Beth Gibbons performs at The Auditorium Theatre in Chicago on April 8, 2025.
Some concerts inspire dance – everyone swept up in a shared moment of revelry. Other shows are for the rockers with dizzying solos and thrashing rhythms. There are so many enjoyable live music experiences, but a Beth Gibbons performance is nothing short of transcendent.
On April 8, the Portishead singer and lyricist left Chicago fans stunned during a performance at the Auditorium Theatre – on her first-ever North American solo tour – in support of her breathtaking solo release, Lives Outgrown. Gibbons’ vocals were as splendid as ever and her incredibly talented band – comprised of Sophie Hastings (drums, harmonium, backing vocals), Eoin Rooney (guitars, marching snare, backing vocals), Tom Herbert (bass, Fender VI, backing vocals), Jason Hazeley (keys, Fender Rhodes, Therevox), Howard Jacobs (contrabass clarinet, vibraphone, timpani, baritone sax, flute, bombo, percussion, metal and gongs, recorder, hammered guitar, backing vocals), Emma Smith (violin, clarinet, guitar, backing vocals), and Richard Jones (viola, guitar, backing vocals) – added artistry and nuance to every song.
The performance began the same way as Lives Outgrown opens with the beautifully brooding track, “Tell Me Who You Are Today.” The collective did a fantastic job recreating the experience of listening to the album and as the concert progressed so did the innovations and musicality of each arrangement. The studio version of “Rewind” concludes with an acoustic guitar softly fading into the shadows of the sounds of children chattering. On stage, the guitar was joined by all of the instruments bobbing and weaving in an extended outro that showcased the impressive restraint and control of each band member – the dynamics of each phrase emphasized just as much as the notes themselves. Later, the strings from Smith and Jones seemed to emulate the violence of capitalism, as Gibbons sang of dreams being replaced by consumerism, on “For Sale.”
Beth Gibbons performs at The Auditorium Theatre in Chicago on April 8, 2025.
When listening to Gibbons resonant voice – full of emotion and yearning – singing, “Hey, you over there / Change your heart instead of stare / Feel alive, hold your own / Forever ends, you will grow old” on “Lost Changes,” it’s hard not to think of the song in relation to Pink Floyd’s own ode to loneliness, “Hey You.” Both songs feature a protagonist yearning for things to be different – personified by the whistles of Eoin Rooney on “Lost Changes” in the live setting, creating a vivid portrait of a secretive stranger – but Gibbons’ lyrics offer a little more comfort in the power of acceptance.
“Whispering Love” also proved to be that much more vivid and complex in the live setting. The English singer’s vocals – light as a feather yet full of power – were at the forefront as Jacobs’ flute came in like a comforting breeze volleying agains the swishing waves of the violin and viola. “Oceans” and “Beyond the Sun” were further highlights of the setlist as were “Mysteries” and “Tom the Model,” a pair of songs from Gibbons project with Rustin Man.
After a set filled with impeccable musicianship and artistry at the highest levels, the entire audience stood to give Gibbons and her band a very well-deserved standing ovation. Everyone remained on their feet throughout the encore, which included an emotional performance of Portishead’s “Roads,” during which you could have heard a pin drop, and a raucous rendition of “Reaching Out,” that closed out the show.
Beth Gibbons performs at The Auditorium Theatre in Chicago on April 8, 2025.
Despite the heft of such a powerful and refined performance, Gibbons’ welcoming personality shined through every time she addressed the crowd. Whether she was sharing her infectious smile while thanking fans for coming out to support the tour or taking time out to sign vinyl records and other memorabilia at the end of the night, her warmth added another layer of joy to this soul-nourishing experience.
Check out photos from Beth Gibbons’ stop in Chicago below – featuring support from Cass McCombs – and click here to pick-up tickets to future tour dates. More information can be found at Bethgibbons.net.
(Photos by Laurie Fanelli)
