Music / Reviews
Review: Portishead, Cardiff University
It was an arresting performance from Portishead who announced Thursday night’s show at the Cardiff University Students’ Union just days ago.
The concert, billed as the warm-up to their weekend headline appearance at Latitude, may have been last-minute but the iconic band looked anything but rushed.
The audience immediately fell under the Bristol group’s mesmerising spell as Beth Gibbons’ hauntingly raw vocals echoed throughout the building, opening with Silence.
is needed now More than ever
Geoff Barrow commanded the mixing desk and drum machines while Adrian Utley menaced with his array of guitars as Portishead led the hypnotised crowd through their extensive back catalogue.
Epic outings of Mysterons, Sour Times, Over and Wandering Star featured on the 15-track setlist, putting the venue’s PA system to the test. Luckily it fared well during the full 90-minutes.
Stand-out moments included a rapturous performance of Machine Gun with the track’s rumbling sub-bass drowning the venue, followed by the emotional Glory Box which stirred and moved the enchanted crowd.
A big and beautiful nightmare is one way of describing the concert which was set to the backdrop of a whole host of trippy visuals, combining both live footage of the band and audience.
The band ended on Threads from their 2008 album Third before leaving to a deafening applause. As is usually the case an encore was to be expected with the crowd and surrounding balconies getting noisier as the clock ticked on.
Portishead returned to the stage to the opening chords of 1994’s Roads, prompting the loudest cheers of the night before hundreds of fans reverted back to their awe-inspiring state, marvelling at Gibbons’ undisputed talent.
The night concluded with the singer throwing herself into the crowd during last track We Carry On to which the room erupted, arms flung out and surging forwards.
Support in the Welsh capital came from Thought Forms, a mainstay of Barrow’s Invada Records. The label boss took to Twitter following the gig to thank the crowd, writing: “Thanks you Cardiff it’s taken 20 yrs plus to get to you!”
Thanks you Cardiff it’s taken 20 yrs plus to get to you! Felt like the young Geoff again Now back to the old one.
— Geoff Barrow (@jetfury) July 16, 2015
Latitude, you’re in safe hands.
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