LIVE REVIEW: Beth Gibbons in Boston, MA (04.04.25)
The past two weekends, Portishead lead singer Beth Gibbons performed at Coachella in California. Those lucky festival attendees! Earlier this month and closer to home, the singer/songwriter captivated a nearly sold-out Orpheum Theatre with a gorgeous set. Gibbons is currently on tour in support of her debut solo album, Lives Outgrown, which was released last year on Domino Records.
Gibbons hardly said a word all night. She thanked the crowd for coming but otherwise the introvert stood in shadows onstage and focused on the music. No talking necessary. Her solo effort is as ethereal as Portishead minus the snare drums and electronic aspects, instead focusing on varied orchestral instrumentation.
The orchestration and arrangements brought the music to an otherworldly level. At times sad, moody and wistful, the unusual instrumentation and melodies suited Gibbons’s deep, sonorous vocals. Her talented seven piece band featured violin, viola, drums, percussion, keyboard, guitar, horns, vibraphone and contrabass clarinet.
Gibbons opened the hour long set with the meditative, rhythm and strings-heavy “Tell Me Who You Are Today.” On the shimmering “Mysteries” (a song she recorded with Rustin Man), unique whistling by several band members created an eerie, intriguing sound. It’s a meditation on the simplicity of life. Her aching, gentle vocals will break your heart. “Floating on a Moment” featured a trill vibrato that lends to dramatic interpretations. The stage was set with dark curtains and simple lighting. For several songs, videos played behind the stage.
Another gorgeous song was the mesmerizing and thoughtful “Lost Changes.” The rhythmic, deeply sonorous “Oceans” sounded like rippling water. Gibbons sang with high, lilting vocals on “Beyond the Sun,” an echoey, gangly cinematic track. Layered melodies and deeper vocals drove the soothing “Whispering Love.” After the blusier, more mainstream song “Tom the Model” a woman yelled: “wow” which perfectly summed up the performance. We, the audience, were mesmerized until the very last moment, soaking in the musical glory and high level musicianship, songwriting and vocal skills throughout the performance that received a deserving standing ovation. Gibbons sang the Portishead song “Roads” to enthusiastic response during the encore.
Featured image by: Netti Habel
