Written: 1st November 2024
It is a cold, misty evening as a capacity crowd enter the Aylesbury Waterside Theatre for the latest visit of Public Service Broadcasting, this time to promote their new album The Last Flight (read my review here). As the audience settle, the now familiar sound of David Bowie’s Sound and Vision and the mobile phone (and talking) etiquette reminder fills the venue – it should be noted that the Aylesbury crowd were perfect in this regard, only the odd photo being taken and from my vantage point at least – just a few rows back in the lower circle – there was no talking whatsoever, everyone intent on enjoying every moment.
With a set designed to resemble the interior of a cockpit and the various dials operating as circular screens, Public Service Broadcasting, including their ever inventive set designer Mr B, continue to be inventive in their goal to bring their songs to visual, as well as aural life, on stage. One of the most unassuming bands around, they take the stage with no fuss and as the first notes of Towards The Dawn begin, we prepare to join Amelia Earhart – the subject of The Last Flight – on her epic journey. The band’s unique fusion of archival audio samples and live instrumentation never fails to ensnare an audience and immediately, it is easy to sense the wondrous delight that everyone present is feeling.
The initial trio of songs – Towards The Dawn, Electra and The Fun Of It – are taken from the most recent album, all three demonstrating different sides of the band. Towards The Dawn, driven and unrelenting, illustrates Earhart’s determination to continue her quest despite the accident on the runway in Hawaii on 20th March 1937, while Electra – musically firmly in the mould of older PSB tracks - is celebratory and vibrant in its depiction of her plane. The Fun Of It features vocals from EERA, whose ethereal and pitch-perfect voice is becoming more and more important in the band’s live shows. There is a playfulness to the music that highlights Earhart’s delight in her pursuit, and as the colourful visuals play on the screens and the dancing lights add to the effect, it further displays how much thought goes into the overall package that Public Service Broadcasting provide.
During this tour, the band have maintained a core group of songs – those from the new album and a few other fan favourites – but have been varying several of the others. Tonight, the first tracks to step away from The Last Flight and launch us (pun intended) into another of their albums that deals with exploration, treating us to two songs from The Race For Space. The most energetic and pulsating version of Sputnik I have witnessed in several times of seeing the band is followed by the intoxicating E.V.A. After the words I see clouds and the sea / I am beginning to move away, the instant when all the instruments bar piano fade away is moving to say the least - a respectful audience rapt, listen in complete silence. If the success of a concert could be judged on moments like this, then Public Service Broadcasting must have been thrilled by the level of attention they inspire.
Moving further back in time, they dip into to their debut album for a rousing rendition of Night Mail, a track they have played intermittently on the tour and one I was hoping to hear. It is easy to overlook the musical expertise of Public Service Broadcasting such is the apparent ease of their performance. Drummer Wrigglesworth is a dynamo of energy whose immaculate rhythm partnership with J F Abraham provides the backbone for many of the tracks we hear tonight. Two more songs from The Last Flight follow – The South Atlantic and Arabian Flight. The former of these (my favourite from the new album) is a personal highlight of the evening, featuring an exquisite performance from EERA and the delightful rolling beat providing a relaxed feeling of movement.
EERA remains on the stage while for the first time in the evening, the band reach for songs from the Every Valley and Bright Magic albums (Progress and Blue Heaven respectively). During Blue Heaven, explosive and vigorous, it is obvious that the band are having just as much fun as we are and J. Willgoose Esq. – understated as always – wonderfully demonstrates his considerable guitar skills. Nowhere in the concert is EERA’s contribution to the evening more evident than on A Different Kind Of Love (a track she co-wrote for The Last Flight). Her plaintive, heartfelt performance charmingly illustrating Earhart’s progress attitude to her husband, George Putman. Monsoons, the final track we hear from The Last Flight tonight, is as close as Public Service Broadcasting have ever come to music savagery, the central section depicting a storm - potent and sonically intense. The main part of the set ends with a typically zesty rendition of Spitfire and two further offerings from The Race For Space, The Other Side and now traditional closer Go!, which remains one of the band’s most popular tracks.
After a brief departure from the stage, Public Service Broadcasting return with J. Willgoose Esq. commenting that as the band do not have any Halloween themed tracks, they will play, “the daftest one we have.” An effervescent performance of The Now Generation, from their debut full length album, fits his requirements perfectly. After this, a moment of hilarity follows, as something unexpected (at least for J. Willgoose Esq.) occurs. In recognition of Halloween, Wrigglesworth, J F Abraham and EERA don luminous skeleton masks. With a look of genuine surprise, he comments light-heartedly, “this wasn’t approved” and “they haven’t followed proper procedures.” Highlighting the warm friendships between the band members, he takes this in good heart and the band dive into the enthralling beats of People, Let’s Dance.
The evening ends with the three piece brass section (also wearing luminous skeleton masks) front and centre for a stirringly joyous version of Gagarin, complete with the two dancing astronauts as usual, and – following the award of the FA (Friars Aylesbury) Cup from David Stopps - Everest, a cherished fan favourite. It has been a marvellous evening of information, education and entertainment.
Each time I see Public Service Broadcasting they get better and better. Distinctive in their construction of music and narrative, they stand apart from any other band. Consummate musicians, a group of lovely people and endlessly inventive in their visual appeal, they are more popular than ever and deserve all the success that comes their way. Talented, absorbing and unique.
Public Service Broadcasting setlist (Spotify link to setlist below)
Towards The Dawn
Electra
The Fun Of It
Sputnik
E.V.A.
Night Mail
The South Atlantic
Arabian Flight
Progress
Blue Heaven
A Different Kind of Love
Monsoons
Spitfire
The Other Side
Go!
The Now Generation
People Let's Dance
Gagarin
Everest
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