Spiritualized – Theatre Royal – Glasgow

Spiritualized are another band I’ve been following since the very beginning.

I first got into them when Lazer Guided Melodies was released in 1992 and have been a fan ever since. Mind you, over the years “Spiritualized” has often felt more like Jason Pierce and whoever happened to be standing beside him at the time. The line-up has changed countless times, but J. Spaceman remains the constant centre of the universe around which everything else revolves.

I was fortunate enough to see them several times during their early years, including a memorable show at King Tut’s Wah Wah Hut when they toured Lazer Guided Melodies. Looking back now, it’s hard to believe that was over thirty years ago.

Actually, it’s quite easy to believe.

My back reminds me regularly.

The reason for this particular tour was to celebrate the 30th anniversary of Pure Phase by performing the album in its entirety. When I realised that album was thirty years old, I had one of those moments where you wonder where all the time has gone. It feels like only yesterday that I was listening to those records while trying to figure out life.

Apparently life had other ideas.

As soon as the tour was announced, I knew I had to be there. Pure Phase remains one of the defining albums of the 1990s for me, full of hypnotic drones, gospel influences, beautiful melodies and enough sonic experimentation to keep headphone enthusiasts happy for a lifetime.

The venue itself was seated, which isn’t necessarily ideal for a Spiritualized concert.

Their music often feels like something that should be experienced standing in a dark room, completely immersed in the sound. Sitting politely in rows somehow seems at odds with songs designed to transport you into another dimension. Still, you take what you can get.

The performance itself was magnificent.

Jason Pierce has always understood the power of repetition, atmosphere and patience. Spiritualized songs don’t rush anywhere. They unfold gradually, layer upon layer, until you find yourself completely absorbed in the sound. Hearing Pure Phase performed live from beginning to end was like stepping back into a particularly beautiful part of the 1990s.

What struck me most was how well the material has aged.

Many albums become trapped within the era that produced them, but Pure Phase still sounds unique. The blend of space rock, gospel, blues and psychedelia remains as captivating now as it was three decades ago. If anything, the passage of time has only highlighted how distinctive Spiritualized really were.

Because the venue was seated and fairly strict about filming, there wasn’t much opportunity to capture the concert properly. Thankfully Emma managed to record a few short clips to give a flavour of the evening.

As always, her filming was considerably more successful than mine would probably have been.

Looking back, it was a real privilege to hear an album I’ve loved for thirty years performed in full by the man who created it. There aren’t many artists from that era who can still deliver performances of this quality, and Jason Pierce continues to prove why Spiritualized remain one of the most respected bands of their generation.

The clips below may only provide a brief glimpse of the evening, but if you’re already a fan of Pure Phase, you’ll know exactly how special it was to hear those songs brought to life once again.

Thirty years.

Where the hell did that go?

I videoed their final song of the evening. You can read a review of the gig here.