ShareSteve Hackett performing his Best Of Genesis & Solo Gems Tour at The Royal Concert Hall on Friday 16th October 1026.
Images and Review by Kevin Cooper
Steve Hackett and his band were at the Royal Concert Hall on Friday night and throughout their set they enamoured the crowd with catchy guitar hooks and precise playing of classic prog music from early Genesis songs along with some of Hackett’s successful solo numbers.
Hackett was supported by a fantastic band of outstanding musicians that brought an obvious reverence, respect and passion for the material that continues to mesmerise the crowd. Whilst not varying his shows very much means that the crowd knows what to expect, they still hung on every word.
Delivering a set that was split into two, the first half comprising his solo material and the second longer part being taken up by crowd pleasing Genesis classics from the Hackett era, he opened with the brilliant The Devil’s Cathedral, one of Hackett’s best solo compositions, which was followed up with the lovely Every Day showcasing its fabulous multi part vocal harmonies with Nad Sylvan taking the lead.
Other songs included a new release, The Sea Inside which went down really well as did Ace Of Wands and Camino Royale before the set climaxed with the ever present Shadow Of The Hierophant.
After the interval they only had time for six Genesis numbers beginning with Dancing With The Moonlit Knight from Selling England By The Pound album and Aisle Of Plenty from the same album. With the punchy and precise rhythms, bass and 12 string pedal duties were expertly delivered by veteran Jonas Reingold whose cool, calm demeanour seemed to set the entire crowd at ease, whilst Rob Townsend added his own edge with his sax, flute, keyboards and backing vocals.
Lalle Larsson nailed the classic keyboard lines that so many in the visibly older crowd have been clinging to for nearly 50 years, whilst Felix Lehrmann led the set with his excellent drumming. For the majority of the songs such as The Cinema Show and set closer the epic Supper’s Ready Sylvan provided vibrant vocals which accompanied the most intricate of solos and guitar work from Hackett.
Throughout everybody on stage was given their own time to shine such as Larsson’s keyboard solo and in the encore, Lehrmann’s drum solo, before Los Endos had the whole crowd on their feet in appreciation and admiration.
