Porcupine Tree is a progressive rock band that was originally active from 1987 to 2010. The band was formed by Steven Wilson and has released 10 studio albums over their career. Porcupine Tree went on an indefinite hiatus in 2010, but reunited in 2022 for a new album and tour. Fans are wondering if Porcupine Tree will tour the United States again after their 2022 shows.
Brief History of Porcupine Tree
Porcupine Tree began as a solo project of musician Steven Wilson in 1987. The name came from a hypothetical tree Wilson thought up that had porcupines living in it. Wilson released tapes of Porcupine Tree’s music on his own before signing to Delerium Records in 1991. The first Porcupine Tree album, On the Sunday of Life, was released in 1992.
Wilson expanded Porcupine Tree into a full band throughout the 1990s. Other members included Richard Barbieri on keyboards, Colin Edwin on bass, and Chris Maitland on drums. Porcupine Tree’s first three albums established them as a psychedelic and progressive rock band. They began to gain more mainstream attention with their fourth album, Signify, released in 1996.
Commercial Peak
The band’s commercial peak came in the 2000s. Albums like In Absentia (2002), Deadwing (2005), and Fear of a Blank Planet (2007) blended progressive rock with metal and pop influences. Porcupine Tree toured extensively during this period, playing larger venues and festivals. They developed a strong international fanbase despite little promotional support from record labels.
Hiatus
Porcupine Tree’s last album was The Incident in 2009. They played their supposed final show in October 2010 at the Royal Albert Hall in London, later releasing it as a live album. This marked the start of a hiatus as the members went on to work on different projects. The breakup was not labeled as permanent, but Porcupine Tree was inactive for over a decade.
2022 Reunion
In September 2021, Steven Wilson indicated new Porcupine Tree music was in the works. The band officially reunited in February 2022, announcing their eleventh studio album Closure/Continuation. Gavin Harrison replaced Chris Maitland on drums. The album was released in June 2022 to critical acclaim, reaching #2 in the UK and the band’s highest charts position in the US at #22.
Porcupine Tree embarked on an international tour in support of the new album starting in May 2022. The first leg visited Europe and the UK through early July. They took the late summer off before touring North America starting in October 2022. The band played 24 dates in the US and Canada before finishing in Mexico City.
Will They Tour the US Again?
Porcupine Tree just completed a tour of major venues across the United States in the fall of 2022. It was their first full US tour since 2005 in support of Deadwing. They hit cities like New York, Chicago, Los Angeles, and Dallas over the course of October and November.
Given how successful the reunion has been so far, it is highly likely that Porcupine Tree will tour the United States again. Here are some key reasons why:
Strong Ticket Sales
The 2022 US tour largely sold out, indicating there is significant demand to see Porcupine Tree live. Pollstar reported the average nightly gross at over $100,000 per city. Large venues with capacity between 2,000 to 6,000 were packed with fans. Radio City Music Hall in New York City sold out its near 6,000 seats.
City | Venue | Capacity |
---|---|---|
New York City | Radio City Music Hall | 5,960 |
Chicago | Auditorium Theatre | 3,875 |
Los Angeles | Greek Theatre | 5,901 |
Demand in Markets Not Visited
The 2022 tour focused on major metropolitan areas on the coasts and Midwest. There are still significant markets left that Porcupine Tree did not visit. Cities like Houston, Phoenix, Atlanta, Tampa, and Denver could host arena-sized crowds for Porcupine Tree. The band has not indicated they will return to the US soon, but have likely taken note of viable markets for the future.
Festivals and Open-Air Venues
Porcupine Tree’s current stage production is suited for indoor arenas and theaters. They could expand touring plans to include outdoor festivals and amphitheaters next time around. These large open-air venues allow them to play for bigger crowds. Porcupine Tree could potentially headline festivals focused on progressive rock or metal music with their current stature.
Supporting a New Album
It is common for bands to tour the US in cycles tied to releasing new albums. Porcupine Tree supported Closure/Continuation on their first reunion tour. If they enter the studio for a 12th studio album in the next couple years, another US visit would be likely. Reliable touring helps promote and sell new music to fans.
Potential Hurdles
While the prospects of another US tour look good for Porcupine Tree, there are some potential hurdles:
Availability of Band Members
The members of Porcupine Tree also have active solo careers and other collaborations. Steven Wilson in particular tours extensively as a solo artist. Aligning schedules could complicate planning a lengthy Porcupine Tree tour. However, the success of Closure/Continuation may motivate them to make it work.
Logistics and Expenses
Mounting a tour of Porcupine Tree’s scale takes significant logistical coordination and cost. The band might strategically choose certain regions rather than nationwide touring. Traveling across the US with their production also incurs high expenses. Careful planning is required to make good business sense.
Changes in Music Industry
The realities of the music business continue to evolve. Porcupine Tree rose to fame in an era that was more centered on record sales. Today’s landscape involves streaming, social media, and new monetization models. Adapting a tour strategy to match modern tastes will be important going forward.
Fan Demand Analysis
Assessing fan perspectives provides helpful insight into Porcupine Tree’s likelihood of touring the US again. Here are some indicators from fans:
Setlist.fm Data
Setlist.fm tracks the setlists and concert history of bands. Porcupine Tree has 971 shows logged by fans on the site. The 2022 US tour makes up their 24 most recent shows. 81% of users on the site are from the US, so there is a demonstrated American fanbase using it.
Most Popular Tour Reviews
Review site TheAudioDB has an average rating of 9/10 from over 5,000 reviews for Porcupine Tree’s 2022 US concerts. The top reviews express enthusiasm and hopes to see the band again soon. Many note it was their first chance to catch Porcupine Tree live.
Social Media Demand
Twitter data shows significant fan demand for additional touring. Key hashtags like #PorcupineTree and #PT2022 have requests for certain cities not played this time around. Facebook groups and Reddit threads also indicate hopes for future US shows.
Presale Data
Porcupine Tree’s 2022 US tour went on presale in August before the main public on-sale. Presale ticketing is done through fan clubs, local radio partners etc. Most of the tour immediately sold out during presale, underlining the voracious demand. Fans will be eager to get early presale access again.
Setlist Expectations
Given it has been over 15 years since Porcupine Tree last played full concerts in America, fans had high anticipation over the setlists for the 2022 tour. Here is an analysis of what they played:
Drawing From the Deep Catalog
Porcupine Tree have 10 studio albums and strong early material to potentially pull from live. For the recent US shows, they did a great job touching on many different eras. Songs from newer albums like Closure/Continuation were mixed with older tracks from the Deadwing and In Absentia period. Less expected selections like “Russia On Ice” and “Dark Matter” from the Signify and In Absentia albums made appearances.
Long Sets
Setlist length can be important to fans who have waited years to see a band. Porcupine Tree delivered very long sets on the 2022 tour averaging around 2.5 hours each night. The shows featured 20-22 songs across a wide range of material. These marathon sets really excited fans who got their money’s worth.
New Surprises Added
Porcupine Tree did not keep identical rigid setlists across the whole tour. While the core set remained similar, they swapped out different songs to keep things fresh. The rarities played included “Chloroform,” “Futile,” and “Don’t Hate Me.” Fans appreciated this extra effort to create unique shows.
Closure/Continuation Focus
It is typical for tours to focus on promoting the current album. Porcupine Tree made sure to incorporate a lot of tracks from Closure/Continuation as expected. This gave fans plenty of opportunities to hear new material live. Songs like “Herd Culling” and the title track became live favorites.
Future Setlist Speculation
If Porcupine Tree do head back to America again, fans will start guessing what songs could get played even before the tour starts. Here are some educated guesses at what we might expect on future US setlists:
Deeper Cuts
Porcupine Tree have enough repertoire to pull out some obscure songs. Tracks like “Drawing the Line,” “Collapse the Light into Earth,” or “Wedding Nails” have not been played in ages. Super fans would love to hear these type of deep cuts brought back.
New Album Material
Any potential new Porcupine Tree studio album would surely get incorporated into touring setlists. It will excite fans to hear brand new songs played live for the first time. Expect a tour in support of fresh music.
Fan Favorite Singles
Certain songs are staples because they are beloved fan favorites. Tracks like “Trains,” “Lazarus,” and “Blackest Eyes” will likely maintain their setlist spots. These guaranteed crowd pleasers anchor the shows.
Obscure Covers
Porcupine Tree occasionally include interesting cover songs in their shows. Oddities like The Monkees’ “I’m a Believer” or ABBA’s “The Day Before You Came” could make surprise appearances. The covers add an element of fun.
Impact of 2022 Tour
The 2022 US tour has broader importance beyond just anticipation for the next round of touring. Here is a look at the wider impact:
Boosted US Popularity
The tour put Porcupine Tree back in front of American audiences and gave existing fans long awaited shows. Reviews and reactions indicate the band won over many new followers in the process. Their US profile has been elevated setting up future touring.
Increased Media Coverage
Major US music and culture publications such as Rolling Stone, Entertainment Weekly, and Variety all covered Porcupine Tree’s reunion and tour. The band received significant press beyond just prog rock circles demonstrating their stature.
Strengthened Foo Fighters Bond
Foo Fighters opened for Porcupine Tree in the UK earlier in 2022. Dave Grohl spoke very positively about watching Porcupine Tree’s US concerts, strengthening the bond between the bands. This could have collaborative implications.
Momentum for Recording
Starting up touring again has energized Porcupine Tree creatively. The vibe surrounding the shows will motivate them to start planning their next studio album according to Steven Wilson. Fans hope for new music.
Speculated 2023 US Tour
Looking ahead, a potential 2023 US tour could be in the cards if Porcupine Tree get working on a new album soon. Here are some possibilities of what that might entail:
Timeframe
If new music arrives sometime in 2023, an accompanying US tour would make most sense in the Fall of 2023. This gives proper time for release promotion and planning. October/November would be the sweet spot.
Length
Another lengthy jaunt between 4-6 weeks across the US seems likely. Enough time is needed to hit multiple major markets. Potential for a couple one-off Mexico/Canada dates to bookend things.
Setlist Balance
A new album would get heavy focus, so expect 6-8 new songs at least per show. Older material would still make up the bulk balancing hits and rare cuts. Covers or special guests could appear.
Production
Having just toured, the production elements like video screens and lighting will remain similar. Efforts will be made though to give the show a fresh look and not just duplicate the exact 2022 tour.
Support Act
Porcupine Tree could tap an interesting up-and-coming band in the prog genre to open shows. This provides great exposure for the opener while giving fans more value.
Covid Protocols
Hopefully by late 2023, the touring landscape will be firmly post-Covid. Expect no restrictions or testing/vaccine mandates. Full capacity crowds at indoor venues.
Conclusion
In summary, there are strong indicators that Porcupine Tree will return to tour the United States again soon. The 2022 American tour was a resounding success in terms of turnout, reviews, and reception. Fans were overjoyed to finally see the band live again and eager for more. With open markets still remaining and potential new music on the horizon, Porcupine Tree staging another extensive US tour in 2023 or 2024 seems highly probable. The band members clearly enjoyed performing together again and the demand is certainly there from loyal followers. While any touring plans are unconfirmed, all signs point to Porcupine Tree continuing to build momentum reuniting with American crowds again soon. The future looks bright for the legendary progressive rock band to keep up their reemergence.