Steven Wilson brings eclectic show to Pittsburgh

Porcupine Tree frontman Steven Wilson has single-handedly redefined the term “Hardest working man in show business.” When he’s not busy working with Porcupine Tree or the myriad of other bands he’s involved with he is writing and producing music for other artists. His genius and creativity knows no bounds. Those familiar with Wilson’s body of work already know that he is one of the most prolific and eclectic songwriters of his generation or any other for that matter. You also know that Wilson has the ability to take dark and sometimes frightening subject matter and somehow make it beautiful. Those not yet familiar, now is the perfect time to experience this one of a kind musical journey in a live setting and see for yourself what just may be the best kept secret in modern music of any genre today. Wilson is out on tour in support of his newest solo concept album Hand Cannot Erase and is pulling out all the stops, bringing a massive stage production, including a fifty foot led video screen, to help tell the story through music that spans almost every conceivable genre from jazz, metal and the more progressive leanings of Rush or King Crimson to blues, funk, the mellow acoustic elements of Pink Floyd and then some, but somehow making it all work together flawlessly. The stage at the Palace Theater tried it’s best to hold it all in, but nothing could contain the enthusiasm of the legions of diehard fans that packed the theater that night. Many refused to sit in the seats they had paid for, preferring rather to stand and those that weren’t already, stood up at the end of every song. Yes, every single song got a standing ovation that evening, not just the encore. The show also had one of the finest sound mixes in music history. It was so good that at times you had to wonder how it could possibly be so perfect without some kind of cheating going on, but Wilson quickly put that theory to rest when he told the crowd that the only cheating was dubbing in the voice of Ninet Tayeb, who couldn’t be there to sing her parts on “Routine.” Wilson also surrounded himself with the very best musicians and their individual performances were the stuff legends are made of, with not a single note out of place and it goes without saying that Wilson’s performance was pure perfection. Now, you already knew Wilson was a gifted musician, but what you might not know, is that he’s funny as hell too. Fans got a concert, a movie and a comedy show all rolled into one and Wilson’s thick accent only added to his charm when he said, “I love sad music and fucking hate happy music.” Just when fans thought it couldn’t get any better and they had seen & heard it all, Wilson pulled out “Lazarus” and “Sleep Together,” before the encore of “The Raven That Refused to Sing,” sending the devoted to their own utopia in a blissful state of nirvana. This is bar none, simply as good as it possibly gets when it comes to a live concert, so don’t miss your chance to see it if the tour hits your town, it will change the way you look at and listen to music forever. -Eric Hunker [lg_slideshow folder=\”2015/Steven Wilson in Pittsburgh/\”]