Eccentricity knows no bounds with P.J. Harvey (PJ Harvey - live)

Member Name: Mildew82

Product:	PJ Harvey - live
Date:	16/04/09 (111 review reads)
Rating:

Advantages: Eccentric and captivating - no chance of boredom

Disadvantages: Very few visual effects

Despite my friends' best attempts I never really got into any of P.J. Harvey's albums although I always liked her sound - just pure laziness on my part.

However, I have attended several of her concerts (both bizarrely in Brighton - how's that for some alliteration) so consider myself more than qualified to judge her on her stage skills even if I can't really judge her music.

The first concert was at the Brighton Centre many moons ago, her last album released having been Uh Huh Her (2004) and the first thing that struck me about P.J. Harvey was how much of a shrinking violet she seemed. The only words she spoke were a few heartfelt thanks - but then she is one of the few artists that can get away with her music doing the talking for her.

And by golly did it.

With an astonishing vocal and instrument range (from the piano to guitars to maracas) no two songs were alike and despite the lack of visual effects on stage the songs were compelling enough to keep the audience 100% hooked. To be able to switch between haunting tones one minute and eccentric wailing the next is an art form P.J. Harvey has definitely mastered. That concert was definitely a memorable one.

The second concert was at the Brighton Dome, this following the release of her latest album A Woman A Man Walked By (with John Parish). This concert was based entirely around the collaborative work of P.J. Harvey and John Parish and the difference between the first concert I attended and this one was astronomical in size.

It could have been the fresh sea breeze on a surprisingly warm April evening or the fact that John Parish was up on stage to share the moment with her, but whatever it was something brought about a massive change in P.J. Harvey. Whilst still maintaining her incredible vocal control, this second performance was much more upbeat, with wild dancing on stage and much more energetic songs and an increased confidence when talking to the audience.

Just to give you a taste of the amazing weirdness of it all here is an extract from one of her songs which caught my ear:

"He had chicken liver balls!/He had chicken liver spleen!/He had chicken liver heart!/Made of chicken liver parts/Lily livered little parts!/Lily livered little parts!"

It is safe to say that P.J. Harvey is one of the most creative artists I've ever had the pleasure of hearing live and she is able to suck you into whatever mood she is trying to create, whether it is dark and disturbing, or haunting or just down right crazy and you won't be able to stop yourself from enjoying it!

She probably won't be everyone's cup of tea, but if you're in the mood for something different and utterly insane you will love P.J. Harvey live!

Summary: If you want to be wowed by something different and compelling see P.J. Harvey live