Progress

So we last saw Public Service Broadcasting in April but since then they have a new album out and hence a new tour.

I remember when I first heard of PSB back in 2013. A friend described them as a mix of music and old audio recordings & video footage, and as filming is my hobby, I might be interested in them. By chance we first saw them at the Green Man Festival that year on a tiny stage, not sure what to expect. They were just a twosome, drums and guitar/keys, but no vocals, and a bunch of old TVs piled/fixed on top of each other. Each song includes old public service films type audio (original), for example Night Train or Everest.

Their first album was a mix of different topics but their second was all about the US/Russian Race for Space. This is now their third and is named Every Valley, it is various stories about the Welsh Coal Mining industry and decline, recorded in Ebbw Vale. I am pretty sure on paper/web, it doesn't sound exciting... but...

So as we stood here, front row at the Barrowlands, Ms H got the rail, and the set lit up to expose 2 big mining wheels either side of the stage, the miners' lamps hanging from the roof, 2 big screens showing the mix of archive footage and live stage video (that's a camera in the front centre of the stage),  the 2 new members (ok been there a few years), the dancing brass section, the dancing Yuri Gargarins (full size) and the Barrowland roar... I was reminded of the Progress they've made in 4 years we've been following them... this was definitely a step up!

And the music... just perfect, probably the best of their gigs we've been to and in that moment of time, just the best gig ever! And it helps when they say Barrowlands is one of their favourite venues, well every band says that, for good reason!