Back in NYC (Genesis)

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   I admit that I did not expect this to be a particularly great show, and I pretty much got what I expected.
Not entirely bad, but the band was largely uninspired, sometimes even lackluster.  Phil was obviously having some fun (as was Rutherford), and was his usual genial self, making it seem like the audience was in his living room (a living room built for 23,000).  Unfortunately, the at best taciturn Banks looked like he would rather have been anywhere else.  (I had very high-powered binoculars, which I used liberally, so I know of what I speak.)  Even Steurmer and Thompson seemed somewhat subdued.

As noted elsewhere, the set included mostly later Collins-era material (Home By The Sea, No Son of Mine, Invisible Touch, Throwing It All Away, Turn It On Again et al), with some gems thrown in.  The high points were Ripples (worth the price of admission), Mama (the second best I've ever heard it), Domino (also the second best I've ever heard it), and two medleys.  The first medley started with In the Cage, moved into the instrumental mid-section of Cinema Show, then through Duke's Travels, and finally into Afterglow.  Strangely, although there was double drumming in parts, Thompson did not play the second part on Cinema Show, and it was sorely missed.  The other medley started with one of the best double drum solos I have seen these two play (and I have seen them play many): they started by drumming on two soft-seated stools (!) - using both the cushions (which were miked) and the metal parts of the stools - and slowly bringing in their drum sets, building to a truly awe-inspiring crescendo which brought in the instrumental mid-section of Firth of Fith, then Wot Gorilla, and finally the instrumental ending of Los Endos (from Seconds Out).  Along with Ripples, this was worth the price of admission.  (And yet...even much of the usually exciting double drumming seemed somewhat subdued, even (dare I say it?) rote.)

They ended with Invisible Touch, for which the finale included flash pots and fireworks (inside MSG!).  I have to admit I was a bit unnerved, since I could not stop thinking about Great White and the tragedy in Rhode Island.  (Call me paranoid, if you must.)

They came back for two encores.  The first - "We Can't Dance" - was a throw-away, but was cute nonetheless.  Their final song was Carpet Crawlers.  Oddly, this was unquestionably the most inspired song of the entire night - and people started walking out!  Admittedly it was late, and much of the audience came in from NJ or LI, so they had to catch trains home.  But it was sad to see that the band waited until the very end to come close (very close) to their heyday.  Had they played like that all night (even the newer stuff), it would not simply have been a good show, but a great one.

The other odd thing about the show was that, despite having yet another unique and amazing lighting and effects set-up, they rarely used it to its potential.  And they certainly never aspired to create anything that approached the type of arena rock show for which they became so famous, even though they easily could have.

Ultimately, I am glad I saw the show, if only for the few numbers that made it worthwhile.  As noted, I didn't really expect them to be the Genesis of Seconds Out (even given Steurmer's replacement of Hackett).  But I can't say I didn't hope for it.

Peace.