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STEVE HACKETT SETLIST First Set (Hackett's Highlights) People of the Smoke Second Set (Genesis- Foxtrot) Watcher of the Skies Encore: STEVE HACKETT TOUR DATES 6 April- The Majestic Theatre, DALLAS, TX
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Unfortunately, they’re becoming a dwindling breed--
Like Les Paul, Chuck Berry, and B.B. King, and that next wave of legends that included the likes of Jimi Hendrix, Jimmy Page, Eric Clapton, and Jeff Beck who all added their own signature styles to the art of playing rock guitar- they can be all considered Guitar Greats.
They are a select few, each gifted in their own musical way, and are those artists that when given the chance to see live, shouldn’t be missed. Former Genesis guitarist Steve Hackett belongs in that upper echelon as well, forming his initial legacy during the six most creative years of that classic progressive band, and following that up with a long successful solo career, key collaborations, and guest appearances that all combine into an impeccable musical resume.
And, with Genesis now officially retired (not that they were playing much beyond those ‘80s and ‘90s pop radio hits) and Peter Gabriel far too focused on his own solo material, it’s happily been left up to Hackett to keep the progressive flag flying to keep those six influential Genesis albums he contributed to, alive, refreshed, and accessible for next generations.
Hackett and his band landed at the Uptown Theater in midtown Kansas City on his current North American Tour, a tour initially delayed by the pandemic, but since he’s been able to hit the road again, seems to be playing cities and venues like he’s making up for lost time, and hitting some markets he hasn’t played for years.
He’s celebrating Genesis’ 1972 album Foxtrot on this tour, shifting to a Lamb Lies Down on Broadway-centric setlist, when returning to Europe and the UK this summer and fall, and has celebrated other albums on previous tours. And all along, Hackett has also regularly released solo albums, including his twenty-eighth studio release, the semi-autobiographical The Circus and the Nightwhale (via InsideOut music), out since February.
The evening began with a set of Hackett solo compositions, backed by musical collaborator Roger King – keyboards; along with Rob Townsend – sax, flute, keyboards, percussion; Nad Sylvan– vocals; Jonas Reingold – bass, guitar; and Craig Blundell – drums.
An ample taste of the newest record would start the show as the six-piece began with three of the new songs, before turning the clock back just slightly to 2021’s “The Devil’s Cathedral” featuring King’s haunting gothic keys and a stage bathed in red light.
Hackett even offer up some technical info early on to the guitar heads in the crowd that may have wondered what model he was playing, saying he plays a Les Paul “...only at home, but much prefers playing a Fernandes brand (originated in California then refined in Japan) because of the way they hold a note, and that was extremely evident as Hackett soloed throughout the evening.
“Every Day” went all the way back to his 1979 solo release and both King and Townsend had brief solo turns during the early part of the first set. “Camino Royale” went back to 1983’s “Highly Strung” album (already his sixth solo release), which featured drums by Ian Mosley, who leave soon after the release, to join Marillion.
The set-closing “Shadow of the Hierophant” sounds like a lost Genesis song, because it does have its roots in the era that Hackett was still in the band, and was an ideal ending song, to help give flavor to what was ahead in the second set.
After a twenty-minute break, the band returned to cheers as the fans knew what to expect, with heads nodding to the opening notes of Foxtrot’s opening track, “Watcher of the Skies”. The album’s now almost fifty-two years old, but with the pandemic delay, we can easily forgive Hackett for celebrating it a little past its 50th anniversary.
The album was played in its entirety, with Hackett especially shining on his ”Can-Utility and the Coastliners”, for which he wrote the lyrics as well as co-wrote the music, and Reingold got to show off his formidable bass skills during a second set showcase.
Seasoned vocalist Sylvan knows the songs well, also being the singer when Hackett tours as Genesis Revisited and seems to find a higher-pitched middle ground between original vocalists Gabriel and Phil Collins, to make the songs seem both very familiar, and something he’s put his own stamp on. Similarly, Hackett’s guitar take on some of these older Genesis songs has become so distinct, I almost forgot Mike Rutherford played on them as well.
After the brief acoustic “Horizons”, the set ended with the massive and multi-part “Supper’s Ready” – some twenty-five minutes in length, split into seven sections, with numerous chord changes that would go on to influence so many prog rock bands that would follow them.
The band returned after a standing ovation to open the encore with 1973’s “Firth of Fifth”, from their following album, “Selling England by the Pound”, which brought longtime fans out of their seats to raise their hands, with a few playing along on air guitar.
Drummer Blundell finally got his due with a fevered solo that segued into the very appropriate evening’s closer, 1976’s “Los Endos” (a song even the Collins/Banks/Rutherford trio was playing in recent years) to end the headlining night with a true highlight.
Hackett’s playing throughout was exemplary, and often times a masterclass for the innovative techniques like two-hand tapping and sweep picking that would go on to influence the likes of future guitar greats Eddie Van Halen, Brian May, Rush’s Alex Lifeson, and Marillion’s Steve Rothery, among others.
All of which undoubtedly makes Steve Hackett a Guitar Great, so it’s mandatory that you see him live, if he’s playing anywhere near you on his many stops the rest of this year.
(Click on any image to enlarge and see in full)
| JohnC ♥ johnc@weheartmusic.com ♥ X / twitter.com |
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