Steven Wilson @ Her Majesty’s Theatre, Adelaide 13/11/2025
I’m really lost for words to describe this one! Absolutely extraordinary! Absolutely incredible! Steven Wilson is in the country in support of his latest album The Overview. It might only be two songs but if you are looking for something that goes far deeper and in to far greater meaning explaining life and the universe compared to anything else this would be it. Unusual that the main act would be on at the unfashionably early time of seven o’clock, no support, set one was The Overview start to end. How they were able to replicate this intense piece of work in a live sense is no mean feat.
It was refreshing also that the use of mobiles to take “unauthorised” videos and photos was discouraged with a bold message on the screen marked “Attention” and echoing that sentiment and that going without a phone for a couple of hours is not such a bad thing.
It was definitely a case of being blown away and in awe of this experience. How do you compare it to anything else out there? I would go as far as to say that Steven Wilson is a modern genius. Barefooted and emerging from the darkness there was a complex stage set up packed electronic instruments and synths to create this unique soundscape. Right from the outset of Objects Outlive Us it was a captivating an absorbing experience. The LED screen projecting a range of visuals and imagery reflecting the tone and the subtle shifts in direction that the song was taken. It really didn’t feel like twenty-five minutes but it was such an absorbing moment that time literally flew by. It was like the perfectly woven tapestry with the charm of Her Majesty’s Theatre adding to the experience.
The tile track, The Overview, continued this experience taking this experience much further giving another perspective from space looking back at Earth. The crowd were transfixed and in a trance being fully engrossed in the moment. Absolutely in awe! Quite staggering that the first fifty minutes was done with the great man talking about the “obstacles” in play with the crowd being seated which changes the dynamic adding that they respond more favourably to an “obnoxious” and enthusiastic crowd. Steven also made the comment “there are no under thirties here” referring to the metal fans who were down the road at Blood Incantation. With that the crowd cheered, yelled and showed their appreciation and adulation with the band taking a short break to reset after such an “intense piece of music”.
The die hard fans really did come in to element after the break right from the Porcupine Tree’s Voyage 34 (Phase 1) followed by fan favourite Home Invasion. There was a moment for empathy for those dragged along or came by mistake and looking at their watch thinking “it’s been an hour and a quarter and his only played four fucking songs”. In attempt to write a “concise four minute pop song” it was the impressive What Life Brings from Harmony Codex then the epic Staircase from the same album.
Another Porcupine Tree classic in Dislocated Day was brilliant the interplay between the band was fantastic to watch and it was as if they were talking to each other through their instruments.
The emotive Pariah was a popular moment followed by Wilson saying he needed a toilet break and requested his band to not fill the void with “jazz fusion”. Bassist Nick Beggs stole the show with an improvised making a cup of tea showing a more comedic and lighter side to the performance with Wilson returning shaking his head to the dismay that followed. This moment of comedy I don’t think you could have scripted. Back to the serious side of things it was the likes of Luminol, Harmony Korine and Vermillioncore that took things to another level highlighting what we already knew that this ensemble are elite players. Wilson even acknowledged that himself saying that this was his most favourite band he has played in.
There was still more music to come in the encore starting with Ancestral, wowsers! Brilliant! Wilson responded to someone wanting to hear one of his more popular songs Trains commenting that he has no famous songs and to go out in to Grote Street to ask the first two hundred people if they have heard of it and they probably haven’t. Nevertheless, take nothing away from the impactfulness that his music had on this Adelaide crowd with case point proven on show closer The Raven That Refused to Sing I have no doubt there will be more people in the know by the time the next tour rolls round.
Live Review By Rob Lyon