PJ Harvey Live in Brisbane: A Haunting and Transcendent Masterclass

PJ HARVEY

Convention & Exhibition Centre, Brisbane

Saturday, 15 March 2025

Words: Tiffany & Malcolm Cooper

Photos: Yejin Cho

She Said: "PJ Harvey’s performance is totally immersive and otherworldly"

Act 1: I Inside the Old Year Dying

PJ Harvey is known for embodying different personas and emotions in her music, so performing her entire new album I Inside the Old Year Dying in character creates a powerful atmosphere. Her movements—so fragile yet commanding—combined with that haunting, almost ethereal presence, make for an intoxicating, eerily forbidden world on stage. The lighting, the mist, and the overall feel of the stage are simple yet powerful all at once.

Her performance is so dramatic, it feels like watching an out-of-body experience. Her voice carries across the centre like a beautiful feather, floating through the air in a very unusually quiet Brisbane crowd. It makes you forget where you are, as if the cold and corporate convention centre melts away into something far more intimate—like Carnegie Hall.

The stage itself adds layers of intrigue, almost as if each station represents a different world or scene from her music. A writing desk, a church pew, a beautiful wooden chair, and a small country dining table—each one feels like a portal into another part of her storytelling.

It’s surreal to watch her transition between instruments, especially with something like an autoharp, which is so rare these days. The fact that she keeps the audience fully engaged for an entire hour with such a slow, atmospheric set speaks volumes about how captivating she is. Then, the boys in the band perform 'The Colour of the Earth', offering a nice, grounding contrast after the haunting first hour—while PJ slips away for a costume change.

He Said: "With the stage decorated with chairs, tables, and dinner settings, it’s clear we’re in for something theatrical"

That’s a good thing because PJ Harvey isn’t one to interact directly with the crowd—she only addresses the audience just before the last song of the set. Even during the long pauses between songs, as everyone shuffles between positions and instruments, neither PJ nor the band attempt any banter to fill the silence.

Artists with an extensive back catalogue always face a tough choice—include a few new songs or commit to the whole album (a risky move). PJ goes all in, performing I Inside the Old Year Dying in full, and it’s a fantastic choice. From the opening 'Prayer at the Gate', I know the night will be special. 'Autumn Term' follows, then 'Lwonesome Tonight', which stands out as my personal favourite. The mallets on the drums, the softly droning synth, the acoustic guitar, and PJ’s hauntingly beautiful voice combine to create something truly stunning.

She plays every track from the new album, each well received, before moving on to her back catalogue. And throughout it all, she showcases her many talents—switching between electric and acoustic guitar, the autoharp, and even the harmonica.

She Said: "When she returns, every woman in the audience is thinking, I want that dress"

For the second act, PJ changes into the dress from the back cover of I Inside the Old Year Dying, covered in drawings from herself and the band. Knowing she only wears it at the final show in each country makes it feel as if Brisbane has been permanently woven into her world.

Then comes the bass strum of 'The Glorious Land', setting the mood for an exhilarating hour and a half of PJ Harvey live classics. This is a transformation—PJ re-emerges as the rock and roll goddess she is, strutting the stage with power and force, a complete contrast to the delicate, ethereal figure from just moments ago. It’s fascinating how effortlessly she holds both sides of her artistry.

And then, as soon as the energy peaks, she brings it back down with 'The Desperate Kingdom of Love'. You could hear a pin drop—again, almost unheard of in Brisbane. The woman sitting next to Malcolm has her eyes shut and head down (we assume she isn’t enjoying it). But during this song, she takes off her glasses and wipes away tears. That moment makes it clear—PJ’s ability to connect so deeply with the audience, even those who seem distant at first, is something truly rare. There’s something special about a concert where you feel the emotions of everyone around you, watching people transform from casual listeners to die-hard fans.

He Said: "One of the best-sounding concerts I’ve been to in years"

Kudos to the sound engineer—every note is crystal clear, easily making this one of the best-mixed concerts I’ve ever attended. Of course, PJ’s flawless voice helps.

She Said: "Top 5 concerts of my life"

I’ve seen hundreds of shows, but this one sits in my top five of all time. PJ’s voice? Flawless. The drama? Unparalleled. The talent? Beyond words. I feel lucky to have witnessed it.