On the evening of October 3rd, 2023, music enthusiasts gathered at the prestigious Albert Hall in Manchester to witness a truly remarkable performance by the iconic PJ Harvey. This enchanting evening was made even more special by the presence of hometown hero Johnny Marr of the band the Smiths. But about that a little bit later. I just want to remind new listeners that PJ Harvey has received Mercury Prizes for ‘Stories from the City, Stories from the Sea’ in 2000 and ‘Let England Shake’ in 2011, making her the only artist to have been awarded the prize twice. Her last tour took place in 2017 so expectations for the concert were huge.
She started her first set few minutes after 8pm and played her last album “I Inside the Old Year Dying” in full. Beautiful songs like ‘Prayer at the gate’, ‘I inside the old I dying’, ‘Lonesome Tonight’ sounded even greater in surroundings of this beautiful, old building. It was evident that Harvey’s connection with her music was profound, as she poured her heart and soul into each performance and her presentation was nothing short of extraordinary.
She has a way of capturing the audience’s attention, nobody talks during her performance and each and every one of us is fully focussed on her every move and note. After a brief interlude following the first half, the band started with songs from album ‘Let England Shake’. We could hear ‘The Colour of the Earth’, ‘The Glorious Land’, ‘The Words That Maketh Murder’.
Musicians accompanying Harvey were exceptional, providing a solid foundation for her to build upon. Each performer showcased their expertise, adding depth and complexity to the already captivating songs. The chemistry between musicians was evident, resulting in a cohesive and tight-knit performance. During the concert we could hear songs from her extensive discography, seamlessly blending songs from different eras. Harvey’s stage presence was magnetic, effortlessly commanding the attention of every individual in the audience.
Songs like ‘Angelene’, ‘Man-Size’ last time were played live in 2008 so it was a massive treat for fans. As I mentioned before, even bigger delicacy was rendition of ‘The Desperate Kingdom of Love’ which she performed together with Johny Marr. Amazing songs and many of them my favourite like ‘Down by the Water’ and ‘To Bring You My Love’ which finished the second part of his amazing spectacle.
After short while Johny Marr returned to join PJ Harvey and the band for encore to finish this magical night with ‘C’mon Billy’ and beautiful ‘White chalk’. In conclusion, PJ Harvey’s performance at Albert Hall in Manchester on October 3rd was an evidence to her professionalism and artistry. Teaming up with Johnny Marr elevated the experience to new heights, resulting in a magical evening that will be remembered by all in attendance.
SETLIST
‘Prayer at the Gate’
‘Autumn Term’
‘Lonesome Tonight’
‘Seem an I’
‘The Nether‐edge’
‘I Inside the Old Year Dying’
‘All Souls’
‘A Child’s Question, August’
‘August’
‘A Child’s Question, July’
‘A Noiseless Noise’
‘The Colour of the Earth’
‘The Glorious Land’
‘The Words That Maketh Murder’
‘Angelene’
‘Send His Love to Me’
‘The Garden’
‘The Desperate Kingdom of Love’ (with Johnny Marr)
‘Man-Size’
‘Dress’
‘Down by the Water’
‘To Bring You My Love’
‘C’mon Billy’ (with Johnny Marr)
‘White Chalk’ (with Johnny Marr)
PJ HARVEY
Photos + Review by Tom Adam | Exclusively for Music, Why Not!
