Polly Jean Shakes Down Hollywood

September 22, 2001

Last night’s activity: PJ Harvey, Live at the Hollywood Palladium.

It was a general admission show in a tiny venue, considerably different than the last time I saw her, playing the Pond for a bunch of disinterested U2 fans. Needless to say, last night was much, much better.

There’s something supremely visceral about a PJ Harvey show that you just can’t get leaning over the rafters in the upper deck. And it’s not about a churning mosh pit either (this was, of course, completely absent). It’s more about feeling the push and pull relationship with Harvey’s voice. You can feel yourself leaning forward with every breathy moan, trying to get closer, only to get blown off your feet when she cuts loose THAT VOICE. It is an absolute weapon in a live setting, filled with a raw power and emotion that is sorely lacking in … well, just about everything else.

Harvey’s set list consisted mostly of songs from “Stories From the City, Stories From the Sea,” with a few songs from each of her earlier albums. My favorite performances from the new album had to be “Big Exit” and “Kamikaze.” Every song she pulled from the back catalog was fantastic, including blistering versions of “Man-Size,” “Rid of Me,” and “C’mon Billy.”

During a time when I’d pretty much become to numb to everything, last night’s concert was wonderfully cathartic. I’m a horrible writer, so I’ll try and keep it simple. If you have any interest in PJ Harvey, it is imperative to catch her live show. It is an unreal experience, and it will make you a feel better and make you a better person. Seriously.

And I feel like some bird of paradise
My bad fortune slipping away
And I feel the innocence of a child
Everybody’s got something good to say
&nbsp&nbsp–PJ Harvey, “Good Fortune”

Posted in From Blown Speakers