26th September Not quite slippers ready


Which as anyone familiar with their music will know is pun based on probably their best loved song, 'Supper's Ready', This week saw the opening of the twice postponed due to Covid 'The Last Domino' tour by Genesis, a final hurrah. One that almost got postponed again in Manchester due to technical issues with a generator which meant the start of the show was delayed by over 80 minutes

I was going to say it was the last bang of the drum but for the increasing frail and fragile Phil Collin's even that is no longer possible. Due to ongoing health issues he is no longer able to drum, in fact he is not even able to stand and instead sings from a chair placed centre stage. Thankfully and in a distinct handing on of the baton it was his 20yr old son Nic Collins who provided a real powerhouse performance on the drums that drove the music, possibly on occasions at the expense of the guitar  or keyboards.

Always renowned for their spectacular stage shows, I can still remember the spine tingling moment Genesis introduced varilights back in 1982, this set up was equally impressive with beastifully worked jumbotron video screens and a domino themed lighting rig that moved and pivotted and threw incredible light patterns throughout the venue.

As for the issue that had worried everyone, especially since the release of a pre tour documentary about the band, the state of Phil's voice, well it was good. A bit ragged round the edges especially on the high notes,(step forward the two backing singers) it was certainly nothing compared to the power and range he once possessed, but perhaps the choice of more reflective and melancholy songs, just added to the sense of poignancy and the realisation that this would indeed be the last chance those present got to see Collins, Rtherford and Banks perform

The only disappointment was the safe and rather predictable setlist, not all that different to the one played back in 2007 and one that contained half a dozen songs I personally could have done without hearing. Indeed a couple of them I wouldn't complain if I never heard again. Having said that others that they played were better than I had expected and some of the revised versions were very well done. 

But at the end of an evening which almost rolled over into the next day, it did make me wonder that if this is the last time these people ever play together, was that really the group of songs they want to send us away with?

This however was an absolute gem and the highlight of the evening.




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