Steven Wilson – The Lowry, Salford Quays: Live!

By Mike Ainscoe on 19th May 2025 • ( Leave a comment )

Steven Wilson – The Lowry, Salford Quays – Sunday 18th May 2025

After missing solo touring cycles for various reasons for The Future Bites and The Harmony Codex albums (including the revival of Porcupine Tree), Steven Wilson and his usual crack band are back in the saddle and purring along quite nicely thank you very much with The Overview Tour.

TH5 OV5RV95W

With the mood set by a carefully curated playlist of space themed music on the PA – The Carpenters, Gary Numan and yes, “giant steps are what you take…walking on the moon” – it’s a tour that does pretty much what it says on the tin. The new album – The Overview – two long form pieces might create the question of how to present the new album but it’s answered very simply. The first set made up of the whole album in two chunks while the second set cherry picks from the repertoire (catalogue/catalog) that’s comprehensive enough to be only missing a contribution from Grace For Drowning. In keeping with the ‘progressive’ nature of the new album. we’ve also had hints that the shows will have more of a ‘progressive’ tinge.

It’s certainly very Pink-y Floyd-y with Quad sounds emerging from speakers placed at the back of the stalls and circle (and probably the upper circle too) of the Lyric Theatre which along with the visuals that appear throughout both Objects Outlive Us and The Overview, make for a full audio-visual experience. In particular the heftier sections in the latter part of the piece are exciting enough to counter the parts that require a respectful reverence.

The title track with its data and electronics that see SW spending much of his stage time at his comprehensive keyboard rig is tempered with a lovely A Beautiful Infinity with the McStine bottleneck doing a grand turn. Again, the latter parts of the piece is lifted by some impressive guitar/keyboard solo leads. Placed within the context of a stage show, TH5 OV5RV95W is allowed to breath – more rounded and fully formed, than just listening to an album.

“That was intense. We’ll be back for a set of comedy music...” says SW. We shall see..

comedy music

Maybe he was joking as we return to the comfort of our very comfortable sets that fit with the plush decor. Both The Harmony Codex and King Ghost see just Wilson and Adm Holzman conjuring up sounds on their various keyboard rigs, providing a bridge between the first half and into

When your gig buddy hears the opening shimmer to Home Invasion/Regret #9, gives you a nudge and and says “we’re on!” the next ten minutes are going to be the first of an exciting diversion into the Hand. Cannot. Erase. album along with an encore of Ancestral. Both Adam and Randy ‘The Mink’ McStine (the latest in a long line of frankly shit hot guitar players) excel in their solo outings in Regret as Wilson and Beggs simply provide the chugging base for their excursions. It’s the sort of long and complex but massively admired pieces that SW specialises in and has him offering apologises to anyone who’s not here by choice (wives / girlfriends / etc) and offers What Life Brings as a peace offering.

Expressing enthusiasm

Talking about the interaction between band and audience, we feel a little scolded by our leader who perhaps feels that he Manchester audience are too comfortable in their seats and not engaging as openly as the band would like. It’s the old seated or standing venue debate and while recent times have seen SW play the Bridgewaters and the Apollos of the city, one can see his point. Perhaps the option of the Apollo with the stalls seats removed would see fans given a choice. Venue musings aside, there’s certainly no shortage of admiration in the ovations at the end of several pieces though and to be fair, although SW offers a tongue-in -cheek “thank you for expressing your enthusiasm from the safety of your seated position” he seems quite delighted that we’re upstanding and enthusiastic when it counts.

THE WORST MUSICIAN IN THE BAND

SW also returns to a point not that he’s made before about making sure he’s the worst musician in his band. Nick (“sex on two legs and it rhymes with...”) Beggs alternates between bass, the familiar Chapman Stick and even an upright bass and there’s a little tomfoolery with Craig Blundell as the band amuse themselves on stage. A case of they’re good enough to get away with it.

We’re pleased with the setlist juggling that we get in Manchester. London in particular has dug deeper with the multiple dates at the Palladium (that might hopefully form the basis of a live souvenir) and tonight, as we tick off the album choices, Dislocated Day head w-a-y back to the early days when Porcupine tree was a bedroom project. The comedy music continues as Ninet Tayeb appears onscreen for her part in Pariah and not for the first time Steven and Randy stalk the lip of the stage (maybe seeking some response or sign of life ) for the shrill climax. The promise of the more progressive is fully realised too. Impossible Tightrope (“I always f@@k it up!” he confesses) and Vermillioncore tick the boxes and there’s no room for complaint as SW summons the high stool for the Raven finale.

Nine solo albums and counting, the overview is complete.