Every PJ Harvey concert arouses curiosity and excitement. So when PJ Harvey announced her comeback a few months ago after a 7-year absence, it didn't take long for tickets to be snapped up like hotcakes, to the point that her two concerts at theOlympia were quickly sold out, as was the rest of her European tour.
PJ Harvey has a rich repertoire spanning more than 30 years and 10 studio albums. It's also a style that has evolved over the years, moving from alternative rock to a more poetic, folk-tinged genre. And then there's her voice, which has transformed over time, sometimes powerful, then vulnerable, sometimes hoarse, then inhabited; a voice rich in contrasts and emotions, and one that touches us to the core.
Because PJ Harvey doesn't like to repeat the same thing from album to album, her 10th opus,"I Inside the Old Year Dying", unveils a new chapter in the rock icon's impressive career, following her successful foray into narrative poetry with her book"Orlam". Deeply poetic and bewitching, even shamanic,"I Inside the Old Year Dying" also features a tour of undeniable beauty.
This Thursday, October 12, 2023, PJ Harvey and her faithful musician acolytes who both serve and inspire her (drummer Jean-Marc Butty, multi-instrumentalist Giovanni Ferrario, James Johnston and her long-time accomplice John Parish) take to the stage at Olympia at around 8pm for the first of two performances in the capital.
And it's a beautiful, carefully stylized set-up that we discover on the legendary Olympia stage. Between the instruments and microphone stands, a number of old wooden pieces of furniture have been placed in the four corners of the stage: chairs, a small desk, a bench and a table on which a carafe of water and several glasses have been placed. A set design that augurs well for what's to come!
Dressed in a tight, slit dress, like the one the artist wears on the 4th cover of her latest album, PJ Harvey impresses from the moment she takes the stage, despite her frail, fragile appearance. The British singer and musician quickly set the tone with her rendition of " Prayer at the Gate " from"I Inside the Old Year Dying". As she stands in the eye of a spotlight, arms outstretched towards the audience, PJ Harvey commands respect and pierces our hearts with her ethereal, ethereal voice, and her incredible interpretation worthy of an ancient Greek play.
This is followed by " Autumn Term " and " Lwonesome Tonight ", also taken from"I Inside the Old Year Dying". It soon becomes clear that PJ Harvey has decided to divide her show into two parts, starting with her latest opus in its entirety. A thoughtful and judicious choice, given the musical diversity of her various albums.
Disarmed of her guitar for much of the early part of the concert, PJ Harvey takes over the stage: sometimes standing, sometimes seated behind her small desk or on a large wooden armchair... The artist also multiplies her theatrical gestures and little dance steps, while her strangely supernatural voice and her sublime live musical compositions remind us just how much PJ Harvey is undeniably one of the most talented rock musicians of the last 30 years, possessing that incredible gift of knowing how to chronicle the visceral things in life, as few can.
After playing the latest album in its entirety, the singer and musician left the stage, giving way to her four musicians for a lovely version of " The Colour of the Earth " at the front of the stage.
Then came the second half of the show, with 12 older songs, carefully selected with the musician's ear for consonance and the poet's eye for associations.
The atmosphere in the audience was already good. But that was nothing compared to what was to come. The audience soon jubilates over the striking " The Glorious Land ", and is moved to tears by " The Words That Maketh Murder ", performed here by a captivating PJ Harvey with her autoharp under her elbow. Then the audience exults on the too-rare " Angelene ", shivers on the sensational " The Desperate Kingdom of Love ", shakes on the rocking and powerful " Dress ", explodes with joy on the unmissable " Down by the Water " and lets itself be bewitched by the sublime " To Bring You My Love " offered for the occasion in a high-flying version.
And as if that weren't enough, PJ Harvey returns to touch us in the deepest sense of the word during her encore, with a brilliantly powerful rendition of the hit " C'mon Billy ", followed by the sublime and oh so touching " White Chalk ", harmonica at the tip of her lips.
A true model of high standards and artistic elegance, PJ Harvey won us over and literally charmed us during her 1h45 show, demonstrating just how much the 54-year-old British artist still has to say, make us experience and feel.
Setlist
Prayer at the Gate
Autumn Term
Lwonesome Tonight
Seem an I
The Nether-edge
I Inside the Old Year Dying
All Souls
A Child's Question, August
I Inside the Old I Dying
August
A Child's Question, July
A Noiseless Noise
Interlude
The Colour of the Earth
The Glorious Land
The Words That Maketh Murder
Angelene
Send His Love to Me
The Garden
The Desperate Kingdom of Love
Man-Size
Dress
Down by the Water
To Bring You My Love
Reminder:
C'mon Billy
White Chalk
Location
L'Olympia
28 Boulevard des Capucines
75009 Paris 9
Official website
pjharvey.net
