On Saturday, I took my daughter and her friend to Cincinnati to see Porcupine Tree.

They are a band based out of England that is a throwback to 70s concept bands that produce a body of work through albums versus individual songs. This was the first time we got to see them live, so it was a real treat.

The band played the whole of the current album The Incident. It is a story of life and the bad things that happen along the way.

The venue was Bogarts in Cincinnati. It is located right off the campus of the University of Cincinnati. It is a strange part of town. Broad Ripple in Indianapolis is Vanilla compared to this part of town. It seemed a little rougher around the edges. The concert was general admission. For all the older people there, standing up for a whole concert was kind of challenging. I was sore at the end of the show. For the kids, it was an amazing experience to watch their musical heroes perform only a few feet from the stage.

(I went up to the balcony where all my fellow 70s leftovers were hanging out).

The crowd was quite mixed. There were people wearing Rush T-shirts, Pink Floyd T-shirts. The age of the crowd ranged from teenagers like my daughter to guys and gals in their mid-50s.

The sound was excellent. It was not too loud and it sounded very clean. The band is very tight.

Steven Wilson is the lead for the band. He is a musical prodigy having recorded his first album at a very young age in his teens. He writes all their music. He plays guitars and keyboards.

Colin Edwin is the bass player. He actually moves pretty well for an English bloke. So much so, that a women took off her bra and threw it up to him at the end. He has done a lot of projects and has played with some pretty well known people.

Richard Barbieri is the old guy on the keyboards. He is a throwback to Richard Wright of Pink Floyd

. His keyboards and synthesizers provide a subtle but important background to the guitars and drums.

Gavin Harrison is got to be one of the best drummers alive. He is a one of a kind drummer. He does not sound like anyone. He has this melodic approach to drums and use of cymbals are fantastic. He is a drummer that knows how to use a double bass. Just seeing him play was the great pleasure for me. He is an amazing drummer.

Here is the rest of their tour schedule. If you want to experience a great evening of excellent music performed by great musicians, Porcupine Tree can deliver a show.

May 04 2010  BUFFALO, USA: Town Ballroom
May 06 2010  QUEBEC CITY, Canada: Capitole Du Quebec
May 07 2010  MONTREAL, Canada: Place De Arts
May 08 2010  TORONTO, Canada: Sound Academy
May 10 2010  PITTSBURGH: Mr. Smalls
May 11 2010  RICHMOND: The National Theater
June 2010
Jun 09 2010  BERGEN: Ole Bull Scene
Jun 10 2010  OSLO: Norwegian Wood
Jun 12 2010  SWITZERLAND: Greenfield Festival
Jun 13 2010  DONNINGTON PARK: Download Festival
Jun 19 2010  GERMANY: Hurricane Festival
Jun 20 2010  GERMANY: Southside Festival
July 2010
Jul 01 2010  DENMARK: Roskilde Festival
Jul 03 2010  BELGIUM: Rock Werchter Festival
Jul 07 2010  TEL AVIV, Israel: Exhibition Grounds
Jul 10 2010  FINLAND: Ruisrock Festival
Jul 14 2010  ITALY: Pistoia Blues Festival
Jul 16 2010  CZECH REPUBLIC: Colours of Ostrava
September 2010
Sep 24 2010  NEW YORK: Radio City Music Hall

Great show, great band and it does not cost an arm and a leg – $22.00 at the Bogart. (Plus all the ticketing non-sense)