• Skip to main content
  • Skip to primary sidebar
  • Skip to footer
  • HOME
  • NEWS+OPINIONS
    • NEWS TO US
    • COLUMNS
      • APPARENT HORIZON
      • DEAR READER
      • Close
    • LONGFORM FEATURES
    • OPINIONS
    • EDITORIAL
    • Close
  • ARTS+ENTERTAINMENT
    • FILM
    • MUSIC
    • COMEDY
    • PERFORMING ARTS
    • VISUAL ARTS
    • Close
  • DINING+DRINKING
    • EATS
    • SIPS
    • BOSTON BETTER BEER BUREAU
    • Close
  • LIFESTYLE
    • CANNABIS
      • TALKING JOINTS MEMO
      • Close
    • WELLNESS
    • GTFO
    • Close
  • STUFF TO DO
  • TICKETS
  • ABOUT US
    • ABOUT
    • MASTHEAD
    • ADVERTISE
    • Close

Dig Bos

The Dig - Greater Boston's Alternative News Source

FOTOBOM: PJ HARVEY @ HOUSE OF BLUES, 17APR17

Written by TIM BUGBEE Posted April 18, 2017 Filed Under: Fotobom, MUSIC, Reviews

PJ Harvey at House of Blues. All rights reserved / © Tim Bugbee

 

Not counting her 2009 show with collaborator for life John Parish, it’s been quite a while since PJ Harvey played a show in town. Thirteen years, to be exact, but who’s counting? Throngs of fans who braved the remnants of the receding tide of Sox fans and Marathon participants/supporters made their way through Kenmore Square, over to the House of Blues in anticipation. It was a bit odd that there was no opening act, but a glance at the empty stage set up told the story. Harvey brought an impressive band with her, nine strong, and instruments, amps, mics and other gear filled most of the stage; trying to set that up and do a line check after an opening act would provide a fertile breeding ground for technical glitches.

 

The show opened with a martial drum snare, and the band members snaked past the monitor mix desk, stage left, gradually taking their stations. Along with Parish, with whom Harvey has worked for nearly 30 years, familiar faces included ex-Bad Seeds Mick Harvey and James Johnston. Johnston was also the prime mover behind early 90’s bellowing, snarling Gallon Drunk, and ex-colleague Terry Edwards is now back as a current colleague.  There were drums, keyboards, and guitars and the usual ingredients of a rock show, but this wasn’t an ordinary concert. Though nostalgic types would like nothing better than Harvey to rip through “Dry,” “Dress,” Long Snake Moan,” etc – but the primal days of rock are behind, and she’s interested in other forms of musical expression.

 

A main ingredient would be the saxophone, sometimes three at a time. This gave a heft to the Hope Six Demolition Project material, matching up nicely with the percussive attack on “The Community Of Hope.” The more subtle politically-charged material (especially “A Line In The Sand” and “Let England Shake”) gradually gave way to a harder-edged finger jab at society via “The Wheel,” a lament of war cruelty via collateral damage, against a barrage of three saxes, four guitars, and a slew of hand claps. A floor tom tumbled off the drum riser, and that was a much easier fix than the 28,000 kids referenced in the song.

 

Harvey’s unrelenting vocal power came to the fore as “50 ft. Queenie” was unleashed onto the crowd, the band swathed in pale blue light as the song throbbed like a toothache. The set finished up with a small handful of older material, the gently swaying “Down By The Water” barely concealing the menace under the rippling surface, before dissolving into two harmonious sax lines. Harvey doesn’t traffic in the wallop of guitar/bass/drums any longer, but her muse and the art it produces is as strong as ever.

 

Click on the photo below to see the full gallery:
PJ Harvey @ House of Blues

TIM BUGBEE
+ posts

Primarily based in Boston, Massachusetts, Tim Bugbee is no stranger to traveling throughout the country or overseas to capture the best live music photos.

  • TIM BUGBEE
    https://digboston.com/author/tim-bugbee/
    FOTOBOM: BACKSEAT LOVERS + FIELD MEDIC @ ROADRUNNER
  • TIM BUGBEE
    https://digboston.com/author/tim-bugbee/
    FOTOBOM: THE SISTERS OF MERCY @ BIG NIGHT LIVE
  • TIM BUGBEE
    https://digboston.com/author/tim-bugbee/
    FOTOBOM: BOSTON CALLING DAY 3 PHOTOS AND FESTIVAL WRAP UP
  • TIM BUGBEE
    https://digboston.com/author/tim-bugbee/
    FOTOBOM: BOSTON CALLING DAY 2 PHOTOS

Filed Under: Fotobom, MUSIC, Reviews Tagged With: Fotobom, Hope Six Demolition Project, house of blues, John Parish, live music, Mick Harvey, PJ Harvey

WHAT’S NEW

State Wire: Advocates Push For 'Tax Fairness' With Expanded Child Tax Credits

State Wire: Advocates Push For ‘Tax Fairness’ With Expanded Child Tax Credits

Mass Lawmakers Hear Testimony On Cannabis Testing, Medical Access

Mass Lawmakers Hear Testimony On Cannabis Testing, Medical Access

Massachusetts Bill, Victim Advocates Call For Coordinated Date-Rape Drug Response

Massachusetts Bill, Victim Advocates Call For Coordinated Date-Rape Drug Response

Report: Fewer Youth Transition Out Of Massachusetts Foster Care System

Report: Fewer Youth Transition Out Of Massachusetts Foster Care System

State Wire: Activists Urge Congress To Raise Debt Ceiling, Resist Spending Cuts

State Wire: Activists Urge Congress To Raise Debt Ceiling, Resist Spending Cuts

Dancing On Banana Peels: Life On Lifetime Parole In Massachusetts

Dancing On Banana Peels: Life On Lifetime Parole In Massachusetts

Primary Sidebar

LOCAL EVENTS

AAN Wire


Most Popular

  • AG Investigating BPD To Determine If “Gang Unit” Engages In “Unconstitutional Policing”
  • Over Yondr: Are Cell Phone Pouches At Shows Liberating, Dangerous, Or Annoying?
  • Deep Cuts Brings Sandwiches, Craft Beer, And Live Music To Medford
  • Daring Greatly: TikTok Star Alden McWayne (aka Gucci Pineapple) On Scheming And Dreaming
  • Dead As Ever: Meet The Rising Dark Star Of Boston’s Jam Band Scene

Footer

Social Buttons

DigBoston facebook DigBoston Twitter DigBoston Instagram

Masthead

About

Advertise

Customer Service

About Us

DigBoston is a one-stop nexus for everything worth doing or knowing in the Boston area. It's an alt-weekly, it's a website, it's an email blast, it's a twitter account, it's that cool party that you were at last night ... hey, you're reading it, so it's gotta be good. For advertising inquiries: sales@digboston.com To reach editorial (and for inquiries about internship opportunities): editorial@digboston.com