Author: Peter Podbrežnik
Artist: Hackett, Steve
Label: Inside Out Records
Release: 2013
Rating: 5/5
Cult guitarist Steve Hackett is a man on a never-ending mission to actively promote top-shelf symphonic progressive rock, the kind that was played at the peak of its popularity (the seventies), when he helped shape it from the inside. Right now Steve has pushed writing his own material onto the back burner in favor of championing the classics of his old band, the truly legendary prog titans Genesis, which he proved in magnificent fashion with the excellent album »Genesis Revisited II« (2012) and regular tours in support of it. His live shows from this period have all been met with an outstanding response. Steve’s latest live album was recorded at the prestigious Hammersmith Apollo in London, so, fittingly for the occasion, it’s called »Genesis Revisited: Live At Hammersmith«. The album is also available as a box set containing a triple CD and a double DVD.
Steve was a member of Genesis between 1971 and 1977, recording five albums with Peter Gabriel on lead vocals and two with Phil Collins at the front mic. The era with Hackett on guitar is rightly labeled classic, because that’s when Genesis made their most artistically daring and innovative studio records and laid the foundation stones of symphonic progressive rock, something Steve never forgot, even after striking out on his own. Most of his solo work was dedicated to symphonic prog, even though, especially in the eighties, he experimented with other genres with more or less success.
His love for Genesis music has never left him, which he proved in the best possible way back in 1996 with the album »Watcher Of The Skies: Genesis Revisited«. »Genesis Revisited II« was the logical continuation of his revival of that magnificent Genesis legacy, and in his career he has already done far more than all the other former and current members of these prog legends, who lately keep stirring up a fuss among lovers of good music with speculation about a reunion of the classic lineup.
»Genesis Revisited: Live At Hammersmith« is a superb live document capturing a magical evening of Hackett’s emotional, incredibly immersive and technically impeccable performances of some of the best-loved Genesis classics from the classic era. Steve and his backing band took us on a magical journey through some of the best chapters of his rich Genesis legacy. The band features the charismatic singer Nad Sylvan, an excellent in-between ‘phase’ of Gabriel and Collins, plus keyboardist Roger King (best known for working with Gary Moore), drummer Gary O’Toole (best known for working with Kylie Minogue), saxophonist/flutist/percussionist Rob Townsend (best known for working with Bill Bruford) and bassist Lee Pomeroy (It Bites, ex-Take That, Rick Wakeman), who stood in for the busy Nick Beggs (Kajagoogoo).
On a few songs he got help from prestigious guest vocalists and instrumentalists such as singer Nik Kershaw, guitarist Steve Rothery (Marillion), bassist/singer John Wetton (Asia, ex-King Crimson, UK, Uriah Heep, Family, Wishbone Ash), guitarist/singer Jakko Jakszyk (King Crimson, ex-Level 42) and guitarist/singer Amanda Lehmann, the sister of his wife Jo Lehmann. All of them had already worked with Steve on »Genesis Revisited II«, so their return to the stage was just an extra bonus that made the renditions of individual Genesis standards even better that night.
»Genesis Revisited – Live At Hammersmith« is a delicious live treat from the first second to the last, one that all the ‘prog lovers’ will enjoy, and worshippers of the classic Genesis era especially. The sci-fi epic »Watcher Of The Skies« was a somewhat expected pick to open the show, since it’s one of the most representative Genesis evergreens, and Steve and the gang play it with a heaping helping of brilliance and ambient finesse while also paying tribute to the original version. »The Chamber Of 32 Doors«, »Fly On a Windshield« and »Broadway Melody Of 1974« (the last two with drummer O’Toole on lead vocals), while on »The Lamia« Nik Kershaw takes over the vocal reins with Steve Rothery adding extra guitar firepower, are all uniformly convincing revivals of some ‘fragments’ of the double concept masterpiece »The Lamb Lies Down On Broadway (1974).
Among the allegorical-fantasy epics that night, two phenomenal versions stand out: »Dancing With The Moonlight Knight«, where Steve also demonstrates the specific guitar technique known as ‘tapping’, and »The Musical Box«, where the main ‘star’ is Sylvan with his theatrical vocal performance, fully losing himself in the role of a neurotic, dying old man with unfulfilled desires. »Shadow Of The Hierophant« admittedly isn’t a Genesis classic but comes from the start of Steve’s solo career; still, it was written together with Genesis bassist/guitarist Mike Rutherford and its structure is very close to some of the prog titans’ classics. Sally Oldfield, Mike Oldfield’s older sister, sang on the original version, and this time guitarist Amanda Lehmann stepped in on lead vocals quite successfully. Even though the original is still in a league of its own, Steve’s band, with a heavier dose of flute as well, once again managed to recreate an incredibly intense atmosphere.
With a very good version of the evergreen »Blood On The Rooftops« from »Wind & Wuthering« (1977), with drummer O’Toole again on lead vocals, Steve and the gang move into the Genesis era when Collins had already replaced Gabriel at the mic. The intense, pastoral-ethereal atmosphere carries on successfully through the interlinked »Unquiet Slumbers For The Sleepers« and »In That Quiet Earth«, while on the epic »Afterglow« lead vocals go to the legendary John Wetton, who does an excellent job. Of course Steve’s crew doesn’t forget to play the playful evergreen »I Know What I Like«, the biggest hit of the Gabriel-era Genesis, which once again exceeds all expectations and nails the essence of the classic period down to the last detail.
The masterpiece »A Trick Of The Tail« (1976) was represented that night by two classics, the explosive »Dance On A Volcano« and the ethereal »Entangled«, where King Crimson’s latest guitarist/singer Jakko Jakszyk and Lehmann shine together during the chorus. »Eleventh Earl Of Mar« is one of those unforgettable Genesis epics that often get unfairly forgotten when people tally up their best work, so it’s an especially nice surprise when it turns up on a live setlist. The high point of the whole evening, and thus of this live album, was the gorgeous rendition of the Genesis magnum opus, the super-epic »Supper’s Ready«, stretched this time by a little over four minutes to almost half an hour. For the encore, Steve’s band delights with a superb version of the Victorian symphonic-prog epic »Firth Of Fifth«, where keyboardist Roger King especially shines, before wrapping up their set with the symphonic prog/jazz-rock fusion revelation »Los Endos«.
Live perfection has long been inseparable from the name Steve Hackett. Had the classic Genesis lineup recorded »Genesis Revisited: Live At Hammersmith«, it would surely be their best officially released live achievement (for now that’s still »Seconds Out«, 1977). The whole performance by Steve’s crew that night was devoted to a single goal – recreating the ambient perfection that was the hallmark of classic Genesis – and with Townsend’s extra woodwind arrangements they pulled it off completely, so this is a live document that no honest collection of fans of the unforgettable Genesis legacy and Steve’s no less impressive solo career should be without.
Lineup
Steve Hackett – guitar, vocals
Roger King (Gary Moore, Snoop Doggie Dog, Jamelia) – keyboards
Gary O’Toole (Kylie Minogue, Chrissie Hynde) – drums, percussion, vocals
Rob Townsend (Eddie Henderson, Bill Bruford, Django Bates) – saxophone, flute, percussion
Lee Pomeroy (Take That, Rick Wakeman) – bass guitar
Nad Sylvan (Abba’s Michael B Tretow) – lead vocals
GUEST MUSICIANS:
Nik Kershaw – vocals
Steve Rothery (Marillion) – guitar
John Wetton (Asia, ex-King Crimson) – bass guitar, guitar, vocals
Jakko Jaksyzk (King Crimson, ex-Level 42) – guitar, vocals
Amanda Lehmann – guitar, vocals
Production
Steve Hackett and Roger King
Track list
CD1
1. Watcher of the Skies
2. The Chamber of 32 Doors
3. Dancing with the Moonlit Knight
4. Fly on a Windshield
5. Broadway Melody of 1974
6. The Lamia
7. The Musical Box
8. Shadow of the Hierophant
9. Blood on the Rooftops
CD2
1. Unquiet Slumbers for the Sleepers
2. In That Quiet Earth
3. Afterglow
4. I Know What I Like
5. Dance on a Volcano
6. Entangled
7. Eleventh Earl of Mar
8. Supper’s Ready
CD3
1. Firth of Fifth
2. Los Endos
DVD1 – Full live show
DVD2 – Behind the scenes featurette
