GENESIS REVISITED: LIVE AT HAMMERSMITH

It is difficult to resist hearing a band that plays a tribute to one of your favorite bands, like Genesis, especially when it's their best music in the 70's. We have here only songs of the period were Hackett was in the band, including the beautiful 'Shadow of the Hierophant', who was co-written with Mike Rutherford during the rehearsal of the Foxtrott sessions. Hackett was accompanied by some guests musicians a part from his band. Nad Sylvan sings the majority of the songs, some maybe will be disturb by his mannerism, trying to match Gabriel's voice, but Hackett wanted someone flamboyant, he surely got it. But we can make this criticism to all the singers involved because you can't replace Peter Gabriel voice.

The interpretation of the songs is faithful to the originals, with some revisited and corrected solos, but also with the addition of the saxophone of Rob Townsend, when we can hear him clearly. One thing disturbed me during this concert; the drum sound of Gary O'Toole. The drums were sounding too heavy and noisy, a bit like the guy had cheap drums. I don't know if it would have made a difference if the sound engineer had put his sound down. More impressive is Lee Pomeroy who is a left handed bassist and guitar player that plays on right handed instruments! The keyboards of Roger King recreate with fidelity the sound of those whom we have been used to hear with Tony Banks in the 70's. Steve Hackett is obviously the musician that still characterized with the more accuracy the Genesis sound, because he was in the band with some of the same instruments.

The picture quality is excellent and the 5.1 surround sound is full, not only for ambiance. The visuals are impressive with a nice light show and projections on LD screens. While I had a good time listening to my favorite music of the 70's, you can't stop thinking in this kind of project at the idea that it's only a recreation of music that is owned by other artists. The project of Nick D'Virgilio with "The Lamb Lies down on Broadway" was more satisfying, because he was bringing a little bit more in the music with more new arrangements and instruments. Still, plenty of Genesis fans will want to take a look at this concert, because it's a chance to see our favorite old music with the new technology.