STEVE HACKETT – BRIGHTON DOME 7.10.21
Steve Hackett has finally been able to perform his ‘Steve Hackett Genesis Revisited -Seconds Out & More!’ tour after a slight interlude due to the small issue of a global pandemic! He is performing at thirty one UK dates which included three nights at the London Palladium and tonight at the Brighton Dome.
As per the bill, he was down to play all of ‘Seconds Out’ the live double album by Genesis which climbed as high as No.4 in the UK Album Charts and which was recorded on 23rd June 1976 at Pavillon de Paris, Paris (‘The Cinema Show’) and 11th to 14th June 1977 at Palais des Sports, Paris. It was released by Charisma Records on 14th October 1977 and was their last to feature guitarist Steve Hackett prior to his departure, thus reducing Genesis to the core trio of keyboardist Tony Banks, guitarist/bassist Mike Rutherford, and drummer and singer Phil Collins. The ‘More!’ bit, I think, related to the tracks to be played in the first, and shorter, set of the evening.
Firstly I have to say I cannot believe that Steve Hackett is actually 71 years old. He certainly does not look it and definitely would give some of the younger guitarists currently out there a run for their money with his ability in playing the six string.
Steve’s band is composed of some very talented musicians in their own right and these are Jonas Reingold (bass), Roger King (keyboard), Craig Blundell (drums) and Rob Townsend (sax/flute), with Nad Sylvan (vocals).
The band opened up proceedings tonight with ‘Clocks -The Angel of Mons’ taken from Steve’s third solo album from 1979, ‘Spectral Mornings‘.
Next up was ‘Held In The Shadows’ , a new song taken from the album ‘Surrender Of Silence’ which has just been released last month.
‘Every Day’ followed, this again was from the ‘Spectral Mornings’ album, then back to another new one ‘The Devils Cathedral’.
‘Shadow Of The Hierophant’ was the last song of the first set and this was from Steve’s first solo album ‘Voyage Of The Acolyte’.
I do think that this ‘More!’ bit of the night does just prove that Steve is so much more than just a guitarist that is living off his time in a band called Genesis and it just reinforces the fact that he is such a talented and brilliant guitarist, who in my mind is so underrated.
After a thirty minute interval where Steve encouraged us to “go and get hammered” and be ready for the second and longer set of the evening…Well Steve, I’m not sure that there was enough time to get hammered ..but more like, just enough time to get to the toilet and back again after joining the end of very long queue!!
Anyway, onto the second and most highly anticipated set where the whole of ‘Seconds Out’ was to be played in full and in the correct album running order.
Well, it was just like listening to the album in my living room with the volume turned up just that bit too much so that the neighbours can listen as well, but without the better half then piping up saying “turn the volume down” !!..
The whole band played exceptionally well and also looked so relaxed and appeared to all be enjoying the fact that they are playing again live to an audience that were also out in full force, with the Brighton Dome being at over 90% of capacity.
My favourite tracks for the evening have to be ‘The Carpet Crawlers’, ‘Robbery, Assault And Battery’ and ‘Lamb Lies Down On Broadway’.. but hey, that’s only me ..what were your favourites from the night??
The evening came to an end with the band playing ‘Los Endos’, after which the whole audience gave the band a standing ovation whilst the band gave their ‘curtain call’.
