Ohemgee Porcupine Tree

So tonight I saw Porcupine Tree at the Aladdin.

Holy crap, guys.

1. The opening band, "3," was actually pretty good. Very much a solid sort of rock band, in the old tradition of headbangin' and so on, but good.

2. Allie and Tim stayed in their seats, but Bryan and I went down to the stage before it started. We were perfectly positioned: front row, leaning on the stage. Steven Wilson wasn't just so close I could touch him -- his feet (he plays barefooted, did you know?) were so close that I almost felt uncomfortable and wanted to step back/wanted him to step back. It was one of those things where I was thinking, "Man, I can look up your nose and smell your laundry detergent, this is pretty cool but on the other hand I feel like certain boundaries have been crossed. I'm not supposed to get this close to you even if you're a normal person, and you're a rock star, so I'm definitely not supposed to get this close to you."

3. I am truly horrible: midway through Porcupine Tree's set I realized that everything they are singing, and their videos, are basically about post-human theory and Marshall McLuhan. Particularly the songs off "Blank Planet." I almost wanted to cry because I was being such a nerd -- but damn it, I'm right! It's exciting. I feel like "Halo" is going to be my thesisthemesong.

4. Because we were so close I didn't get the full effect of the videography that was playing behind the band, but during their final encore song "Halo" it was particularly cool. If you were in the balcony, I imagine that the video made it look like Steven Wilson's head was, well, haloed.

5. The roadies gave me Colin Edwin's (the bassist's) pick. I already had his set list (I was so close that I just picked it off the stage after they were done). Bryan got Steven Wilson's set list, but not a pick.

Recently I heard a bad pun via Uncle Sylvia about the "defenestration of prog." To which I say: Okay, but not yet! Give me more Porcupine Tree in concert! Because in September, when they come back through this part of the world, I'm definitely going to drive up to Seattle and then see them the next day in Portland like Bryan and TIm did this time. It will be worth it.