But, as any of you that have seen them perform, this is not your average cover band!! They don't CRUSH me the way they used to simply because I now know what to expect and how incredibly good they are at recreating the Gabriel-era Genesis music. Nonetheless, I get great enjoyment out of seeing other people in the audience react to seeing TMB for the first time. This time was no exception as there were a couple of younger guys (maybe in their late 20s) in the front row. These guys were insane with joy, pumping their fists in the air, singing ALL the words (they knew them cold!), and air-drumming like Mark in a mostly less than perfect beat. I could not help but smile as I watched them.
This particular concert was a re-enactment of "The Black Show", a series of "Selling England by the Pound" (SEBTP) concerts that Genesis performed in North America in 1974. It had a different set and featured more focus on Gabriel's antics. Instead of the white hour-glass shaped backdrop, there were black curtains behind the stage. This made Gabriel's glowing face paint and masks stand out a bit more. I had never seen this show by TMB. I have seen them perform the Foxtrot tour, SEBTP tour (white shows), and The Lamb tour. After seeing this particular version, I must say that I still prefer the "white" SEBTP show the best. This may be because these were the first shows I saw where my mind was completely bent out of shape with awe.
I unfortunately went to this concert by myself. Colin couldn't be convinced to attend and Laurie had a business dinner to go to (at least that was her excuse!). So, even though it took me TWO hours to get there in the worst traffic of my life (DAMN!), I managed to get to the Vic Theater 10 minutes before they started. The benefit for going to the show by myself was that it was easy to find a good seat. This concert had seats but was general admission; the doors opened an hour before I got there. So, lo and behold, I was seated in the 6th row, left of center, closer than I have ever been!!!! After grabbing an obligatory, excessively priced beer, I scoped out the crowd. The graphed age of attendees was, as usual, a perfect bell curve with a median age of about 48.
It really makes you think about mortality when you realize this music is 34 years old!!!!!!!!!!!! I am ever-thankful that I had older brothers to expose me to this music at such a tender age. To this day, I remember "discovering" music when I was 12 or so, listening to such classics as 'Thick as a Brick', 'SEBTP', and 'Close to the Edge'.
But I digress...
Here is the set list that The Musical Box performed last night:
Watcher of the Skies
Dancing with the Moonlit Knight
Cinema Show
I Know What I Like
Firth of Fifth
The Musical Box
Horizons
The Battle of Epping Forest
Supper's Ready
The Knife (encore)
I will not go into the details of each song's performance but I did have some general impressions during the show. Here they are, in no particular order:
- Tony Banks is the man. His keyboard playing in this music is just unreal. I really am at a loss for words in trying to describe how his sounds and playing define a big part of my love for music to this day. Cinema Show absolutely crushed me last night.
- Steve Hackett's guitar playing was ground breaking for its time. His solo at the end of Firth of Fifth still goes down as one of the best of all time. I know Mark will agree.
- Peter Gabriel was crazy, but in a good way. I don't know if drugs contributed to his bizarre antics but his genius shines through every time. The stories he tells between songs are completely deranged.
- TMB drummer did a very good job playing the difficult Phil Collins drum parts.
- All the members of TMB are great but, for my money, the Mike Rutherford of the group stands out. I know it's hard to believe (I've always been one to rave mostly about Banks and Hackett) but last night he was on fire playing perfect bass, electric guitar, acoustic guitar, bass pedals, and singing.
- I am convinced, after seeing this band for so many years, that the song that TMB performs best is, well, The Musical Box. It is so powerful! After the lyrics, "Play me my song, here it comes again...", the band simply unleashes into blistering guitar/keyboard/drum mayhem.
- A close second to that song might be the Rutherford/Banks/Collins jam session at the end of Cinema Show (Hackett and Gabriel are off stage at this point). When you get a chance, sit down and play this song (Seconds Out version preferably). If you aren't shaking your head in astonishment, you may want to check your pulse...
But, as always, the highlight of the night for me is "Supper's Ready". As much as I hate to agree with Jeffrey, he is right about this: This is the BEST SONG EVER!!! In particular, the Seconds Out version of this song may be the single best musical recording in human history. Have I overstated it?! Maybe so but probably not. OK. So can we at least agree that it's Top 10 material, Tommy?
A Flower?!
The Grand Finale of Supper's Ready
They ended the show with a rousing rendition of "The Knife" and by this time the crowd was in a full-on lathered frenzy even here in the Midwest. The acoustics of the Vic Theatre were sublime and the fact that I had an actual seat for the show was key to my full enjoyment. Yes, the boys really put on a good show last night and I'm happy I went despite the horrendous traffic on the way into Chicago.
I don't know if I need to see this particular show again. I feel like I know it by heart. BUT, TMB apparently will be performing "A Trick of the Tail" tour next year; yet another excuse to shell out good money to go back in time and relive a little slice of musical heaven. It will be interesting to see them perform something post-Gabriel. I can't wait to hear Dance on a Volcano, Entangled, Squonk, Ripples and Los Endos.
Til next time...Slainte Mhath.
