After Brighton(and the UK) saw PQ play last year with the Penguin Cafe Orchestra I think the most commonly said thing about them was…they need a full set or they needed to play longer..people wanted more!
This time its their headline tour and after immensely positive reviews from the London show on the 29th of February and the fact that the KOMEDIA had sold out I was pumped!
The performance was amazing and they began their set with tracks from their newest self titled release, this however may be controversial with the ‘older’ jazz fans, what they are doing now is branching further away from their previous releases and adding a heavier electronic base. This in some peoples eyes is perfect and looking around at the gig I would say their fan base is younger and ‘cooler’ then the last time I saw them, possibly due to this new direction? That is not to say they have changed their style completely, their sound is still there, nailed strongly down by their signature Hang Drum percussion and saxophone sound. However the drum kit is stripped back, trigger pads and KAOS pads are scattered through out which is the source of a lot of the odd new sounds.
A moment half way through the set where a murmur could be heard from the back as crowd members were talking was quickly shot down by the double bass player who asked “..Brighton are you still with us!?” which lead to cheering and applause as they went into the next track. I have a feeling this moment was when the ‘older’ jazz fans felt out of place in the new sound and fan base of PQ.
The encore included an incredible drum and saxophone ‘battle’ which really showed their improvisation and jazz side! a nod to their first releases yet also showing a push forward to new territory.
PQ are in an interesting stage where they are paving their way into new experimental territory. I think it has opened their fan base to newer electronic/dance fans and even post rock fans. The classic jazz fans will have to get onboard or they may get left behind!
