PHOTOS BY SEAN O'KANE

Miss Polly Jean Harvey, looking demure in a white Victorian-style gown, played an electrifying set during Wednesday night's (Oct. 10) sold-out concert at Beacon Theater. "I don't know if you can read my dress, but these are the lyrics to my songs," she said while gesturing to the black print on her lengthy skirt. But despite her restrained appearance, Harvey's raw and powerful voice came through in a set that culled tracks from throughout her illustrious career.

The intrepid Brit siren played classics like the growling "Man-Size," the defiant "Big Exit" and the remorseful "Shame." Harvey even sat behind the piano to play several songs off her latest effort, White Chalk, including the delicate and haunting ballad "When Under Ether." The audience could barely contain themselves during the performance and shouted encouraging words throughout the night, including the exclamation "This is ridiculous!" "Did you just say I was ridiculous?" Harvey playfully asked the besotted fan. "Because I was just about to agree with you."

We asked: PJ Harvey is both a musician and a published poet. Who is your favorite rock star that is also a writer?

Name: Chirag Dani
Age: 25
Hometown: Quad City, IA
Occupation: Writer
"Elliott Smith."

Name: Gwen Phanijphand
Age: 28
Hometown: Poplar Bluff, MO
Occupation: Toxicologist
"Sam Beam."

Name: Thomas Farmer
Age: 28
Hometown: Washington, DC
Occupation: Psychology student
"Morrissey."

Name: Chad Dexter
Age: 29
Hometown: Binghamton, NY
Occupation: Waits tables/Works at the Gap
"Courtney Love."

Name: Corey Sullivan
Age: 26
Hometown: Brooklyn, NY
Occupation: Actor
"Nick Cave."

Name: Beth Maciorowski
Age: 29
Hometown: Northampton, MA
Occupation: Restaurant manager
"Jim Morrison."

Name: Alyona Michel
Age: 22
Hometown: New York, NY
Occupation: Former student
"Billy Corgan."

Name: Russ Rakouskas
Age: 29
Hometown: Northampton, MA
Occupation: Writer/student
"Patti Smith."

PJ Harvey / Photo by Sean O'Kane

Hypnotizing fans with "When Under Ether" / Photo by Sean O'Kane

Harvey brings her love to the Beacon / Photo by Sean O'Kane