We'll get a great insight into the band on tour with Theo Travis writing a blog as the tour progresses. The dates run from now until May with some 35 gigs in Europe and States so we'll bring you each report as Theo updates. They'll be in Manchester and Glasgow this weekend.
On The Road. March 1st
"So today is the day it all kicks off. Yesterday was our final day of rehearsal and it was great. All the songs we are playing from the new album are sounding fantastic and the band is smoking...I mean really smoking. I have played with a lot of excellent bands but this is something else. Just to name check everyone there is Guthrie
Govan on guitar (new boy!), Adam Holzman on keys, Nick Beggs on bass and Chapman stick, the amazing Marco Minneman on drums, SW centre stage and yours truly blowing things.
We left London late last night travelling through the night on our night liner tour bus and arrived in Manchester early this morning ready for an early get in and sound check and production rehearsal. We are playing in the Academy 1, which is next to the University Union - the University where I attended late last century (!) to study music (all classical and specialising in Shostakovich actually) . Funny coming back here again. The last couple of gigs I did in Manchester were with the mighty Soft Machine Legacy at the wonderful Band on the Wall (by the way new album coming out 'Burden of proof' March 25) and Gong at Academy 2 which is next door. Both good but very different gigs. Nice to be back here and a few friends coming along tonight. There is excitement in the air as this is a new set, new line up, new show and much anticipation.
The response and reviews of SW's new album have been really excellent so far, including the five star review in the Guardian newspaper. Let's hope people dig the gigs too. Sitting backstage now waiting for soundcheck. Not long now...."
So last night was the first gig. Manchester Academy 1. A good venue and sold out. The band was a bit nervous as there is a lot of new material which we have not played live before. We went on a 8 pm and in the first number there was a small technical glitch with some sounds which was off-putting but not disastrous. The set seemed to settle in as it went on and the new songs got a very good response. I thought the band was on fire and Guthrie did an amazing job on his first gig with the band. Nick Beggs excelled himself with his sartorial elegance unveiling a brand new outfit - a mix of Dickensian grandness and Count von Dracula! Marco played with his usual fire but perfect precision. Speaking to people afterwards who had also seen the Grace for Drowning tour, the opinion was that this set was even stronger and more focused, which is great. And I think as the tour goes on, it will get better and better.
Glasgow. March 2.
Last night we played Glasgow ABC and we all loved it. The nerves and glitches of the first night were gone. The audience were well up for it and noisily enthusiastic (which we like!) In fact Marco had not been feeling well during the day, but he said that when he sat down to play the first number he felt great again. The power of music! The sound was good onstage and I think we all felt more relaxed. Everyone played great and Adam and Guthrie did some particularly good solos. It was good to see some friendly faces in the crowd who I remember from the Grace for Drowning tour too. We changed the encore last night to try something different and played a very old Porcupine Tree song called 'Radioactive Toy' which worked really well. The audience loved it.
Afterwards we hung out for a while meeting friends and fans and just chatting backstage. Some interesting issues came up and it was good to talk through them. Someone mentioned to Marco the Glaswegian speciality of 'deep fried Mars Bar' which is basically a Mars Bar deep fried in batter. Err...sounds a bit strange to me! Ever the adventurer, Marco went out into the night in search of one of these delicacies and indeed found one. I think he found it 'interesting'....
Another night on the bus and back to London for our Royal Festival Hall gig on Monday. Now that is something I am really looking forward to. I last played there in 2007 with
David Sylvian on his world tour which I enjoyed hugely and I am sure this is going to be just as special. The Festival Hall is a great venue and being right in the middle of London on e South Bank of the Thames feels like you are playing at the centre of everything.
Theo Travis
