Genesis, Awesome as they should be!
I am still kicking myself in the butt for missing Genesis’s last tour in 1992. But when Phil announced he was leaving the group in 1994, combined with the failed 1998 American tour with Ray Wilson as lead vocalist, I thought I’d never see them live… ever.
Lo and behold when it was announced last year that Phil was getting back together for a tour last year, I couldn’t believe it. How would they sound? Could they still play and what WOULD they play in their awesome 35+ years history? After seeing Phil live four times, I would finally get to see the original band that started it all, including my heroes Mike Rutherford and Tony Banks!
All of this starting when my mom bought Phil Collins’s live tape in 1990. Since that day I became a devoted fan, shaping my entire life around this music. I had to know every song, I had to buy everything! I even spent my graduation money to complete my CD collection (much to my parent’s dislike).
Genesis for the last 15 years, has been my life. Shaping my morals, and my identity to what I have become today. For many years I have enduring of mocks from various people for liking something so clean. Yet through out the years numerous people have come over to my side, appreciating the amazing quality of the complexity of their progressive side, paralleled with the freshness and sing-a-long-i-ness of their pop side.
This all came to fruition last Saturday night (Sept 22) when Genesis returned to Columbus at Nationwide Arena.
Now mind you, with ticket prices going from $80 to $400 for floor I was quite pissed (and there was a huge debacle on the pre-sale with the fans, long story). However, knowing Genesis they would have a giant light display to allow everyone to see, even in the way back.
I knew the setlist before going in, downloading various bootlegs of the tour up to this point (I just got the Boston show they played last week four days before), and when they hit the stage I knew exactly what my friends and I were in store for.
Genesis exploded onto the stage with their instrumental rock intro Behind the Lines. The Duke album was one of the first CD’s I bought and they sounded better than ever. Leading into Turn it On Again Phil took that microphone and showed that even at 56 the guy has some major lungs to belt the stuff out. (Supposedly he was sick with a cold but he sounded better than ever.)
Combined with the giant display screen, two giant round monitors and a host of vari lights, the stage looked like something right out of space! Genesis continued with No Son of Mine, one of my favorite songs. Every live version I heard of this the drums never felt as loud as they were tonight, and Chester Thompson was banging on the drums HARD!
Next up came the In the Cage medley featuring some mildly impressive computer graphics. I do have to say the computer graphics looked a bit like first year college animation, however they fit the music perfectly, and the song completely rocked. It was amazing to see Mike Rutherford and Daryl Struemer tearing it up! This lead into the Cinema Show medley and then for a change of pace Duke’s Travels was added on at the end. The creshendo in Duke’s Travels was impressive as all get-out and sent goosebumps down my spine taking me back to a time and place in High School when I would play this instrumental in my head during routes between classes.
Afterglow closed the section and then Hold on My Heart was the official bathroom break song. Returning from the bathroom Phil told his story about ‘scary houses’ which lead into Home by the Sea and Second Home By the Sea. The instrumental part of Second Home by the Sea rocked harder than ever, and through the binoculars I was finally able to watch how Mike Rutherford plays this live. This song has always been my favorite and it was amazing to finally see this live.
Phil stayed behind the drums to play Follow You, Follow Me which show-cased animation from their various album covers. This lead into the instrumental juggernaut of Firth of Fifth which once again shows Tony Banks may not smile often, but he can sure play the heck out of the keyboards. Daryl Strumer closed this with his amazing guitar solo, which lead into the audience participation of I Know What I Like. This was a completely amazing experience to see the audience get involved with chants and clapping of hands as Phil testing them if they were paying attention.
Darkness fell and what came next was probably the biggest rariety in Genesis show history. Unable to perform the song in the 1992 but now lowered in a key and made darker, Phil belted out Mama perfectly. You couldn’t have asked for a better performance of this song, coupled with the classic Ripples right behind. Two great musical slices with amazing visuals and lighting effects, you couldn’t ask for more.
Throwing It All Away followed, which showcased the ability of the camera men to put people in the crowd on the giant multi-screen. (Don’t know why people have to kiss all the time when they’re on the screen), but it was an interesting experience. I also saw someone who I haven’t seen since college pop up on the screen. Had to laugh at that…
The Domino principle followed with the full audience participation of shining lights on different parts of the auditorium. This was truly an amazing experience to see in person and the song completely rocked and pretty much blew everyone away.
Closing things down, Phil and Chester did a drum duet starting with how they make their duets on a hotel room chair. This lead into the instrumental light show display of Los Endos which was an amazing experience in itself. Tonight, Tonight, Tonight and Invisible Touch closed the set with amazing indoor fireworks!
The encores concluded the amazing show with I Can’t Dance, and then after a hearty thanks the boys ended the show with the gentle Carpet Crawlers. You couldn’t have asked for a better gentle way to end the evening (which I find most every act does at this point).
All in all, after waiting for so long Genesis delivered the perfect concert for the perfect longtime fan (minus the fact that the ticket prices could have been a TAD lower). You couldn’t have asked for a better display of technical efficiency with instrumentals, along the side of amazing visuals and Phil Collin’s amazing distinctive voice. Phil even gave tribute to the Buckeye’s winning the football game and included a couple of ‘O-H’ and ‘I-O’ in the mix.
For me, it was a crowing achievement I had been waiting for so long. A truly amazing performance and amazing experience. While I felt the tickets where way too high, the show itself was well worth it and Phil and boys made a long time fan very happy for missing out on them 15 years ago. Once again, thank you Tony, Mike and Phil!
I’m hoping in a year or two they’ll reunited with Peter Gabriel and Steve Hackett and finally do that rumored Lamb Lies Down on Broadway tour!
Photo: Rob Trenyor from genesis-music.com
Very few times do I get excited about something new, and even fewer times do I feel like I get in; liking something that is popular at the ground level. The last time I jumped on the ‘cool train’ was with Southpark, and that lasted till the bastards made fun of my man Phil Collins.