Tales From the Knitting Factory

PJ Harvey, Shepherd's Bush Empire, Monday 12th February 2001

TALES FROM THE KNITTING FACTORY

Hurried Guinness, foregone dinner
Monday road trip to the Bush, via Pinner
Supporting PJ, Giant Sand
Twice as hairy, half the band

Silver-sequinned, vampish alchemist
Sings to men who stand, half-pissed
One; 'I love you!' another; 'You're beautiful!'
Curteous PJ sings on, dutiful

Months before in New York City, six at a time
Meditated on autos, skyscrapers and gun crime,
Chinatown, suicide bombers, love (unrequited, forbidden and
others)
And those who make inadequate lovers

Olive-black mane, sluttish attire; ironic
Sings of anger, hurt and brutal love, demonic;
Savage relationships; wrecks in the brine
Casts words like pearls before the swine

Shy, Yeovil-born, quarryman's daughter
Now prowling, drives her audience to the slaughter
As Polly Jean, though ruled by Venus
Wields her guitar like a penis