Music

Exclusive Interview: Colin Edwin of Porcupine Tree

Published

14 years ago

May 10, 2010

While on tour for their album, ‘The Incident’, I had a chance to catch up with Colin Edwin, bassist of British prog-rock band Porcupine Tree. We sat down to discuss how the tour is going, what were some funny stories that happened on tour, how the various members side projects are going and what some of Colin’s favorite horror movies are. Check the interview below and let me know what you think!

Read on for my review of the concert at the Fillmore Theater in Detroit, Michigan.

This was not the first time I’ve seen Porcupine Tree. Nor was it the second. I think this was the fifth or sixth time that I’ve seen them. The first time was back in 2003 when Porcupine Tree, touring in support of ‘In Absentia’ (see retro review HERE), opened up for Opeth who was touring in support of Damnation. It was a phenomenal concert that solidified my appreciation and admiration for the band even though the rest of the crowd seemed intent on hearing Opeth. Since that show, Porcupine Tree has been the headliner for every concert I’ve attended. For this performance, Bigelf was the opener and they played a great set that was a solid build-up for Porcupine Tree.

With each time I’ve seen Porcupine Tree their sets become more and more diverse, stretching over their long and varied discography, and this show didn’t disappoint in that area at all. I believe it was the first time I’d heard ‘Russia On Ice’ since that first Porcupine Tree show I’d seen in ’03. Admittedly, they only played the first half of the song, but it was still a treat. The also played the middle section of ‘Anesthetize’, which is my favorite part.

Starting off with the entire first disc of The Incident, one of the first things I noticed was how much more complex the visual aspect of the show was. With each Porcupine Tree concert I attend, I notice how the production aspect of the show increases. New lights, new videos (I even remember when they started adding video) and more create an amazing atmosphere that never detracts from the impact and the emotion of the music.

Each member, including touring staple John Wesley on guitars, was right on point even through the complex polyrhythms and time signature changes. Gavin Harrison wowed the crowd many times with his intricate drumming. Steven Wilson was also having fun with the crowd, making little jokes here and there in between songs. The pit at the Fillmore was seating only and Steven questioned the crowd as to why they were sitting down during the whole performance of ‘The Incident’, saying, ”C’mon guys, this is a rock and roll show! Get up!”.

As Porcupine Tree progresses and changes with each album, so do they progress and change visually with their performances. If you missed them on this tour, make sure to check them out the next time they come around. You will not be disappointed.

Related Topics:Colin Edwin Detroit Fillmore Theater In Absentia interview Michigan Opeth Porcupine Tree The Incident

JonathanBarkan

Managing editor/music guy/social media fella of Bloody-Disgusting

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Music

“He Walks By Night” – Listen to a Brand New John Carpenter Song NOW!

Published

2 weeks ago

April 9, 2024

John Squires

It’s a new day, and you’ve got new John Carpenter to listen to. John Carpenter, Daniel Davies and Cody Carpenter have released the new track He Walks By Night this morning, the second single off their upcoming album Lost Themes IV: Noir, out May 3 on Sacred Bones Records.

Lost Themes IV: Noir is the latest installment in a series that sees Carpenter releasing new music for John Carpenter movies that don’t actually exist. The first Lost Themes was released in 2015, followed by Lost Themes II in 2016 and Lost Themes III: Alive After Death in 2021.

Sacred Bones previews, “It’s been a decade since John Carpenter recorded the material that would become Lost Themes, his debut album of non-film music and the opening salvo in one of Hollywood’s great second acts. Those vibrant, synth-driven songs, made in collaboration with his son Cody Carpenter and godson Daniel Davies, kickstarted a musical renaissance for the pioneering composer and director. With Lost Themes IV: Noir, they’ve struck gold again, this time mining the rich history of the film noir genre for inspiration.

“Since the first Lost Themes, John has referred to these compositions as “soundtracks for the movies in your mind.” On the fourth installment in the series, those movies are noirs. Like the film genre they were influenced by, what makes these songs “noirish” is sometimes slippery and hard to define, and not merely reducible to a collection of tropes. The scores for the great American noir pictures were largely orchestral, while the Carpenters and Davies work off a sturdy synth-and-guitar backbone.

“The trio’s free-flowing chemistry means Lost Themes IV: Noir runs like a well-oiled machine—the 1951 Jaguar XK120 Roadster from Kiss Me Deadly, perhaps, or the 1958 Plymouth Fury from John’s own Christine. It’s a chemistry that’s helped power one of the most productive stretches of John’s creative life, and Noir proves that it’s nowhere near done yielding brilliant results.”

You can pre-save Lost Themes IV: Noir right now! And listen to the new track below…