to give up my awesome spot, and my sister wanted to get out alive) my sister and I, sore, oxygen-deprived, drenched in sweat, moved to the back of the theatre, which was thankfully more peaceful, we got a place to sit, and had air to breathe.
These were taken with my sucky phone camera, they wouldnt let anything else into the theatre. Boo.
As the stage lights went out and the instrumental bit from the end of The Blind House started to play, everyone went mental. Soon, Steven, Gavin, Richard, Colin and Wesley walked in, to deafening cheers from the crowd. They opened with Occam's Razor which leads into The Blind House beautifully, and as the opening riff filled the theatre, everyone went mad screaming and head banging. The song is one of my favourites on The Incident, and live, it was breathtaking. Steven was a tad off key when he started singing, I guess the crowd was intimidating, even for him, but after that, it was flawless. When Steven started to sing the chorus, and went "Feel love..." I swear I thought my head would explode, it was so awesome! And my head did explode when Steven ended the song with a quick "Namaste". Hehe, too freaking cute! He told the crowd that instead of playing The Incident and a few other songs, which is how their concerts on this tour have been so far, they'd be mixing it up and playing their older stuff, since it was their first time in India. To this, everyone let out a roar of approval.
The next song was The Sound of Muzak, which was clearly very popular. I think most people in the theatre sang along. In Absentia is a brilliant album, and I never in my wildest dreams thought I'd get to hear naything off it, live. So I screamed and sang along, and screamed some more.
When they started playing the next song, for the first few seconds, I was too dumbfounded to even yell, my eyes popped out and when it finally registered it was Hatesong, I almost peed myself. Argh, it was so fucking awesome, I have no words. The instrumental part left me breathless and in awe of Gavin's mad skills.
I let out an animal shout, one I thought I never knew I was capable of, when Steven said they'd be playing Lazarus next. It got eardrum-splitting yells from almost everyone, so this was clearly a favourite for many. Now this song is especially special to me, this was the song which made me fall in love with PT. It all started with Lazarus, for me, and to have them play it, in the very first concert of theirs I see, was a dream come true, and I mean that literally. It was sonically stunning, the keyboards and the vocals, so perfect, I almost cried.
I was barely over how amazing the last song was when they started to play Open Car and I went insane shouting. Its one of my favourite PT songs, and live, its just a different level of amazing. The sound almost envelops you, it was in the air, the heat, the music, the energy.
Steven then took a stool and said he wanted to play more from The Incident, thanking the fans for making the album a success. Time Flies, as gorgeous it is, on the record, is twice as good, live. The best part of the song, the instrumental bit in the middle, gave me goosebumps, and I will never get over how superb the part where Steven goes "How does time break down?.." and after is.
credit for the video goes to: mathewiv
I couldnt stop smiling at how Steven was swaying side to side while singing and playing his guitar.
The song was immaculate, Steven utterly brilliant vocally and on the guitar. There were some technical problems during the song, (though no one really cared!) and Steven apologised for it after the song finished and asked Richard and Gavin if they were good for the next song.
And then they started to play Blackest Eyes, which i think recieved the loudest shouts and cheers from the crowd. It is undoubtedly one of PT's most popular songs, and that became apparent when everyone in the crowd sang along. After freaking out over the fact that they were actually doing this song, I continued with singing along, and some killer headbanging.
Colin, who never stopped smiling (LOL) started playing his guitar, and they moved into The Start of something beautiful. It was amazing and I was surprised that most knew the song.
On a slightly unrelated note, this concert has greatly added to my Colin love, his enthusiam was heartwarming. Now I know what serena_vox was talking about. ;)
Then they proceeded to play, what was the highlight of the show, for me, 3 songs from The Incident, Octane Twisted, The Seance and Circle of Manias. Steven said that they needed to concentrate a bit cuz these numbers were a little hard to perform. All of it, from start to finish, was sheer perfection. I have BIG love for The Seance, one of my favourite tracks on The Incident, and hearing it live was super. I sang along and screamed and cheered, but much to my disappointment, many didnt know these songs.
This is when I both, understood why they didnt perform all of the first side of The Incident, and started to wish that they had. I was dying to listen to Drawing the line and The Incident live. Besdides those songs, I absolutely adore the shorter songs on the album, (which according to me are some of the best), like Great Expectations and Kneel and Disconnect. But I digress.
The next bit was so awesome, I swear at one point I put my head in my hands, it was so good that it was unbearable! It was a medley of Russia on Ice and Anesthetize. The latter song seemed to drive the crowd nuts, and while the last bit of that song, is the one I adore the most, The pills Im taking, was bloody brilliant, live. It consumed everyone out there, and left little doubt as to why many consider Anesthetize as the best PT song ever.
Way out of here was the last song they played, before Steven said goodnight and all of them left the stage. This song was my favourite track on FoaBP for a long time, and to hear it live, was out of this fucking world. This song is very close to my heart, and when Steven sang the second paragraph, I wept. I was quite a sight, crying and headbanging, all at once.
Watch for Gavin's crazy drumming skills and for my favourite part of the song - "And I'm trying to forget you and I know that I will..."
credit for the vid goes to: mathewiv
People chanted for more and an encore, and when the stage remained dark for a while, people started to leave, thats when my sister and I, came back to the front, close to stage and waited. The five of them came back on, and Steven said that they're going to perform one of their most popular songs for us, and then the crowd went mental again. Trains might not be my favourite track by PT, hell, most of the time, I dont even get why its so popular with people, but it was amazing live. Steven let the crowd sing the last bit and we were crazy loud.
They continued with Halo, which I think, we all got would be the last song, and so everyone sang and screamed and jumped with all their might. I was in the front now, and the energy there was great, and I loved every second of it, even though I couldnt see much. (I hate being so short, ugh!)
To get a feel of it, watch this. I must warn you about the screaming, be careful with the volume, haha.
credit for the video goes to: khushalbhadra
And with that, the show ended, and I could almost feel myself collapsing. It was the music, the adrenaline which was keeping me upright, and I was more tired than I ever have been. I finally got something to eat, then I slept at the airport, hehe, and then flew back to Delhi. My feet were swollen, my eyes burning and bloodshot, but Ive never been happier or more satisfied. PT are better than sex, I tell you. Lmao.
None of us got a chance to talk to them, or touch them (hehe!), or take a photo, or get anything signed, but I wasnt expecting that anyway. Im just glad I got to see them live, it was undoubtedly the best show India has ever seen. I think even PT would be proud of themselves, they were phenomenal, and going by the bits and pieces of the live shows Ive seen on YT, this was definitely one of their best concerts too. Steven said that they'd be back, and Im hoping, with everything Ive got in me, that its soon, and at a better organised event.
Why? I SAW PORCUPINE TREE LIVE!!! Excuse me for a second while I spazz out just at that thought. *major fangirling fit*
The whole experience was very strange for me, in a way. The only PT fans I know, are online, and to be in the company of people, who knew and loved PT's music as well and much as I do, to be with girls who like me, swooned everytime Steven threw his head back or did those things he does with his fingers, was unreal!
Through the entire show, I was at this heightened plane of sensation. I swear it was like the music had invaded and was running through my veins. Ive never felt more, if you get what I mean. It was spectacular, it was orgasmic; the concert was visually and sonically stunning! The visuals must be given a special mention, cuz they were as brilliant, moving and disturbing as PT's music is.
This was PT's first concert in India, and while there were a million things wrong with the management and organistion of the event (the arrangements were poor, and IIT-B evidently were ill-prepared for the crowd), PT were worth it. Worth every penny of the 25 grand I spent, worth every bruise on my feet as people stepped on them. After and during the opening act, there was a LOT of pushing from all sides, and with no space to even breathe, we all swayed, tripped, fell, crushed each other. I was scared shitless, and after a whole day of standing in lines, waiting and little food or sleep, I was terribly short on patience. But yelling and cursing didnt work and I guess, everyone had had enough. People were antsy, the men were rowdy and ill-mannered, but that isnt anything new, its India after all.
I was a few feet away from the stage, and thats where I wanted to stay till the end of the show, but there wasnt any space to even move my hands, forget trying to take a picture or record anything, So after a lot of heated deliberation, (I didnt want to give up my awesome spot, and my sister wanted to get out alive) my sister and I, sore, oxygen-deprived, drenched in sweat, moved to the back of the theatre, which was thankfully more peaceful, we got a place to sit, and had air to breathe.
These were taken with my sucky phone camera, they wouldnt let anything else into the theatre. Boo.
As the stage lights went out and the instrumental bit from the end of The Blind House started to play, everyone went mental. Soon, Steven, Gavin, Richard, Colin and Wesley walked in, to deafening cheers from the crowd. They opened with Occam's Razor which leads into The Blind House beautifully, and as the opening riff filled the theatre, everyone went mad screaming and head banging. The song is one of my favourites on The Incident, and live, it was breathtaking. Steven was a tad off key when he started singing, I guess the crowd was intimidating, even for him, but after that, it was flawless. When Steven started to sing the chorus, and went "Feel love..." I swear I thought my head would explode, it was so awesome! And my head did explode when Steven ended the song with a quick "Namaste". Hehe, too freaking cute! He told the crowd that instead of playing The Incident and a few other songs, which is how their concerts on this tour have been so far, they'd be mixing it up and playing their older stuff, since it was their first time in India. To this, everyone let out a roar of approval.
The next song was The Sound of Muzak, which was clearly very popular. I think most people in the theatre sang along. In Absentia is a brilliant album, and I never in my wildest dreams thought I'd get to hear naything off it, live. So I screamed and sang along, and screamed some more.
When they started playing the next song, for the first few seconds, I was too dumbfounded to even yell, my eyes popped out and when it finally registered it was Hatesong, I almost peed myself. Argh, it was so fucking awesome, I have no words. The instrumental part left me breathless and in awe of Gavin's mad skills.
I let out an animal shout, one I thought I never knew I was capable of, when Steven said they'd be playing Lazarus next. It got eardrum-splitting yells from almost everyone, so this was clearly a favourite for many. Now this song is especially special to me, this was the song which made me fall in love with PT. It all started with Lazarus, for me, and to have them play it, in the very first concert of theirs I see, was a dream come true, and I mean that literally. It was sonically stunning, the keyboards and the vocals, so perfect, I almost cried.
I was barely over how amazing the last song was when they started to play Open Car and I went insane shouting. Its one of my favourite PT songs, and live, its just a different level of amazing. The sound almost envelops you, it was in the air, the heat, the music, the energy.
Steven then took a stool and said he wanted to play more from The Incident, thanking the fans for making the album a success. Time Flies, as gorgeous it is, on the record, is twice as good, live. The best part of the song, the instrumental bit in the middle, gave me goosebumps, and I will never get over how superb the part where Steven goes "How does time break down?.." and after is.
credit for the video goes to: mathewiv
Click to viewI couldnt stop smiling at how Steven was swaying side to side while singing and playing his guitar.
The song was immaculate, Steven utterly brilliant vocally and on the guitar. There were some technical problems during the song, (though no one really cared!) and Steven apologised for it after the song finished and asked Richard and Gavin if they were good for the next song.
And then they started to play Blackest Eyes, which i think recieved the loudest shouts and cheers from the crowd. It is undoubtedly one of PT's most popular songs, and that became apparent when everyone in the crowd sang along. After freaking out over the fact that they were actually doing this song, I continued with singing along, and some killer headbanging.
Colin, who never stopped smiling (LOL) started playing his guitar, and they moved into The Start of something beautiful. It was amazing and I was surprised that most knew the song.
On a slightly unrelated note, this concert has greatly added to my Colin love, his enthusiam was heartwarming. Now I know what serena_vox was talking about. ;)
Then they proceeded to play, what was the highlight of the show, for me, 3 songs from The Incident, Octane Twisted, The Seance and Circle of Manias. Steven said that they needed to concentrate a bit cuz these numbers were a little hard to perform. All of it, from start to finish, was sheer perfection. I have BIG love for The Seance, one of my favourite tracks on The Incident, and hearing it live was super. I sang along and screamed and cheered, but much to my disappointment, many didnt know these songs.
This is when I both, understood why they didnt perform all of the first side of The Incident, and started to wish that they had. I was dying to listen to Drawing the line and The Incident live. Besdides those songs, I absolutely adore the shorter songs on the album, (which according to me are some of the best), like Great Expectations and Kneel and Disconnect. But I digress.
The next bit was so awesome, I swear at one point I put my head in my hands, it was so good that it was unbearable! It was a medley of Russia on Ice and Anesthetize. The latter song seemed to drive the crowd nuts, and while the last bit of that song, is the one I adore the most, The pills Im taking, was bloody brilliant, live. It consumed everyone out there, and left little doubt as to why many consider Anesthetize as the best PT song ever.
Way out of here was the last song they played, before Steven said goodnight and all of them left the stage. This song was my favourite track on FoaBP for a long time, and to hear it live, was out of this fucking world. This song is very close to my heart, and when Steven sang the second paragraph, I wept. I was quite a sight, crying and headbanging, all at once.
Watch for Gavin's crazy drumming skills and for my favourite part of the song - "And I'm trying to forget you and I know that I will..."
credit for the vid goes to: mathewiv
People chanted for more and an encore, and when the stage remained dark for a while, people started to leave, thats when my sister and I, came back to the front, close to stage and waited. The five of them came back on, and Steven said that they're going to perform one of their most popular songs for us, and then the crowd went mental again. Trains might not be my favourite track by PT, hell, most of the time, I dont even get why its so popular with people, but it was amazing live. Steven let the crowd sing the last bit and we were crazy loud.
They continued with Halo, which I think, we all got would be the last song, and so everyone sang and screamed and jumped with all their might. I was in the front now, and the energy there was great, and I loved every second of it, even though I couldnt see much. (I hate being so short, ugh!)
To get a feel of it, watch this. I must warn you about the screaming, be careful with the volume, haha.
credit for the video goes to: khushalbhadra
And with that, the show ended, and I could almost feel myself collapsing. It was the music, the adrenaline which was keeping me upright, and I was more tired than I ever have been. I finally got something to eat, then I slept at the airport, hehe, and then flew back to Delhi. My feet were swollen, my eyes burning and bloodshot, but Ive never been happier or more satisfied. PT are better than sex, I tell you. Lmao.
None of us got a chance to talk to them, or touch them (hehe!), or take a photo, or get anything signed, but I wasnt expecting that anyway. Im just glad I got to see them live, it was undoubtedly the best show India has ever seen. I think even PT would be proud of themselves, they were phenomenal, and going by the bits and pieces of the live shows Ive seen on YT, this was definitely one of their best concerts too. Steven said that they'd be back, and Im hoping, with everything Ive got in me, that its soon, and at a better organised event.