[Squonkman]

well fudge, lost the whole last part, now have to write it all over.....


[part 3]

Home by the Sea

for me one of the true highlights of the show. Despite the fact that I have seen this played live 3 times previous, and countless times have seen it./heard it on videos and boots, I never tire of this, probably the best 80s tune they ever did IMO. I like the darker, heavier more menacing Genesis, and this song didn't disappoint. Spot on, and intense. Phil got the crowd into it with his "scary scary stories" and got the crowd doing the "wooooooooooohs" alot and even a few times during the song. The lighting and video effects were cool, and this was impeccably played, no messups that I could hear. One of the true highlights of the show for me.

FYFM

a nice contrast from the heavier HBTS, you can tell Genesis thought long and hard about balancing lighter songs with the longer instrumentals etc. So the alternating was a good idea, if you notice. Chester played that shaker round thingamijig and this song got the ladies singing again.

Firth of Fifth/I Know What I Like

launching right into the instumental part of FOF sounded a little odd and abrupt to me, too bad they couldn't do the whole song, but I was glad to hear any of it. Thinking, when did I last hear this live---probably 1982 encore tour? Daryl gets a lot of grief from older Hackett fans, and I am a huge Hackett fan, but Daryl really does a good job of injecting a little of his own personality but still keeping close to the Hackett blueprint in the guitar solo. I could tell some people around me didn't know what the heck this instrumental was but the Buffalo guy next to me and I exchanged a knowing glance and smile of recognition. My only quibble during this and in Home by the Sea was the absence of the really heavy deep bass pedals from days of yore that literally made you feel like your chest was going to cave in. No doubt due to the lighter volume, I didn't quite feel that same depth of bass pedal. But overall, I was air drumming and air guitaring to this one while others had blank looks on their faces (when does he sing Sussudio?)
IKWIL got the crowd back into it, and Phil got a great response after his tamborine dance with the "hey heys" and the crowd really responded as it seemed like he did that longer than what I heard on the recordings. The crowd sang to the chorus too, and yes, even that Stagnation bit which some of us got. Great video shots of years gone by during that one.


Mama/Ripples

they launched quickly into Mama, once again showcasing the heavier darker Genesis. I was amazed that Phil can sing this one and he seemed to have no problems. I had been concerned about reports from the last Philly concert that his voice was suffering a little and he had a cold, but he was smooth tonight, and even with the lower key he sounded good. After Mama he "apologized" for the dirty "lewdness"? did he say of that song and introduced one of the true gems of the Genesis catalog. I was disappointed to see alot of the crowd, even on the floor, sit during this one, but there were also many singing the chorus of Ripples. The lighting was reminiscent of the only other time I had seen this song live, on the Duke tour, with the greenish backlights and yellow tones. Despite the fact that they chopped out about a minute and half from the instrumental compared to the 1980 version, it was still sublime and Daryl does not get enough credit for playing Hackett like on that guitar solo. Is wierd to see Phil sitting with nothing to do for a few minutes. Overall, a pure gem, one of the reasons I was willing to pay 200 bucks to see this concert.

continued.......