Photos courtesy of Carl Glover
Steven Wilson made his long-awaited return to the stage earlier this month after a seven-year hiatus, stepping back into the spotlight with his signature creativity. Forced to cancel The Future Bites tour due to the pandemic and choosing not to tour for the subsequent album, The Harmony Codex, Wilson is now embarking on an extensive world tour in support of his latest release, The Overview. The tour kicked off in Europe and the UK, with May 12th marking the first of four highly anticipated London shows at the iconic Palladium. We were fortunate to witness this memorable evening.
From the moment Wilson announced The Overview, he promised that the album’s two epic-length tracks would be performed live in one set, while the second set would span his eclectic and ambitious career. During the show, Wilson noted that his lack of hit songs frees him to play almost anything from his vast catalog, and indeed, this night proved him right, featuring a few surprises.
Before Wilson took the stage, the audience was treated to a brief but highly entertaining set by British comedian Clinton Baptiste, whose dry humor and supernatural-themed jokes set a lighthearted tone. Then, as the house lights dimmed, anticipation swelled, and Wilson and his band emerged.
The show began hauntingly, with Wilson’s falsetto piercing through the darkness: “I… incline myself to space.” These opening lines from ‘Objects Outlive Us’—the sprawling, 23-minute opus from the first side of The Overview—were delivered with pristine precision. The band’s performance was impressive, proving that modern progressive music remains strong. The piece unfolded with a meticulous balance of atmospheric soundscapes and complex instrumentation, and the audience was completely enthralled. Guitarist Randy McStine added his brilliant guitar solo to help close out the song. The second epic, the 18-minute title track, followed seamlessly. The song’s electronic introduction, recounting the formation of celestial objects, slowly evolved into a lush, melodic passage reminiscent of classic Porcupine Tree. As the composition moved into its final movement, guest musician Theo Travis stepped forward to deliver a stunning saxophone solo, his rich tones blending effortlessly with the band’s dynamic sound.
Set two opened with the ambient yet powerful title track from The Harmony Codex, featuring Wilson’s wife Rotem delivering her spoken word segment live, adding a personal touch to the composition. The intricate layering of keyboards, synths, and visuals created an immersive experience that felt both grand and personal. In a surprise twist, instead of following up with ‘King Ghost’ from The Future Bites, the band launched into the exhilarating ‘Luminol’ from The Raven album, a jazz-prog powerhouse that energized the room. The precision and intensity rivaled some of Porcupine Tree’s heaviest moments, and the audience responded with roaring applause.
A moment of calm came with ‘What Life Brings,’ an acoustic number that allowed Wilson to showcase his softer side before delving into two tracks from Grace for Drowning: ‘No Part of Me’ and ‘Remainder the Black Dog.’ These songs, absent from recent setlists, made a triumphant return with Theo Travis once again adding his masterful touch. The band then delivered a blistering rendition of ‘Dislocated Day’ from the Porcupine Tree catalog, unleashing a wall of sound that reverberated through the Palladium. Long-time Wilson band members Adam Holzman (Keys), Craig Blundell (Drums), and Nick Beggs (Bass) each had their shining moments during this stretch of songs and looked like they were enjoying themselves immensely.
The set concluded with the pulsating rhythms of ‘Economies of Scale’ from The Harmony Codex, seamlessly blending rock and electronica before shifting gears into the hard-hitting grooves of ‘Harmony Korine’ and the thunderous ‘Vermillioncore’, both of which closed the set with an exhilarating rush.
For the encore, Wilson kept the surprises coming. Instead of the expected ‘Pariah,’ the band launched into ‘Ancestral’ from Hand. Cannot. Erase. The sprawling, nearly 15-minute epic passed in what felt like mere moments, its complex dynamics keeping the audience captivated. Just when it seemed the night couldn’t get any better, a single barstool was placed center stage. Wilson sat down, and as the first notes of ‘The Raven That Refused to Sing’ floated through the air, the crowd erupted. The haunting ballad, delivered with heart-wrenching emotion, brought the night to a powerful close—a fitting end to a three-hour journey through one of modern prog’s most visionary minds.
https://www.setlist.fm/setlist/steven-wilson/2025/london-palladium-london-england-23572cdb.html
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