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STEVE HACKETT
Floral Pavilion, New Brighton, 20 February 2012

Photo gallery by Lee Millward

Steve Hackett, photo by Keith Thompson
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'Los Endos' was, to many, the end of classic Genesis and seeing the track performed so immaculately by Steve Hackett' was uplifting and yet mildly sad at the same time.

I have this regular theme on my GRTR! radio show about classic bands that could reform due to their original members still walking Earth. And yet the likelihood of messrs. Gabriel, Hackett, Collins, Rutherford and Banks getting together is as likely as 'Selling England by the Pound' being cited by Simon Cowell as a classic album.

None of this really fazes Steve Hackett these days who is clearly among other friends when he goes out with a combination of his own solo work interspersed by the Big G favourites of his era. In our recent interviews on GRTR! he has made no secret of his willingness for duty to the old regiment, but then again he does have a healthy ongoing modus operandi.

Among those friends was Steve's official biographer, Alan Hewitt and many more scousers whose revered wit Steve matched with aplomb. When one punter responded to Steve Hackett referring to his seminal past spent in 'little known beat group,' one chirpy voice said 'do you mean E.L.P?' Quick as a flash, Mr Hackett responded with, 'If I'd have joined them, they'd have been H.EL.P.' In the area (Wirral) where The Beatles did many of their early gigs, such repartee was all the richer.


The friends on stage too were coincidentally musicians who were clearly fans of both eras of his music. One who excelled in particular was Rob Townsend on 'all things blown' He has really come into his own particularly on 'Firth of Fifth' which now has a jazzy edge to its folk roots due to Townsend taking on some of the main themes.

No visuals from Nick Beggs this time around though as he's on tour with Steven Wilson. Gary O'Toole is a class drummer who handled most of the Gabriel and Collins vocal parts. Bass player, Lee Pomeroy though is no slouch providing an often growling bottom end to an excellent mix.

Amanda Lehmann is a guitarist in her own right while Roger King's keyboards add colour to the soundscape. In contrast, some keyboard players fail to do add anything except noise these days, a point expressed by Carl Palmer to me last year.

Genesis fans expecting a foray into the maths of prog might have been disappointed. Contemporary Hackett is more into the melodic nuances. Less is more. But we are no less captivated by his fascination for the mystical people and places on this planet.

'The Golden Age of Steam' was built around a regimental beat. The opener, 'Loch Lomond' off 'Beyond The Shrouded Horizon' was a moody prelude. 'Fire On The Moon' too relied on a tumultuous chorus for its thrills as opposed to multiple changes in tempo.

'Shadow of the Hierophant' seemed less busy this time around and it was a song that benefitted greatly from the minimalist treatment. Even 'Watcher of the Skies,' in the encore, concentrated on the hypnotic beat. The aforementioned 'Los Endos' contained its trademark drum fest but the different arrangement showed that classics don't have to be performed note for note.

By the time we got to the second encore, 'Spectral Mornings' the near capacity audience were on their feet so clearly no Genesis fans were harmed in the making of this show. One did request 'Invisible Touch' to which Hackett sportingly replied with the first three chords, before 'Watcher' rumbled into action.

Steve Hackett proved tonight that identification with characters in their eras and places can be just as fascinating as what Tony Banks once described as songs about the 'the mating game.' One cursory glance at The Brits Awards is confirmation of that. Long may Steve Hackett continue to carry the can for that eccentric style of British music that never pandered to trends, but routed itself instead to the tradition of story-telling.

The story continues
.

Review and photos by Keith Thompson

Keith presents 'Rockwaves' on Get Ready to ROCK! Radio, Sundays at 21:00 GMT

Photo Gallery (Buxton 19.02.12)

David Randall writes

Great seeing Steve on a larger stage and in a theatre setting which only enhanced the atmospheric nature of his music.

Genesis fans were well served tonight and in spite of gentle and friendly heckling from the Liverpool-based audience, Steve took it all in his stride.

I mean, it could only be Liverpool where the mainman declares before 'Firth Of Fifth' that he doesn't want to get 'his knickers in a twist' with his foot pedals. 'That's if you're wearing any, Steve' effused a female Scouse voice that resonated fully across the auditorium. Glorious stuff.

New Brighton set list

Loch Lomond, A Place Called Freedom, The Phoenix Flown, Prairie Angel, The Golden Age of Steam, Fire in the Moon, Every Day, Waking to Life, Carpet Crawlers, Firth of Fifth, Serpentine Song, Shadow of the Hierophant, Til These Eyes, Enter the Night, acoustic medley from Spectral Mornings to Blood on the Rooftops, Fly on a Windshield, Sleepers. Encore: Los Endos, Spectral Mornings

Steve Hackett, photo by Keith Thompson

 


Gig review (Leamington 24.02.12)

Video interview (February 2012)
 

 

 


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