Posts by Methos

Less that 24 hours, it hasn't sunk in yet.

I'm just happy I get to see them in 24 hours.

Heads up - you will need your vaccination card and it looks like masks inside are required.

Looking forward to next week. My guess is that the first night will be somewhat lackluster as the band hasn't played in a month or so. My bet is that the 2nd night will be better performance wise.

Quote from choccy

I corrected your misspelling

Nope, I actually hate felines. But I love Calling All Stations. All real Genesis fans should.

I saw Steve's band a few years ago, and I was impressed. I'll take Genesis music any way I can get it.

Always loved Phil the best. Yes - it's different now, but there is more emotion and knowing what he's going through now - more at stake in his singing.

And for the record, I love CAS.

Quote from Al9000

I went back to Spain yesterday. We (my brother, my 14 years old daughter and me) flew from Barcelona to see Genesis in Liverpool last Monday.

I wanted to be a drummer and got my first drum kit (old, second or third hand) when I listened Phil in Duke album, in 1980. I fell in love with Genesis music. I was lucky to see them in Madrid in 1987, I remember specially the new Cage medley with In That Quiet Earth... Jesus!!! (no other drummer plays this hellish jazz fusion rythm like Phil -no tribute band, no Steve Hackett Band drummer-; and no other band plays this part as the real Genesis). I saw Tony and Mike with Ray Wilson in the Calling All Stations tour too (I think the album has some great songs and great proggy moments). I have freaked out with Steve Hackett or The Musical Box live, I love Brand X songs with Phil drumming (I am not much interested in Phil's solo albums -only some songs from Face Value, Hello I Must Be Going and No Jacket Required-).

So I am an "old school fan" (I am a die hard fan of the Trespass/Duke era), BUT I have to say that I also love songs like Abacab, You Might Recall, Submarine, Naminanu, Dodo, Mama, 2nd Home by the Sea, the instrumental part of Fading Lights, I like Silver Rainbow, Land of Confusion, Domino, TTT, No Son of Mine...

In this tour, the old "dividing line" in Genesis musical history doesn't matter at all. I think that every concert of this tour is an intimate celebration with musicians that have been with you throughout your life. When you are young, this is not important. When you have lived births, some sad deaths, happy and not so happy moments throughout your life, you know that the time to look behind has arrived for your generation (as it happened to the others before). Genesis have been my most wanted musical friends. It seems that is time to look back with them and thank them for being there.

Yes, Phil is frail. He is sitting on a chair (where is the problem? Steve and Mike have played seated a lot of times), perhaps he forgot one or two words in some song... BUT at the same time I saw him strong, joking, ironic, funny, the same old guy of old times (a little bit older, yes, it doesn't matter). His voice is weaker than ever, yes, but you can see him enjoying and trying his best to sing as he wants. With total dignity. I believe that we the fans are giving him waves of life and joy every night. And this is great for me.

Some impressions:

The band was great. 2nd Home, Mama, Behind the Lines, Duchess (wow!!!! -I have to say that some harmonies have been changed in some parts, I prefer the original ones, but no problem-; Nic pushes the song forward magnificently with some fresh and welcome "heavy"? "grunge"? air), Afterglow, Last Domino... Great songs, great memories.

IKWIL and Firth of Fifth section or the climax in Afterglow sounded so powerful that I think they were close to the Seconds Out mythical versions (yes, I felt it that way).

The acoustic set worked perfectly for me, a different view of the songs; the band was around a "campfire" sharing this moment with the audience.

I think that the "no transition" from Fading Lights to Cinema Show works perfect, it's like a thunder, a terrific outbreak and the band sounds agile and powerful at the same time. The transition from Moonlite Knight to Carpet Crawlers was very beautiful too.

Mike is moving and rocks it, Tony smiles (yes: a little); Nic is not Phil on the drums, but it works perfectly, very professional, serious and forceful (it's great to hear the drums with the same sound as his father's). Daryl is the great Daryl (I think his Firth of Fifth solo was so much better than his former versions), and the support singers are perfect too (I liked a lot their voices in Afterglow; they sang like in the original album version).

I broke in tears a lot of times, I laughed at Phil's jokes, I screamed and sang along, I ENJOYED all the show (lights and images were amazing too, of course).

I saw the audience very entusiasthic, lively. I have read in some places that the Liverpool shows have been the most emotionally intense so far in the tour (maybe it's true, I don't know...).

Don't be afraid: Buy your ticket, go to the show!!

Sorry for my bad english expression.

I finish here this long post, thanks for your reading!!

P. S.: One has to be realistic and not ask for songs like Can-Utility and the Coastliners or Eleventh Earl of Mar, but... Does someone remember Dodo?

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We know Phil, Tony, and Mike don't practice. Their performances are their practice. It make sense that they get better with each show.

I'm seeing the 1st and 2nd Chicago shows, and I know the first Chicago show won't be that good. They need to settle in.

From the videos posted, looks like Liverpool was the show to go to. The crowd looked alive with energy.

Quote from StaggerLee

I'd have politely told those two guys standing at the barrier, blocking people's view, to piss off.

In the States, the floor stands up. I was surprised at the videos so far showing the first 20 rows sitting down. If you want to sit down, you get balcony seats.

Quote from Mozo

Anyway. Hope you all enjoyed it. To paraphrase, we'll never see the likes of them again

For certain.

Slippermen? When was that added?

Quote from UK76

Yes, sure! It seems to be in fact me.   Methos, maybe you can send me a PN because right now I have no idea who you actually are?

2007: I saw a LOT of concerts. Most of Europe plus one trip to the US East Coast and another a few weeks later to the West Coast. I travelled to the shows in Helsinki, Herning, Hamburg, Berne, Hannover, Brussels, Düsseldorf, Berlin, Frankfurt, Paris, Manchester, Twickenham, Munich, Lyon, Rome, Hartford, Philadelphia, Sacramento, San Jose and Los Angeles. Linz was one of the shows (as well as e. g. Stuttgart, Amsterdam, Prague, Chorzow), I didn't see for different reasons. It was the summer and fall of my life!

So now for this tour my main goal was to see the very first concert. Dublin was fully booked and I was ready to go but unfortunately the shows were cancelled. So I opted for Birmingham, just the first night due to family and covid reasons (mainly avoiding any risk of a quarantine). Back in 2007, I didn't have a wife and family. That has completely changed over the last 10 years. I now have a lovely family with three wonderful kids. So going out on an expensive trip for several weeks. No way! Everything has its time. 14 years ago it was a time for concerts and doing what I've always dreamed to do. Now it's family time and I'm completely fine with that.

The opening night last Monday was my only Genesis concert this year. In case the band decides to continue the tour in 2022 and come to Germany or The Netherlands, I would surely do one or two more shows. Over PC's FFF Tour and G's TIOA Tour between 2004 and 2007 I travelled the world and met uncounted wonderful fellow fans. I had the time of my life. And the reward is to nowadays meet some of these people every once in a while, preferably on Genesis or PC gigs. Last Monday I had the pleasure to hook up with other fans from Germany, France, the US and the UK.

Oh, and for the front row thing: yes, that somehow eveloped out of the blue. Some people love to be half way back to have the best sound and see the whole production properly. I always like to have the closest possible "contact" to the band. So I've spent uncounted hours queueing in front of halls and stadiums everywhere. It's a matter of tactics and luck. Both worked out great on the TIOA Tour. The only shows I didn't see up front were the fully seated gigs in the UK and US and (as Christian mentioned) Frankfurt. I even ended up in front row centerstage right in front of Phil's mic in Rome! Half a million people behind me. That was a undescribable feeling.

I can tell a lot of stories from all these concerts and memories are still very present. Anyone who knows me feel free to contact me to have a chat. It would be my pleasure!

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My wife and I met you and talked to you before the Berene show. We were the Americans with a bunch of British fans with us. Doubt you remember though as you have met so many people.

Good to see you still love Genesis.

Quote from The_Genesis_Archive

Ulrich Klemt, "Ulli" he is lovely we saw/spoke with him at Birmingham on Monday 20th September 2021.

TGA

That is him! Ulli - we hung out with him for a bit before then 07 shows - great guy. Is he planning on going to all of the shows this year, including the NA ones?

Quote from absinthe_boy

Some more thoughts. Obviously watching videos shot on phones and live streamed is not anything like being there. I have at least five friends who were at one of the first two concerts and they all had a great time, including one who was healthily sceptical about what to expect - in terms of Phil's singing and the set list.

I also have perfect pitch so I do always notice songs transposed....but Genesis are far from the only older artists to do this. Elton John has been for many years. The Lord Peter Gabriel himself did when he recorded Lamb overdubs back in the late 90s for the box set. It's not a surprise and not an option to do anything else other than not sing at all. We all get older. Mama sounds even more creepy in the new key than it ever did. And it's supposed to sound creepy. Duchess somehow sounds right. Other songs, feel a bit different. But I would rather hear them sung by the band who wrote them that way than not at all. Remember folks, after this it's Hackett, tribute bands and karaoke.

I'm surprised Apocalypse isn't in the set after everything Nic said. It now doesn't even appear to have been rehearsed in October 2020. I am stull unsure about the new arrangement of The Lamb but I do applaud the guys for spending time and effort on trying something different. Overall the concerts worked. Better than most expected. Musically the band is firing on all cylinders. Phil still sounds like Phil, just an older version. He does come alive on stage and is getting more enthusiastic about his banter with the audience. They'll be in the palm of his hand by the time they get to London.

Quote from The_Genesis_Archive

We went to all three shows in Birmingham,

Monday night: Band a bit unsure of the reaction, they were cautious. Production was for an arena tour rather epic. Audience enjoyed the show, some drunks dancing, some women dancing to the two songs they knew (That's all and Invisible Touch).

Tuesday night: Band starting to get more confidence, Mike starting to rock it out... (I know how unlikely that sounds), Production more slick and Phil's voice got a bit stronger.

Wednesday night: Band much more confident, Phil joking more with the audience, Mike rocking it out quite a bit and the production has evolved.

Overall view, Phil's no spring chicken , voice is what it is. Yes he forgot some words, yes Tony made some mistakes and then glared at everyone else, yes Mike made some mistakes and just laughed it off and shook his head. We got to see Geoff Callingham getting introduced owing to a lead in a keyboard not working properly.

Fans for the most part, from people bringing their sons/daughters to people the same age as the band. People from Germany and America, Ireland, France and the UK in the audience.

Tony Smith was spotted a few times, the merchandise is what it is... although the cost of the tour programme has remained the same since the late 1990's.

The venue isn't the greatest, but it did its job, although a few sound issues relating to the venue acoustics.

The set list is the same, although emotions change from night to night. I went from disliking Throwing it all away to liking it.

The new members of the band (backing singers) did a great job.

All in all, I spent over £600 on tickets ranging from block F to block B, and finally got a front row ticket. Nic Collins is a fantastic drummer, a hybrid of drumming styles but he certainly has his dad's talent.

The VIP package we did not have, but it must have been galling to some of those who spent £766 on a ticket to be in the same row as a guy who spent £182 on a ticket. Due to ticket returns there is a real chance of getting a better seat for £182 at the venues.

Worth every penny and it was great to see Genesis at last, to be there on the final run!

Kind regards,

TGA

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Thanks for the write up. I'll be seeing them twice in Chicago.

During the 07 tour, there was a German guy who went to every European show and had front row. He was known by everybody. We hung out with him in Berne and Linz. Cool dude. I forgot his name, but did you see him there for these shows?

Highlights from yesterday, some very touching moments in here. Watch when they do Fading Lights....

Quote from thefarmer

A lot has been said about the speed and pitch of the the songs. In depth analysis how they playing . I would like to post something form another angle. I'm not a musician and wouldn't know an A from an E or a Z for that matter. I rarely analyse music .

I for one would have been less happy if they had played perfectly and re created perfect versions of the original pieces. I like see things being done differently.

They are all getting on . This.tour is intended to be a farewell. Phil is not well. Voice not what it was. This was a tremendous show. Quite emotional. Phil joking about his voice, air drumming on occasions, ( looking a little sad and proud at the same time) doing the old routines one last time. The video throughout TIAA brought on a tear I don't mind admitting as did Fading Lights, it often does with me but Phil linked it with our Covid year and having lost people made it especially poignant. They didn't play perfectly, even I noticed the occasional moment of being off. Did it matter? Not I jot . I really wasn't expecting the show to be as good as it was but it held up as being one of their best. For me. Nic's drumming was out of this world . The light show just gets better . The love and warmth shown towards the band , especially to Phil from the crowd was uplifting,. especially when Phil did his sit down tambourine routine! Live music is about the moment .Players and crowd connecting . The time and place . The fun, the emotion. Genesis had it all. They held me in wonder , not for the first time . Genesis wanted to say a goodbye and so did the fans. Am going to say goodbye to them again , for last time I believe tomorrow. Can't wait!

Wonderfully said.

So - how much shorter are the new show times compared to 87? I don't think it's much shorter....

Quote from choccy

Wow, I love the full version and play it often

I guess it doesn't matter as we will never hear it live!

The original HBTS/Second is the best. Both the Philly and LA versions have a nice bass mix and Phil's drumming is amazing.

Speaking of versions, does anybody else love the original Duke tour of Turn it On Again? I think it's the Musica version - I love it on so many levels. Tony's keys have more of a piano sound and Phil's vocals are much different. You can tell it was a new song for them. Every version after that is so/so.