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The Pineapple Thief / Versions Of The Truth Show was something very special

Neo-prog stalwarts The Pineapple Thief played a very special online show to make up for their tour cancellation due to “that pandemic.”

The Pineapple Thief – Versions Of The Truth Online Show

Words: Robert Adams

September 2020 saw The Pineapple Thief release album number 13, ‘Versions Of The Truth’ to rave reviews. Due to the new normal, the band could not tour to promote the release. Main Thief, Bruce Soord certainly kept himself busy during lockdown by recording solo acoustic versions of both his own solo work and The Pineapple Thief material. Look out for the four disc ‘The Soord Sessions’ box set coming out soon containing all of those lockdown recordings.

The Pineapple Thief obviously wanted to play some of the material from ‘Versions Of The Truth’ live, but how to go about it?

Bruce Soord told MetalTalk: “I have always said that The Pineapple Thief is equally about the studio and the stage, so it was obviously disappointing that we have not been able go out on tour, especially as we were excited to be able to perform the new album ‘Versions Of The Truth’ live for everyone. So being able to do this film, especially under the circumstances, was invaluable.

“We all knew we did not want to shoot a film of us standing on stage staring at an empty room.  We wanted something special, something ‘cinematic’.

Hella Rock Festival

“So, together with George Laycock (from Blacktide Phonic/Visual who has filmed all our recent music videos) we hatched a plan. It was a lot of work for one show. But it was worth it. And it was great to be playing in the same room with the band again. We ended up making something unique and something very, very special that I am proud to have been a part of. I can not wait for people to see it.”

The Pineapple Thief, live show
The Pineapple Thief. Photo Greg Holland

A more intimate format

Instead of setting up their show on some soundstage playing to a bunch of camera and sound operators, they chose a more intimate format.

Setting up in a studio with warm auburn lighting, flowers scattered around the feet of the musicians, spare guitars and an unused reel to reel tape machine beside Bruce Soord, The Pineapple Thief played what would have been their set on the ‘Versions Of The Truth’ tour.

Vocalist / guitarist and main songwriter Bruce Soord was in the centre with a circular dolly track, with slowly rotating camera around him. Drummer extraordinaire Gavin Harrison was around ten feet in front of him. Directly behind Soord was second guitarist George Marios, who pulled off some insanely tasteful solos throughout the show and also provided some backing vocals. Perched either side of Soord was keyboard player Steve Kitch and bassist and harmony vocalist Jon Sykes.

It was a wonderful set up and everyone was at the very top of their game throughout.

The highlights are too numerous to mention in the space provided here, so i will just say that the whole show was INCREDIBLE from start to finish.

Six out of the ten tracks on ‘Versions Of The Truth’ were played, alongside PT classics like ‘Someone Pull Me Out Of Here’ and a beautiful version of ‘Wretched Soul’.

The Pineapple Thief, live show
The Pineapple Thief. Photo Greg Holland

A melancholic beauty

You do not go to or watch a Pineapple Thief show expecting to jump around like a lunatic for the duration. They are masters of understated, melancholic beauty and use power when required.

This show was special in so many ways, from the set up, to the set list and the performances all captured in glorious high definition. The audio was mixed by Bruce Soord and Gavin Harrison and every subtle nuance played was captured perfectly.

Hopefully this stunning performance will be made commercially available.

For the lucky ones who managed to see this live, or even on playback during the four days it was available online – I watched the show four times over the four days and never got bored – we all knew we had witnessed something very special indeed.

Setlist:
Versions Of The Truth
In Exile
Warm Seas
Our Mire
Demons
Driving Like Maniacs
Someone Pull Me Out Of Here
Break It All
White Mist
Out Of Line
Wretched Soul
Threatening War
The Final Thing On My Mind
Nothing But The Truth instrumental fade out

Sleeve Notes

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