Portishead - Third Tour

Leaky Sparrow just turned 2 last Sunday and to celebrate its second birthday no better way than to buy two tickets to see Portishead live at Cologne. Actually, I planned to see them in Paris in May, but the 2 dates were sold out in almost a week. Anyway, I had to go to Germany and, lucky me, the Bristolian ensemble scheduled a stop in Cologne while touring Europe few days before they will launch their Third album (April 28).
It was a sold out show at Köln Palladium concert hall (4.500 standing) last Sunday. Kling Klang a vague copy of Hawkwind opened the evening. Then we had to wait 30 long minutes before the PA system played Expecting to Fly from the Buffalo Springfield and here we go… Portishead on stage for everyone pleasure.
From the new album, I only know Machine Gun and I was very anxious to hear the new tunes eleven years after Portishead (1997) and fourteen years after Dummy (1994) one of the most influential release of the 1990s. To be short, it was obvious to me that like Low with Drums And Guns (2007), Barrow, Utley and Gibbons constructed there songs around drums or electro drum machines. But, it’s hard to have a quick judgement with people like Portishead, you need to listen and listen again every song before you understand the creative process and jump behind the complexity of each one. However, Beth’s voice is still amazing and I confirm that Third will be a great album. On stage, the band delivered a very very impressive set, so don’t miss them.

It was the perfect present for the little Sparrow.

Portishead, Palladium, Köln, April 6, 2008
Dummy (D); Portishead (P); Third (3):

01 - Silence (3)
02 - Hunter (3)
03 - Mysterons (D)
04 - The Rip (3)
05 - Glory Box (D)
06 - Numb (D)
07 - Magic Doors (3)
08 - Wandering Star (D)
09 - Machine Gun (3)
10 - Over (P)
11 - Sour Times (D)
12 - Nylon Smile (3)
13 - Cowboys (P)
-------------------------
14 - Threads (3)
15 - Roads (D)
16 - We Carry On (3)

Web: portishead.co.uk
MySpace: myspace.com/PORTISHEADALBUM3

Portishead - Sour Times .mp3
Portishead - Glory Box .mp3
Portishead - It's A Fire .mp3

Bonus: Silver Apples - Lovefingers .mp3

Photos and review (in German) here
Photo by christoph (thanks!) - Beth Gibbons (Portishead) – Cologne April 6, 2008