What does it sound like?:
It seems to be pretty much compulsory these days that when an artist tours, it’s documented on a subsequent commercial live release. Thus we have this new set by Steve Hackett, recorded on last year’s tour, and coming in the usual cd, dvd and bluray configurations. As well as tying in with the release of Hackett’s latest studio album, The Night Siren, the show also celebrates the, roughly, fortieth anniversary (December 1976) of one of the most underrated Genesis albums, Wind and Wuthering, which was of course Hackett’s last with the band.
Hackett is once again backed by a great band, including Nick Beggs on bass and Nad Sylvan on vocals, who really capture the essence of the material. The first part of the show concentrates, as you’d expect, on material from The Night Siren, before moving on to a couple of lesser-known solo pieces, Serpentine Song and Rise Again. For me though, the highlight of this part of the show is a lengthy performance of the epic Shadow Of The Hierophant, from his debut solo album from way back when, Voyage Of the Acolyte.
The second half of the show is devoted to classic Genesis material, starting with five tracks from Wind and Wuthering, including a great rendition of one of my favourite tracks from the album, One For The Vine. The remainder is a run of absolute prog classics, impeccably reproduced, and again including some of my personal faves – Firth Of Fifth, The Musical Box and Dance On A Volcano. There’s even a first live outing for Hackett of Inside And Out, a track originally intended for the ‘Wind’ album, but which eventually appeared on the Spot The Pigeon EP. This much overlooked piece has to be one of the best songs to come out of the four man Genesis line up.
The DVD also includes an interesting thirty-minute ‘behind the scenes’ tour documentary, as well as three promo videos for songs from The Night Siren, giving a total running time of a very generous three hours twenty minutes in total.
What does it all *mean*?
I really enjoyed this set, combining as it does the best of new Hackett with the best of old Genesis – and let’s face it, this is the only way you’re going to hear this vintage prog material performed these days.
Goes well with…
An evening of prog.
Release Date:
Might suit people who like…
Hackett, Genesis, Prog at its best.
ruff-diamond says
Nad – hurrr!!
ruff-diamond says
Also I thought he hated Wind And Wuthering – that’s why he left the band.
nickduvet says
He didn’t hate the album, it contains some of his best contributions to Genesis. His favourite album is actually Selling England. But he was frustrated that the songwriting wasn’t equally split. Banks and Rutherford would always dominate. So he recorded Voyage of the Acolyte and that gave him the confidence to strike out on his own post WAW
dai says
I saw him a couple of years ago, must say I am not really a massive fan of this type of material. Musicians were top notch, but the singer was certainly an acquired taste. Enjoyed a couple of tracks but during one of the lengthy ones I came the closest I have ever come to falling asleep at a rock concert.
niallb says
I saw this tour, @Bargepole, and it was indeed aces. You’re right about Inside & Out – one of the best songs Genesis ever did. The night I went (Reading) it got a standing ovation, people around me roaring their approval at hearing it live. Great review, sir.
duco01 says
I hope they did “Match of the Day” and “Pigeons” as well!
(sings) “Who put fifty tons of shit on the Foreign Office roof?”
pawsforthought says
“Nick Beggs on bass” Wasn’t he in Kajagoogoo? Just asking.
Moose the Mooche says
Yes – The Lion’s Mouth Hitmaker in person.
niallb says
Nick has moved on quite a bit. He is now the ‘go to’ player for lots of Prog projects and, apart from being Steve Hackett’s bassist for yonks, he is in Steven Wilson’s band (i.e. Mr Prog.)
He is very good.
pawsforthought says
Cool beans. The more you learn, eah?
Mike_H says
Chapman Stick specialist.
Presumably for those who can’t get Tony Levin interested in their project/can’t afford to get him over from the States.
Neil Jung says
I saw the Reading gig, which was fine, but find I never watch music DVDs. I’d rather play the albums.
Mike_H says
I’m not a fan of music DVDs, particularly “Live In Concert” ones.
They do tend to replicate the same kind of shots. There’s obviously only so much you can capture in a live performance setting. Having lots of cameras zipping about all over the place has potential to ruin any interaction between performers and audience, but watching a limited video capture of the performance generally misses a lot of that interaction too. On a TV screen at home even a great performance can get to feel a bit “meh”.
When I’m at a gig I’m not necessarily watching what’s happening on the stage at all times, because often there isn’t all that much of visual interest going on, even when the music is really exciting.
dai says
Put DVD in player, press Play, turn TV off, sorted (assuming you play through an amplifier which one really should).
Bargepole says
Following last year’s sell-out Genesis Revisited tour, prog icon and former Genesis guitarist, Steve Hackett, announces a 6-date UK tour in October. Treating fans to many favourite Genesis and Hackett numbers, this time Steve and his band will be accompanied by a 41-piece orchestra.
The decision to undertake this tour was cemented following the critical success of last year’s one-off US performance of the Genesis Revisited music with his band and the Buffalo Philharmonic Orchestra, conducted by the charismatic Bradley Thachuk.
It went down a storm with the audience and sounded amazing, with the orchestra adding even more texture and colour to these classic tracks, prompting Steve to want to perform more shows in this way. Such was the gusto and verve brought to the performance by conductor, Bradley Thachuk that he will fly over to the UK to conduct the October shows. This show promises to be a transcendent experience!
Steve explains, “I always hoped that the Genesis music would one day involve an orchestra and I’m proud to say I’ll now be able to make that dream a reality on my next British tour, involving my own extraordinary rock band alongside a full-sized orchestra.”
The show will feature some of Genesis’ best-loved songs, including Supper’s Ready, Dancing with the Moonlit Knight, Firth of Fifth and more. Steve will not be neglecting his remarkable solo repertoire and there will be tracks included such as Shadow of the Hierophant, El Niño and The Steppes.
Tour details are as follows: –
Monday, October 1st Nottingham Royal Concert Hall
Wednesday, October 3rd Manchester Bridgewater Hall
Thursday, October 4th London Royal Festival Hall
Friday, October 5th Birmingham Symphony Hall
Sunday, October 7th Gateshead The Sage 1
Monday, October 8th Glasgow Royal Concert Hall
Joining Steve on the tour are his regular musicians Roger King (keyboards), Gary O’Toole (drums/percussion), Rob Townsend (saxes/flutes) with Nad Sylvan on vocals. They will be joined on this tour by Jonas Reingold from The Flower Kings on bass.
dai says
After Gabriel did it for his solo stuff. This is like Brian Pern!
Neil Jung says
Blimey… I hope it does well for him. I could do without Rob on sax…. but the orchestra might be interesting. But having seen the underwhelming Musical Box recently and Hackett, I’m feeling a bit overdosed with all things Genesis at the moment. I think I’ll pass for now.
Neil Jung says
I changed my mind and bought tickets after all, largely because it’s months away so I will be keen again by then and it’s at the RFH which is an easy journey for me.