What: Foxtrot at 50 and Hackett Highlights

Who: Steve Hackett and his band

Where: Hammersmith Apollo, London

When: October 12, 2022

Steve Hackett’s idea of incorporating his classic Genesis hits into his concert tours, setlist,and consequent live albums, has resulted in a commercial revival also. Prior to his Genesis Revisited II set in 2012, no album of his had charted in the UK for 15 years. Since then 12 of his albums (live and studio) have hit the UK top 100 album chart. His most recent release reached no. 28 in the charts. They don’t hang around for long, but it keeps his name in the public eye and these tours are at a reasonable profile.

His band, whether playing new material or old, is solid as a rock and goes through very few changes. Lead vocalist, Nad Sylvan was originally brought in for the Genesis material but is now also emerging in the live prformances from Steve’s solo period. He is very popular with the audience.

Rob Townsend who plays woodwinds and keyboards is responsible for adding new colours and flavours and ensure that the songs are not tied too tightly to the original arrangements. His saxophone replaces Peter Gabriel‘s flute on some numbers. Some of the older diehards in the audience object to the changes, but this is no tribute show.

Craig Blundell, the drummer, has been a great addition since he joined the line up a few years past. Jonas Reingold has been another welcome new face in the bass role which had been previously something of a revolving door with Roine Stolt and Nick Beggs passing through the ranks.

Roger King is a vital part of the band and perhaps workest closest with the principal musician, closely involved in the live shows and an ever-present on the studio albums too. He plays mostly keyboards, with a brief support role here and there on other instruments.

Additional musicians and guests? Amanda Lehmann (family member!) amused perhaps by the call of “I love you, Amanda” from an audience member, provides a capable second lead guitar and occasional lead vocals. John Hackett (family member!) on flutes and similar. Mrs Hackett (Steve’s Mum, family member!) is a well-known figure in the audience. Steve’s family life is clearly in a good and content place these days.

Set list? We begin with Ace of wands from Voyage of the Acolyte, and then move into The Devil’s Cathedral from the recent release Surrender of Silence. Steve still has very nimble fingers and shows no real sign of slowing. His band drive him forward.

The band are joined for Spectral Mornings and the commercial sound of Every Day by the previously mentioned Ms Lehmann whose guitar adds to the band’s charge.

We return to Voyage of the Acolyte for a Tower Struck Down which is followed by a powerful solo by bassplayer Jonas Reingold. Camino Royale from the Highly Strung album is next.

A full version of Shadow of the Heirophant closes out the first set with Amanda on lead vocals and guitar. Her voice has become more and more capable of reaching the height that this song requires and it is a tour de force.

The second set is Foxtrot. The Genesis album is not played in a slavish fashion, but the album track order is followed and Time Table which I don’t believe Genesis ever played live is making its debut on this tour.

As previously mentioned, Nad Sylvan is much more prominent in this half of the show. His voice has echoes of the Gabriel days, but he is very much his own man. He is a showman. He has charisma. He has thought the songs through carefully in terms of physical language, props and clothing (no echoes of Gabriel necessary there).

However, Mr Hackett is very much the band leader – centre stage to the front. His electric guitar work is masterful, and when he turns to acoustic, for example on the beautiful, gentle Horizons, his playing has lost none of his subtlety and dexterity.

Foxtrot is perhaps my favourite Genesis album. Others may lean towards Selling England by the Pound, but for me I think Foxtrot.

Watcher of the Skies – Time Table – Get ’em out by Friday – Can-Utility and the Coastliners – Horizons

And, of course, the epic Supper’s Ready. This is a moment (a long one) where Mr Hackett and Mr Sylvan combine perfectly, with immeasurable quality. Sublime.

Encores? Firth of Fifth which allows Roger King to flex his fingers, and give us great keyboard work. Then we have Mr Blundell let loose on the drums, before we move into Los Endos (from Trick of the Tail) which is blended with Slogans from Defector. This is perhaps the one of the show which never really works for me. It sounds a little chaotic, and the vocals are lost in the mix. Mmm, it’s about taste I guess.

The future? Well, there are only so many variants on these “Genesis Revisited” themes. Perhaps Nursery Cryme, with some of the songs from Trespass on which Steve was featured on subsequent tours (he wasn’t yet in the band when the album was recorded). There was talk at the time of Covid of the Meet and Greets including performances of a few songs from The Lamb Lies Down on Broadway, and obviously that never happened because of cancellations and health concerns. Perhaps that idea could be revisited (every pun intended!) in some way. Let’s do them all while the band has chance. We live in a changing world and no-one is getting any younger.