Music / Reviews
Review: The Pineapple Thief, Bierkeller
It’s always gratifying to see the audience for a band that you love finally beginning to reach a critical mass. Playing progressive rock presented Yeovil’s The Pineapple Thief with all the usual obstacles – no press, no airplay, etc – leading to years of performing in front of the proverbial two men and a dog. But a combination of factors, not least their dogged persistence and fellow traveller Steven Wilson’s breakthrough, has led to them drawing their biggest Bristol crowd to date at a packed and expectant Bierkeller, where eager prog nerds are laying siege to the merch stand as support act Godsticks arrive on stage.
These young Welsh progressive metallers are certainly a heavier proposition than the headliners. Without exception, they’re also hugely accomplished technically. But who isn’t these days? The rise of prog-metal and math rock has raised the musicianship bar to such giddy heights that we expect nothing less. Songs? That’s a different matter, and there’s certainly something lacking as Godsticks thunder their way through their first couple of numbers. But Revere, one of several unfamiliar tracks previewed from upcoming album Faced with Rage, brings out the subtlety beneath the bludgeon, while set highlight Exit Stage Right benefits from being constructed upon a titanic, old-school metal riff. They’ll be back. Indeed, guitarist Darran Charles will be back very shortly, as he’s doing a double stint with The Pineapple Thief.
is needed now More than ever
Much has changed in Pineapple World since they played the Fleece back in December 2014. The recruitment of Charles as second touring guitarist and arrival of exceptional Porcupine Tree/King Crimson drummer Gavin Harrison has kicked everything up a notch as they ascend to bigger stages. The confidence boost this has afforded extends to founder/frontman Bruce Soord’s warm, yearning vocals, especially in those gorgeous harmonies with bassist Jon Sykes – whose headphones are seemingly glued to his ears, as usual.
It’s natural that they should want to take advantage of the increased dynamism supplied by the new recruits, which is showcased to particularly impressive effect during opening songs Tear You Up and The One You Left to Die, with Charles really proving his mettle. But any fears that this might be permitted to overwhelm the more delicate material are allayed when Soord reaches for his acoustic guitar for a gorgeous reading of the melancholic No Man’s Land from current album, Your Wilderness.
Your Wilderness has been out for long enough for us all to be familiar with the songs, which is just as well as it dominates the set. Perhaps surprisingly, we get just a couple of songs from its immediate predecessor Magnolia and nothing from All the Wars, as The Pineapple Thief take the opportunity to mine their earlier catalogue for gems to be reinvigorated by the current line-up. Shoot First from Tightly Unwound proves an early highlight, but Part Zero from 2003’s Variations on a Dream is a jaw-dropping treat. Never before has their proggiest of epics sounded so astonishing. It’s just taken 14 years to find the players to do it justice.
It’s back to Your Wilderness for the album’s longest track – woozy, hypnotic The Final Thing On My Mind – the laidback tone continuing with percussive first encore Snowdrops. As is now traditional, this one has the rapturous audience clapping along, with some struggling to keep on top of the complex rhythm. Finally, the throbbing Nothing at Best proves something of a showcase for keyboard player Steve Kitch, who’s tucked away at the back of the stage – though as with all TPT songs, this is more about atmosphere than virtuosity.
Will Harrison become a full-time member of the band? Nobody knows. Or if they do, they’re not saying. His stunning technique and imaginative drum patterns are certainly a major asset, tastefully enhancing the songs rather than flashily distracting from them. With momentum building, it would seem daft to break up such a winning team.
All photos by Mike Evans
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