Renaissance and Steve Hackett June 22, 2010

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First Renaissance, and my third opportunity to see them, but first since 1982.  Only 2 "original" members remain from the post-Relf era, guitarist Mike Dunford and, of course, the still lovely and mellifluous Annie Haslam.  Dunford played only acoustic guitar, no electric, while two keyboard players and a rhythm section rounded out the full sound.  One of the keys was staffed by Rave Tesar who has been in the group for some time now, and the other by a handsome youngish fellow whom I unfortunately can't name.  But to the music!

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Perhaps because no electric guitar was being used, the group stuck largely to its material from the era where said instrument was absent from their studio work, chiefly "Turn of the Cards", with a few kindred numbers from "Prologue", "Ashes are Burning", and "Novella".  For my part, the biggest thrill was "Midas Man", where they nearly duplicated the densely brooding studio effects of the original, but I was also in awe of "Prologue", for one of the first times fully appreciating just how groundbreaking this piece was, a melange of classical, jazz, and chanson.  In general Annie's wordless work was a highlight throughout, even if she has lost a perceptible range.  But I would be remiss not to give credit to the accompanying male voices who were never far from the mike, especially in the break in "Running Hard" and on the choruses in "Carpet of the Sun" and "Things I don't Understand".  attained a "please take me now, lord" moment in the middle part of the encore "Mother Russia", the keyboards more than amply filling in for the orchestral effects.  It's also worth mentioning that the group has a new 3 song EP from which they performed one track "The Mystic and the Muse" to a standing ovation.  If only Renaissance had equal billing with Hackett in MA as they did in the NY shows, we might have been treated to "Ashes are Burning" or "A Song for All Seasons".

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I had yet to see STEVE HACKETT live, and I understand he also performs acoustic shows, but this one was decidedly electric, and the band featured no less than 6 members including an additional lead guitarist, a steaming sax/flute player, and a drummer who handled vocal duties wherever Steve''s own limited pipes were insufficient, which was often.  As if recognizing that he could not beat Renaissance in the subtlety and grace departments, Hackett opened with an acid rock number - "Mechanical Bride" -  that was 90% rip off of "21st Century Schizoid Man", and there can only be one of those.  In spite of some initial excitement, this was a big let down for me.  Luckily he delivered a stunning second number which unfortunately I can't identify, but I assume it is a very recent song, perhaps from "Out of the Tunnel's Mouth".  It featured his spaced out processed vocal style in mellow verses followed by rousing wordless chorus and a shimmering lead guitar solo in the break.  I told my departing riend that he must be tone deaf at this point.  In general I found Hackett's whole show to be hit and miss in the manner of the first two tracks, but luckily more hit than miss.  For every  "Every Day", which was a dream for me to see live, "The Steppes", and GENESIS classic like "Blood on the Rooftops", there was a horrid blues number or hard rock piece only saved by impressive flute and sax work.  The encores of "Firth of Fifth" and "Clocks" capped off the show on a high note, although I did dismiss myself to the bathroom when the drum solo started.

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If anyone can provide a setlst or tell me what the second and fourth songs were, I would appreciate it.  I understand there are people following him around the northeast, so he mixed things up a bit for their benefit.

 

(Sorry, hit post before done.)  They started at & and were done minutes after 9, with breakdown/setup between bands and everything.

 

 

(Rrrrrrrr!) They started at 7.