Perhaps more than anyone in music’s modern era, PJ Harvey has challenged not only our standards of beauty, but also our very definitions of sensuality and power as well. That Harvey has managed to do so in both musical and non-musical terms, seemingly without making any conscious effort, is a testament to her creative dynamism. By now, no one should be fooled by her diminutive stature and insistently gloomy expression, as Harvey walks the razor’s edge between raw expression and impeccable finesse. Few can pack a punch with as much beauty and sense of craft – and without going overboard. (Tori Amos and Bjork, take note!) Almost two decades after “alternative” became a meaningless tag for corporate rock, Harvey continues to embody the original spirit of the term, and she stands without peer in her distinct vision. For this stateside run, she appears with longtime collaborator John Parish on the heels of their new duo album A Woman A Man Walked By, on which Parish provides all of the music while Harvey sticks to singing and lyrics.

Tue., June 16, 8 p.m., 2009