Live: PiL @ O2 Indigo

by | Jun 10, 2016

PiL performing at the O2 Indigo on 4 June 2016 (Simon Reed | Musical Pictures)

PiL performing at the O2 Indigo on 4 June 2016 (Simon Reed | Musical Pictures)

If you can forgive those adverts for the butter (and please do – actually they were pretty funny and they did fund new PiL music, so let’s all just get over it, shall we?), John Lydon must surely be one of the most iconic musical artists still occupying a stage. Tonight’s stage was the O2 Indigo, the second (but still significant) performance space under the East London tent. The gig was part of a tour promoting PiL’s 2015 self-released album What The World Needs Now and the scheduled stage time was 8.45pm.

PiL performing at the O2 Indigo on 4 June 2016 (Simon Reed | Musical Pictures)

PiL performing at the O2 Indigo on 4 June 2016 (Simon Reed | Musical Pictures)

At 8.45pm precisely (it’s all a little less anarchistic these days) PiL came onto the Indigo stage accompanied by chants of “Johnny, Johnny”. Johnny responded with part smile, part scowl, and we were off. PiL have been around nearly as long as Lydon it seems; a remarkable thirty-eight years in fact – albeit with a sixteen-year hiatus from 1993. There have been multiple line-up changes in that time, the only consistency being generated by Lydon himself. The current band of Lydon on vocals, Lu Edmonds on guitars, Scott Firth on bass and Bruce Smith on drums is the one that reformed with the filthy butter cash in 2009 and is the most consistent line-up of any. It’s no surprise that they seemed entirely at ease with each other.

PiL performing at the O2 Indigo on 4 June 2016 (Simon Reed | Musical Pictures)

PiL performing at the O2 Indigo on 4 June 2016 (Simon Reed | Musical Pictures)

They opened with Albatross, a song that contains the staple ingredients of what PiL is all about: throbbing bass and drums, ethereal swirling guitars, guttural, snarling vocals. These days he’s not Rotten, there’s no running about, no gobbing, and his hair no longer defies gravity. Lydon occasionally relies on the lyrics that are before him atop a lectern and he occasionally wears glasses too, though whether this is to help with seeing the words or the audience isn’t entirely obvious. Were it not for the racket, the other three musicians and the giant ‘PiL’ logo hanging behind him, he looks like he could be delivering a speech at party conference. The only difference being that his opinions and convictions might actually be worth something. He’s not afraid to share those convictions either: introducing The One by growling “This is a love song for our soldiers who are still out there fighting over a fucking little bit of sand. This is our England and I love it!”.

PiL performing at the O2 Indigo on 4 June 2016 (Simon Reed | Musical Pictures)

PiL performing at the O2 Indigo on 4 June 2016 (Simon Reed | Musical Pictures)

The new record was well represented tonight with no less than seven songs coming from it, though not surprisingly the highlights came in the form of the older stuff that was played. Religion, a none too subtle pop at the Catholic Church, was epic, if very, very long. For this Scott Firth played an electric upright bass, presumably because the Fender Jazz he wore the rest of the time didn’t vibrate deeply enough through internal organs. “Do you like the bass?” asked Lydon part way through the song. We did. “Turn up the bass!” he cried moments later. ‘That’s not possible’ we all thought. Wrong. It was possible. The bass became trouser flappingly loud. The set closed with Rise, a sing-a-long classic and the floor, filled with middle-aged, middle class ex-punks duly obliged. It ought to be a condition of entry at PiL gigs that you bring a photo of what you looked like 40 years ago.

PiL performing at the O2 Indigo on 4 June 2016 (Simon Reed | Musical Pictures)

PiL performing at the O2 Indigo on 4 June 2016 (Simon Reed | Musical Pictures)

They came back out with I’m Not Satisfied and Shoom, both from the new record, sandwiching Leftfield’s Open Up – the only cover of the night. The encore was practically a gig in itself. In total, PiL played for 2 hours; not bad going considering the singer is just into his seventh decade. Lydon might have disgustingly helped increase sales of churned milk fat eight years ago, but the wide grins leaving the O2 tonight indicated an audience bereft of any concerns of selling out or feelings of being short-changed. Lydon and his band felt as fresh, invigorated and relevant now as they ever have and long may it continue.

[photoshelter-gallery g_id=”G0000tYTVkBtL.Uk” g_name=”PiL-O2-Indigo” f_show_caption=”t” f_show_slidenum=”t” img_title=”casc” pho_credit=”iptc” f_link=”t” f_enable_embed_btn=”t” f_send_to_friend_btn=”t” f_fullscreen=”t” f_smooth=”t” f_up=”t” f_topbar=”t” f_show_watermark=”t” f_htmllinks=”t” f_mtrx=”t” fsvis=”f” width=”740″ height=”555″ f_constrain=”t” bgcolor=”#ffffff” bgtrans=”t” btype=”old” bcolor=”#CCCCCC” crop=”f” twoup=”t” trans=”flip” tbs=”4000″ f_ap=”t” linkdest=”c” f_bbar=”f” f_bbarbig=”” target=”_self” ]

Review and Photography by Simon Reed of PiL on Saturday 4th June 2016.

See more of Simon Reed’s music photography on his personal website: www.musicalpictures.co.uk

 

Sydney Rose @ BST Hyde Park 2025 (Kalpesh Patel)

Sydney Rose Shines In Mid-Afternoon Magic On The Rainbow Stage At BST Hyde Park 2025

While headliner Noah Kahan was preparing to command the Great Oak Stage later in the evening, over on the Rainbow Stage a quieter but equally stirring performance was unfolding under the soft mid-afternoon sun. Georgia-born singer-songwriter Sydney Rose brought her headline tour to a moving finale, wrapping her journey in heartfelt lyrics and gently fierce vocals that captivated a festival crowd seeking intimacy amid the day’s growing energy.

Gigi Perez @ BST Hyde Park 2025 (Kalpesh Patel)

Gigi Perez Captivates London With Raw Emotion And Rising-Star Power At BST Hyde Park 2025

At just 25 years old, Gigi Perez has already carved out a reputation as one of indie-pop’s most compelling new voices — and her late afternoon set on the Great Oak Stage at BST Hyde Park proved exactly why. Supporting headliner Noah Kahan and following a string of breakout moments this year, the Hackensack, New Jersey native delivered a deeply affecting performance filled with vulnerability, power, and soaring vocals

Paris Paloma @ BST Hyde Park 2025 (Kalpesh Patel)

Paris Paloma Brings Barefoot Magic To The Rainbow Stage At BST Hyde Park 2025

In a festival rich with soaring choruses and star power, it was Paris Paloma’s barefoot grace and gothic romanticism that carved out one of the day’s most mesmerising sets. Taking to The Rainbow Stage on a golden midsummer afternoon, the Derbyshire singer-songwriter captivated her growing legion of fans with an intimate, emotionally charged performance that felt part séance, part storybook.

FINNEAS @ BST Hyde Park 2025 (Kalpesh Patel)

FINNEAS Warms Up London With Heart And Humour Before Noah Kahan’s Headline Set At BST Hyde Park 2025

It’s not every day that a support slot feels like a moment of main event magic, but FINNEAS — the GRAMMY®-winning songwriter, producer, and solo artist — brought just that to the Great Oak Stage at BST Hyde Park on Friday. Performing ahead of headliner Noah Kahan and main support Gracie Abrams, the 27-year-old delivered a slick, emotionally charged set that balanced heartfelt sincerity with tongue-in-cheek charm.

Noah Kahan @ BST Hyde Park 2025 (Kalpesh Patel)

Northern Attitude In London: Noah Kahan, Gracie Abrams & Friends Light Up BST Hyde Park 2025

It was, as the name requires, the perfect summer's day for British Summer Time Hyde Park on Friday. The sun was...
The Raven Age @ London Stadium (Kalpesh Patel)

Heirs To The Throne? The Raven Age Blaze Their Own Trail Supporting Iron Maiden At The London Stadium

On a scorching June evening that would culminate with the almighty Iron Maiden setting London Stadium ablaze, the...
Olivia Rodrigo @ BST Hyde Park 2025 (Sophia Carey)

Olivia Rodrigo Proves That London Is Her Favourite City At BST Hyde Park 2025

British Summer Time is officially underway in Hyde Park, and the unbearable heatwave will continue to remind us all of...
ROSIN (Talia Zanger)

ROSIN Unveils Tender New Video Honouring Long-Distance Love

Berlin-born, London-based singer-songwriter ROSIN has shared the beautifully intimate video for her latest single just...

Pin It on Pinterest

Share This

Share Thing