PJ Harvey @ Brisbane Convention Centre 5/12/04
PJ Harvey wraps up her Australian leg of the tour at the Brisbane Convention Centre on December 5.
Born in 1969 in Yeovil, Somerset, PJ Harvey’s whole life has been devoted to music. Growing up on a farm in the nearby town of Corscombe, Harvey’s parents regularly hosted travelling musicians, who would teach the young Polly Jean in return for their board.
After studying at Yeovil Art College, Harvey released her first album, Dry in 1992 and immediately started to turn heads. Her raw style of rock and her direct lyrical style made her one of the most talked-about female artists in Britain. ANd that was before she appeared topless on the cover of NME.
Harvey built on the success of Dry in 1993 with Rid of Me and 4-Track Demos, before leaving longtime collaborators and bandmates Rob Ellis and Steve Vaughan to work on material as a solo artist. The result was 1995 album To Bring You My Love, which, to this day, is possibly her strongest album, with more textured and eclectic sounds accompanying her trademark vocal style.
1998 album Is This Desire? was a downbeat and experimental effort resting on a more sparse and minimalist backing but it was on 2000’s Stories From the City, Stories From the Sea that Harvey equalled the efforts of To Bring You My Love. Compared to the raw, edgy style of her early records, Stories… was a collection of beautifully arranged pop tracks that spanned the distance between Harvey’s two homes – the English countryside and urban New York.
After returning to a more stripped-back formula for 2004 album Uh Huh Her, Harvey set off on her biggest tour to date, with a new band featuring former Nick Cave collaborator Mick Harvey, along with Josh Klinghoffer (guitar, drums) and Dingo (bass). At the end of 2004, Harvey fuelled speculation of her retirement, announcing at a Paris gig that this was the last show they would play together. The songstress has since began work on a new record and has shows scheduled in Spain later this year.
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Event Reviews
PJ Harvey, Machine Translations @ Enmore Theatre, Sydney (2/12/04)
While punters at the larger shows around the country witnessed Harvey put on an intense rock show, the smaller venue set the scene for an intimate performance, displaying a cross-section of her expansive and eclectic back catalogue.
PJ Harvey, Machine Translations @ Belvoir Amphitheatre, Perth (25/11/2004)
PJ Harvey seems to be touring Australia almost as frequently as some Australian bands, and with four visits in as many years, one could be forgiven for assuming that the English chanteuse quite likes it here.
PJ Harvey, The Tremors @ The Back Room Club, Byron Bay, 25/7/2004
PJ Harvey. A room holding about 400. The Tremors supporting. Gig of the year? What do you reckon?
Fuji Rock Festival 2004, Naeba, Japan, 30/7/04 - 1/08/04
I had the very good fortune to be able to attend the Fuji Rock Festival 2004 in Naeba, Japan! A great selection of artists, all in a great spot and this being a mountain-side in Japan. Well, I managed to keep a diary during the three days and three nights of this massive rock-fest.
Features
Tales from the Big Day Out (part two)
If Big Day Out has proved anything it was that diversity is the key to a successful festival, something that the organisers seem to bear in mind with each passing year.
Theredsunband: The sonic cult that nobody can join
I am a little embarrassed to admit how late I came to theredsunband. It wasn’t until I wandered out the back of Australia Street at Newtown Festival in 2005 that I realised I knew and loved quite a few of the songs off Peapod...
PJ Harvey: Stripped back and loving it
When you think of Polly Jean Harvey, you most likely picture the iconic singer songwriter standing in a dim spotlight, head dropped, legs spread, guitar slung low; crooning her way through a dark tale or two.
News
PJ chooses Mick Harvey
Mick Harvey has been chosen by PJ Harvey as her support for her forthcoming Australian and New Zealand tour.
PJ Harvey goes solo: Australian tour announced for February 2008
Indie rocker extraordinaire, PJ Harvey will be landing on our shores next year to perform tracks from her latest release, White Chalk as well as thrill fans with some old school faves. Welcome back Polly Jean!
Polly Jean Plays Club Show In Byron!
Secret Squirrel... if you're hanging around Byron during this Splendour weekend you maybe lucky enough to get up close and intimate with Polly Jean at the Back Room Club.
International News
PJ Harvey beginning new album
Mercury Prize winner PJ Harvey is coming to Australia for headline shows in February, but first she’s set to begin work on a new album.
PJ Harvey gets out her 'White Chalk'
New album for PJ Harvey, 'White Chalk' to be released in September.
At Long Last, PJ Harvey's Live Experience Captured For All To Own!
That's right, one of the hottest indie songstresses of our time - the gorgeous and intriguing Polly Jean Harvey - has been caught on camera during her 'Uh Huh Her' tour... but not in the way you cheeky boys are no doubt wishfully dreaming!
PJ Harvey Leads John Peel Dedication Disc
PJ Harvey's Sheela-Na-Gig will be included on a compilation disc celebrating John Peel's musical career.
Is PJ Harvey Quitting Live Performances?
Did PJ Harvey declare retirement?
Releases
PJ Harvey - Shame
PJ Harvey releases another single, Shame, from her critically acclaimed new album Uh Huh Her.
PJ Harvey - Uh Huh Her
Dorset's finest returns with her seventh album. But beware; sadness and frustration is back with a vengeance.
PJ Harvey - The Letter
After a couple of years' wait, the first single from PJ Harvey's new album hints at the blacker points of her past.
