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Home > Austin Music Source > Archives > 2009 > March > 22 > Entry
SXSW review: P.J. Harvey at Stubb’s
(10 p.m. Saturday, Stubb’s)
Some of us never quite got P.J. Harvey. The British songstress - a cult favorite of indie circles during the 1990s - seemed too absent and affected. Honestly, her music usually just sounded too far “out there.” There seemed to be an underlying demand that we look down at our shoes, then slowly toward the sky. Too much contemplation never equaled enough. Harvey influences John Lee Hooker and Jimi Hendrix sure struck home, but go ahead and keep that cadet Captain Beefheart. We’ll take Howlin’ Wolf, thanks.
We change. We grow. We understand a little more about contemplation. Turns out, some of us still don’t get P.J. Harvey.
Of course, we were distinctly in the minority Saturday night at Stubb’s. Festival attendees from far and distant lands - Norway, Ireland and a Columbian musician playing Copa later - overflowed the barbecue joint to hail Polly Jean. “I like her because she’s legit and she’s got it together,” said Brendan Williams, 23, of Dallas. “She’s definitely got the voice. I could just listen to it forever.”
Harvey has said that she enjoys songwriting more than performing. However, when called on it earlier this week during a KGSR in-studio radio performance, she hedged. The 39-year-old insisted - almost as if instructed - that she loves to take the stage to sing for fans. Maybe she’s grown, too.
Her performance suggested otherwise. Though stunning in a white dress, Harvey hardly engaged as she opened with material from her forthcoming album, “A Woman, A Man Walked By” (due March 31). On the up side, her crack quartet piqued interest backing new songs - most memorably, “Black Hearted Love” and “Leaving California” - with a rotation of jungle drums, spiky banjo and floating ukulele. Harvey herself upped the ante on older tunes like 1996’s “Taut,” but not enough to convert doubters.
Permalink | Comments (3) | Post your comment Categories: SXSW 2009, SXSW 2009 reviews: Day 4
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By Ray Demeo
March 23, 2009 1:23 PM | Link to this
Having seen PJ Harvey in concert four times, with a fifth upcoming in New York City this week, I can attest that she is an arresting performer. And performer she is. It is not just about the music, which is often challenging. It is about her mesmerizing presence, ranging from shrieks and gutteral howls to an almost whispering emotiveness. Nobody had to “instruct” her to say that she loves the stage. She shows it every time she performs. Too bad you don’t “get it.”
By JJAZZNOLA
March 24, 2009 12:35 AM | Link to this
I turned 50 years old this week and I have been going to see music at least once a week since 1975. I enjoy counrty, blues, jazz, world and rock. I believe PJ is by far the most talented and interesting female singer, writer and performer in rock history. She never repeats herself unlike a majority of women in music. She could easily put out hit pop/rock cd’s but has no interest. I cannot wait to hear her new cd and to see her this Thurs in NYC. “Not getting PJ” is your loss. “Instructed - that she loves to take the stage” Huh?
By Lure
March 25, 2009 3:05 PM | Link to this
I’m a PJ Harvey fan, and i get the reaction to this show. it was out there. I expected as much from another project with John Parrish. It was great to see PJ live again! She is the Boss!