It was a spectacular evening of Progressive Rock on a balmy September Saturday with Steven Wilson at the Center Stage Auditorium at MGM’s Northfield in Northfield, Ohio. Wilson and band are in the states this month to continue their run of shows across North America in support of his latest epic release, The Overview.

The Overview, a concept album crafted to describe the feeling of insignificance astronauts experience when casting their view to space, became for me, upon its release, a metaphor for how truly small the world really is. In fact, I first learned of Wilson’s music through Instagram on a vinyl record forum from a fellow music fan in Romania.  

Fans long-time and “unintentional,” as Steven joked, were treated to a full rendering of the latest album alongside other Wilson favorites including deep cuts from 2011’s Grace For Drowning played for the first time on the tour run. Highlights of the evening included the more obscure selections, “Voyage 34” and “Dislocated Dream” from Wilson’s earlier solo project-turned “moderately successful band” Porcupine Tree. The 150 minutes of music spanned much of Wilson’s catalogue from Insurgentes to The Harmony Codex and ended with the melancholic “The Raven That Refused To Sing” from the 2013 album of the same name. You can catch the band on this current run of the tour through mid-November across the US, Canada, Mexico, Chile, Brazil, India, and Australia.

Beyond his own recordings, Wilson is renowned for his meticulous remastering of classic albums by artists like King Crimson, Yes, and Tears for Fears. More recently, Wilson had the honor of restoring audio for the film, At Pompeii – MCMLLXXII, and a live assortment to be included in the 50th Anniversary box set of Wish You Were Here by his self proclaimed favorite band Pink Floyd

Wilson’s touring band is every bit as accomplished and versatile as the music demands. Keyboardist Adam Holzman brought cinematic depth and jazz-inflected precision to every track, while drummer Craig Blundell delivered complex time signatures with fluidity and power. Guitarist and multi-instrumentalist Randy McStine added texture and edge, his experimental tones complementing Wilson’s more melodic lines. On bass, the ever-reliable Nick Beggs anchored the arrangements with both the gravitas and flair for which he’s known.

If you haven’t seen this band perform, don’t miss the opportunity. Tickets are available through Wilson’s tour page.