ShareSteve Hackett performing his Foxtrot At Fifty And Hackett Highlights Tour at The Symphony Hall Birmingham on Sunday 18th September 2022.
Images and Review by Kevin Cooper
Steve Hackett returned to the Symphony Hall Birmingham on Sunday night to celebrate the 50th anniversary of Genesis’ fourth studio album, Foxtrot, which he and his very tight band played in full.
Starting off with the instrumental Ace Of Wands from his 1975 album Voyage Of The Acolyte, which set the tone for the evening and with Hackett centre stage with woodwind player Rob Townsend, keyboardist Roger King, a rhythm section of bassist Jonas Reingold and drummer Craig Blundell, the evening got off to a blast when Nad Sylvan came on to the stage to provide vocals for The Devil’s Cathedral.
With perfect sound, a spectacular light show Spectral Mornings was allowed to shine as Hackett’s brilliant guitar work resounded around the Symphony Hall before a fantastic version of Everyday proved to be an early set highlight. A Tower Struck Down was filled with wonderful keyboards from King and also allowed Reingold to excel on an excellent bass solo.
Camino Royale From his 1983 album Highly Strung preceded a portion of the iconic Hackett track, Shadow Of The Hierophant which brought the first half of the set to a close.
After a short break the lights dimmed and King opened the second set with his dramatic keyboard skills for opener Watcher Of The Skies, whilst the rest of the band joined him. The gentle strains of Time Table followed which was light and airy and the piano bright and breezy. Get Em’ Out By Friday upped the tempo and saw Sylvan dominate the stage with his great vocals and had the crowd mouthing along the words and gentle clapping at strategic points.
The very rare Can-Utility And The Coastliners was rapturously received with sublime musicianship from all of the band. For Horizons Hackett took centre stage with his acoustic guitar and mesmerised the enchanted crowd.
Closing the second set was Genesis’ longest recorded song, a twenty three minute Supper’s Ready which saw Hackett and Reingold in tune perfectly together on the dual guitar parts and with the extended closing solo from Hackett, it was a standing ovation that closed this epic song.
Returning to the stage for fans favourite Firth Of Fifth, the evening was brought to a glorious end with a mash up of Myopia, Slogans and Los Endos, all of which well and truly deserved the crowd’s applause.
For Foxtrot Hackett had delivered a master class in musicianship and showed exactly why he shouldn’t be thinking of hanging his guitar up any time soon.
