The Musical Box was playing the Foxtrot show last Saturday in Amsterdam. This is around 225 KM from where I live (in Belgium - two hours drive). But I got some excellent CD's to play during the trip and could concentrate on the music since I was alone in the car.
As an hors d'Oeuvre, the good neo-prog band "Plackband" was opening the show. A short set (half an hour) of pleasant music. With a good live show as well.
And then ...
"Watcher Of The Skies". It was the seventh time that I saw the band and this song has always been played : either as the opener or as one of the encores ("The Lamb tour). And each time, I am fully emotionated and close to physically cry when the mellotron starts. But the whole of this concert is fantastic.
Each song flowing so nicely and so quickly. "The Musical Box", "Salmacis", "Get'em Out", "Supper's Ready" and then the mighty "Hogweed" which is truely phenomenal.
What's interesting in this show is to see the difference in Peter's attitudes between the "Foxtrot" tour and the "Selling" one (which I see in its white version already). He was more timid, the little stories being shorter during the Foxtrot tour : almost reduced to a minimum for "Hogweed", and "Get'em", "Musical Box". A little longer for "Supper's" but not yet the long one we know thanks to the wonderful verson which is available in their first Archive boxed set.
The encores ? "The Knife" and finally "Can Utility". What else can one dream of ?
Just to go and see them perform a unique "Nursery Cryme" show next week in Duisbourg (Germany - on the 31st of October). And a few days later I will go and see them but in Brussels this time for the "Selling" black show. This will make a total of nine shows to which to which I attended from this great cover band.
And the good news is that "The Musical Box" will continue with ... "A Trick Of The Tail". Starting in September 2008. No news about the line-up but I can only recommend the show. I saw the original one back in 76 and even if some magic had gone on stage it was a great concert as well. For those of you who didn't make the original tour, it is really a must (of course we won't get Brufford and Collins but still...).
I am ready to drive another 450 KM (both ways) to see the extremely rare "Nursery Cryme" tour being performed. I will have some good CD's for the road. Since, I'll be again alone on the way to Duisbourg.
If ever you have the chance to attend one of their show, just do it. It is quite an experience. Either to discover how "Genesis" was on stage if you have never seen their greatest line-up or just get the confirmation that this cover band does an awesome job.
Cheers.