Saw Genesis in Sacramento for the first time ever. Had great seats (11th row center) and really enjoyed the show.
What really stood out for me was the acutely schizophrenic nature of the show -- a very "Dr. Genesis and Mr. Phil" feel to the show. The 70s Genesis doesn't contrast well with the 80s hit-machine Genesis, IMO. The way they paired songs really brought this out this dichotomy, e.g., "Mama" with "Ripples" or "I Can't Dance" with "Carpet Crawlers." It was almost laughable to see the lacivious, demented Collins-persona bellowing out "Mama" transition into the pastoral, melacholy "Ripples." The mood of the show kept alternating this way from 80s drum machine pop to 70s prog, and I think the prog suffered more for it. Most of the audience in attendance wasn't familiar with the 70s stuff and so would talk or move around as the band worked their way through some of the 70s medleys. The pop crowd had little patience for the more subdued extended musical sections. During the prog sections, you could easily notice the older 70s prog fans who really appreciated the older stuff sparcely intersperced amongst pop fans.
Because I had been reading about the tour, I pretty much knew what to expect, so there wasn't a lot of surprises, though I have to admit that Collins is a humorous guy who really knows how to work a crowd for laughs.
But one moment really made the show for me: When they played "I Know What I Like (in Your Wardrobe)." I don't know exactly why but something about that performance---the energy, the upbeat melody, the humor of it, the extended instrumental ending---just got under my skin and for a brief moment I felt I was seeing the 70s Genesis for real, not some later version which had compromised their prog legacy. Fantastic moment.
All in all, excellent show. Fantastic drum and percussion sections, too. I didn't see any missed opportunities for double drumming. Thompson and Collins double-drummed the hell out of several songs.
Edited by bluetailfly - October 12 2007 at 22:19