After seeing four shows ( Manchester, London, Ottawa, and Philadelphia) on the “Turn It On Again” tour it was time to see the band on the “home turf”  New York/New Jersey.  Being lucky enough to work just a few blocks from Madison Square Garden I watched the production being loaded in.  Even Though he was several yards away and with the noise of the forklifts I was able to give a shout out to Steve “pud” Jones the production manager.  Then it was off to work knowing my band was just a few blocks up the street the excitement of seeing Genesis in the world famous Madison Square Garden made it hard to focus on work.  Got up to the garden around 6:45 pm and quickly became aware of all the non New York accents.  I meet one gentleman from Greece/England who had seen all three philly shows and was heading back after Tuesday’s Garden show. Spoke with another chap from England and saw a group of Italians who had made up their own tour shirts.
Genesis took the stage at approximately 8:30 several songs into the set I felt a tap on my shoulder and it was former co-worker who had spotted me (can you say small world?)  I must say the crowd was not as knowledgeable and into it as other cities I had been to which did make it a bit disappointing. The Next day at work a coworker told me that she was also at the show, she said she liked it and did not realize what a great drummer Phil is but was surprised they did not play the hits from their biggest album No Jacket Required  I said to myself if that ridiculous thought was held by even a small percent of the crowd that would explain why I felt the crowd was not as strong as it had been in other cities.  A little too much of the New York high brow types. Don’t get me wrong it was still a very strong show.  Some highlights include a woman waving a Brazilian flag during the crowd shots on the big video screen during “Throwing It All Away”  Phil seemed to have some extra energy during the drum duet.
 
Two days later things got even better. Genesis brought back the bigger European production to Giants Stadium in northern New Jersey about 10 miles west of
New York City. This show was going to be very special for me. After seeing the band in two different countries and two different states now they were playing just twenty minutes from my home.  Also my first live Genesis experience was at Giants stadium June of 92 for the WCD tour. My buddy Paul who opened the Genesis door to me about 17 yrs ago was with me for this show. We couldn’t get over how much had changed in our lives since being in that same stadium 15 years ago.  He married with a child now, me married and divorced. Due to changes in our lives we have drifted apart a bit but the music was always a unifying force. If this was my last live Genesis show I so glad I got to experience with Paul. We had a nice tailgate before the show had vol II the longs blasting from the car CD player. Had a nice chat with some fans that dove down from
Northeast Pennsylvania.  All day the weather forecast had been calling for thunderstorms I was crossing my fingers that the weather would hold for us. 
Genesis took the stage at 9 which was later than I thought they would be on, and knowing it was supposed to rain later in the evening I really wanted them on stage sooner than later. From the 1^st couple of notes of Behind The Lines I could sense this show was going to be better than MSG.  Maybe because it was an outdoor show, it felt like summer, more “true” fans a mix of all what ever the reason the show ROCKED. Maybe just a notch below the 2 UK gigs.The rain stayed away the only water falling might have been a tear knowing my Turn It On Again had just ended. 

 
To all the fans I have meet on this journey as well as all the fans who attended the shows and cheered for more I will have memories for a life time.

Frank

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