Greek Mythology and Genesis - The Fountain of Salmacis

The lyrics of early Genesis will be one of their legacies that will stand the test of time for future generations. The earliest era, the Gabriel years were rich in allegories. The storytelling was quite unique as most fans know. When you think about the age of the lyricists, it is really telling that their Charterhouse school upbringing gave them rich learning experiences that most likely impacted the music. Most 19 and 20 year old men do not have the experiences of literay allegory as Genesis members had at that time. This allows us to experience literature at a much deeper level than most artists. 

One song that reflects their diverse experiences with literary works is the Fountain of Salmacis. A story from early mythology dating back to the Greek writings of Ovid. These early writings in Greek mythology were explored for generations. The British renaissance writings were no stranger to Ovid and often explored themes regarding Ovid's fourth book, "Metamorphoses." A part of this story telling, is the Fountain of Salmacis which is located in modern day Turkey. Men who have drank from the fountain supposedly take on effeminate traits from the water. 

Fast forward to 1971's Nursery Cryme album. Rich in history, Genesis takes on the story of the attempted rape of Mermaphroditus. The song's take on the story of Salmacis and Hermaphroditus were joined as one. Thus, the story of hermaphrodites. As part of this union, they forever live under the fountain beneath the lake. Peter and Phil explain the lyrics to start the song. Phil's take is a bit more direct regarding hermaphrodites sprinkled with a bit of British Humor. He would often say, "I see a few hermaphrodites in the audience tonight." 

The song itself was last played by the band consistently up until 1978. It was played live 100 times. When Steve Hackett started playing Genesis as part of his tribute, he exceeded the amount of live performances of Genesis by 15 according to the Setlist Wiki. If you add up Steve's time with Genesis and his solo concerts, he has been to the Fountain more than any other member. 

41 Years Ago - Phil Collins Made The Shift to Face Value

It was 41 years ago to the day that Phil Collins released Face Value. The album is most recognized for the iconic song, In the Air Tonight. However, the album was a game changer for a different reason. It would change the direction for Phil Collins and Genesis. Duke and Genesis were a shift from madrigal lyrics and strong British undertones to contemporary themes that a greater audience can relate and identify to moving forward. 

One of the most significant changes that reflect Duke and Face Value is the introduction of music that provided men the opportunity to reflect upon their own vulnerability. (Here is where we lose the Prog crowd and that's okay. I will explain later) We are introduced to deeply personal songs that reflect the changing times for men. Divorce, acrimony, and sharing our feelings were mostly new to men at that time. 

Think about the male audience of the 70s that loved Genesis. They were hardened men that were not encouraged to share their feelings. Now all of the sudden, this Rock God is asking them to think about the loss of a loved one. Many men in the 80s threw on Face Value because Phil reflected their feelings about divorce and change in one's life. If Leaving Me is Easy was just as important for some as In the Air Tonight was for others. 

The album also gave us hope. The hope that we will triumph over relationship failures. The songsThunder and Lightning are a part of the process that leads to This Must Be Love. He truly provided us new connections that lasted a lifetime for many of his fans. 

Quite honestly, it is this author's opinion that Phil's change was very important to not only music, it was also important for our culture. (This is where the Prog men come in.) 

The men in the 80s that were softened by Phil's willingness to share his heartache found out that being bitter is not the way to find your way out of a problem. You must first connect to the heartache, then move on. This changes a person. Without  change, people including men become very bitter. It leads to disdain and anger. If you ever want to see an example of this type of person, check out social media blogs and pages for Genesis. The Prog crowd love to bully, insult, and criticize the music with a harshness that reflects out society's split today. This crowd makes fun of Phil's current health to prove a point so harshly that they have been harboring these feelings since the release of Face Value and some since Peter Gabriel left. That's a long time one holds on to their feelings. 

For fans of Phil Collins and Genesis that enjoyed the shift, we have been blessed with this change in so many ways. Happy Anniversary to Face Value. An album that changed the music forever. 

2 Nights in Boston - The Proper Goodbye to the Band We Love

The Last Domino Tour is going to wrap up in Boston on the 15th and 16th of December. For those of us lucky enough to get tickets, this night has a lot of symbolism and in this author's opinion, the proper ending for Genesis this time around. 

In 2007, the West Coast swing ended the tour. At the time, most fans truly thought this was the final tour. For those that do not remember, the tour ended in Los Angeles at the Hollywood Bowl. There was an emotional goodbye from Phil to the band prior to Carpet Crawlers and this was supposed to be the final goodbye. Phil thanked everyone involved in the tour and told Mike and Tony how much he loved them. It was a heartfelt moment that fans enjoyed being a part of at the time. 

This time around, Boston is the last show on the tour. As much as Los Angeles was a special moment in Genesis history, this is how it should end. It was almost 50 years to the date that Genesis came to the states. They debuted in Boston at Brandeis University on December 11h, 1972. They came to the U.S and played for one night in Boston and then one night in NYC. That was it for their first tour. They went back to England and would return again in 1973.

The Northeastern U.S. and Canada launched the popularity of Genesis in the coming years. I am one of those early fans. They were immensely popular then as they are today. Anyone in the Northeast from 1978 - 1984 probably had Follow You Follow Me as their Prom Song. This band had a following in the Northeast that even to this day is very special. The band has acknowledged our area in their biographies as being a critical turning point in their U.S. success. I was at the Buffalo show and Phil shared how he remembered the early days in Buffalo. 

Will Boston bring an emotional goodbye for the fans? Of course, it will. I absolutely believe it will be an amazing goodbye filled with emotions. Saying goodbye in your 70's in 2021 is much more dramatic than saying goodbye in your mid 50's in 2007. And, with Carpet Crawlers ending the setlist similar to 2007, it will be an amazing moment in time.  The history for Phil, Tony, and Mike is going to be a fitting end to the U.S. tour. I am one of those fans that will be lucky enough to experience it. I look forward to seeing how this tour ends. 

One Night In Buffalo - Last Domino? Review

Back in 2010, I had, what at the time seemed like the grand illusion that I would one day be able to take my youngest boys to see Genesis. I at times felt as if it was unlikely to happen, but I put all my faith into this one day becoming a reality

Many years would follow whereas my boys endured many Genesis videos and historical accounts of the band. It was a daily presence in their lives. My sons are musically inclined and the band slowly became a part of who we are as a family. Overall, I have four children and they all had to endure the love I have for this band. My daughter saw them back in 2007 with me. I learned back in 2007 how bringing your child to a live show brings it all together how great they are as musicians.

When they announced they were going to perform one more time, I was fortunate enough to secure tickets for their show in Buffalo. I had a feeling this was going to be a special night.  I watched from the beginning their European shows. I felt like Phil and band were getting better and starting to peak. And sure enough, it was an amazing night.

(Spoiler Alerts) The band opened up with Behind the Lines and Duke's Travels. This would eventually lead to Turn It On Again. The punch of that classic Genesis opening song was much better than the 2007 tour. Something was very different. In my opinion, it was the addition of Nic Collins. The songs felt more authentic. One has to remember that Phil and Chester have been collaborating on these songs since 1976. For the first time, we can enjoy the songs as they were written with one drummer. This was true throughout the night. You can't put it together unless you see them live how much of an impact this has on the show. For the armchair critics who say, "It's the same show as 2007", nothing could be further from the truth. You are hearing the music closer to the album originals. 

The entire show had an energy that reminds me of much earlier shows. The band seemed reenergized. The production also is grittier. Land of Confusion and Mama felt incredible. The screen backdrops were amazing. The darker tone of Mama was impressive. I thought it was the best live version of Mama since 1983. People who have not attended the concert have been critical from their laptops of the lower tones or adjustments to Phil's age. I actually think some of the songs were served well by the changes. Mama was as dark as I have heard or seen it live. And it worked very well.

Duchess was a well-timed addition to this tour. Duchess and Fading Lights are ironic reminders from the catalog that Genesis predicted that the music had an ending at some point. For me, the emotional punch from these two songs reminds us this will most likely be their last concert. When you hear Phil sing, "Like the story that we wished was never-ending we know some time we must reach the final page", it just hits your soul, this is the final page. 

When you watch the Fading Lights transition to the Cinema Show at home on your laptop, it seemed a bit awkward. Having seen it live, the transition works well. Firth and Fifth and I Know What I Like are great renditions of early 70s Genesis. Phil's vulnerability with the tambourine dance was poignant. The band continues with Domino. Domino was Mike Rutherford's shining moment. His guitar work and energy were something to behold as if the Fountain of Genesis Youth was on display. Domino and Home By The Sea were edgier led by Rutheford and Nic Collins' intensity.

Tony Banks is still the Maestro. Always stoic, he leads the band without much fanfare. True fans know he is the heart and soul of Genesis. Buffalo has a long history with the band. The appreciation they showed for Tony was heartfelt. Daryl provides as he always has the guitar sequences that are the more complex solos.  Anytime Daryl performs some of Steve Hackett's solos it is going to have some criticism. Daryl has his own take on the Hackett era which has been a part of Genesis for 45 years. I for one enjoy his work on many levels. I truly enjoyed his work during the acoustic set. His solo at the end of That's All was masterful.

Much has been made about Phil Collins. Yes, he sings from a chair. The same chair he has sung from since 2017. It really is nothing new. He has aged, and there are health concerns. I think most were thinking the worse regarding his ability to deliver. Having seen the Not Dead Yet Tour twice, I have to say, he actually seemed better with Genesis. Phil commands the show with British humor and wit. He was very engaged. More engaged than his solo tour. He cleverly came up with the Genesis bag of tricks gag that engages the audience. He sang with depth and emotion. I think the chair served him well. So well, that he has a more intimate relationship with the audience compared to past tours. 

The show would progress with a darker Tonight Tonight Tonight that led into Invisible Touch. Dancing with the Moonlit Knight and Carpet Crawlers bring the show to a close. True fans feel the finality at this point. It's the perfect closer for long-time fans. There is a pit in your stomach as you know in your heart this is goodbye. You watch as the first bow is with the band. Then Phil, Mike, and Tony take an additional bow and exit the stage. Truly, a fitting ending to an amazing 50+ years of music together. 

(Author's Note - I am fortunate enough to secure tickets for Boston which is their last show in the United States. I will be reviewing this show as a follow-up in the coming weeks) 

Will Genesis Ramp Up the Setlist?

Genesis is coming to North America. The big question from their fans is whether they will change the current setlist played in England. It is a possibility for sure. Phil Collins changed his setlist during his 3-year tour. It is a strong possibility that Genesis will do the same. 

Fans have many theories. They range from heavy prog to modern hits entering the fold. I think the answers might be found in their current setlist on how the band might proceed. 

The Fading Distant Lights/Cinema Show feels like the first place to start. The transition feels kind of awkward. I think members of the band might feel like bringing back In the Cage. It would be an improvement to the setlist. It has been a standard for so many years. As Phil's voice gets stronger, it would be an easy transition for the band. I also think Nic is adjusting to the rigors of drumming for Genesis versus his father's solo work. He may be ready to take on In the Cage.

My next prediction is the wild card everyone has been talking about. I think a return to the states could lead to Apocolypse 9/8 returning to the setlist as an encore. Again, this is a long shot. However, it does fit nicely as an encore. It could also be added prior as part of the Medley for Cinema Show. The driving factors will be Phil and Nic in my opinion. I really believe Nic loves the progressive roots of the band and wants to tackle this song. 

The only pop hit I can see entering the set is Jesus He Knows Me. It allows Phil to show off his acting chops a bit and tap into the audience. His charm and intros of songs have been widely noticed by critics during the concerts in England. Fans have enjoyed his ability to connect to the audience. This song has a strong connection for Phil engaging the audience. A little British humor goes a long way on this tour.  

There are other songs mentioned that they practiced. I know fans would love to see songs from a Trick of the Tail. Los Endos, Ripples, or Squonk are fan favorites. I don't see them as viable songs for this tour. We will know in a few weeks if there will be any changes to the setlist.

What are your thoughts about new songs that could be introduced to the setlist? 

Genesis The Last Domino? - The Acoustic Set

One of the biggest surprises from the Genesis tour this year was the addition of an acoustic set. For a band that is accused of playing it safe at times, this was a bold move. It came as quite a surprise for long-time fans. 

The set starts out with a switcheroo. Mike and Tony trade sides. For 50 years, Tony played on Phil's right and Mike played with Daryl on Phil's left. Phil cleverly uses this as a witty intro for the audience. Nic comes down from his drums to play on a smaller kit. Tony plays on the piano that is brought on stage. It is a very intimate moment in the concert with a feel of a small venue. This is very unique for a Genesis show.

They open up with a really revitalized version of That's All. The drumming is downsized. The fills are no longer part of the song. Tony plays with just the piano which I love in this version. Mike and Daryl provide a really nice string accompaniment. Next, the big surprise and probably the boldest move of the entire concert. The band played The Lamb Lies Down on Broadway as part of the acoustic set. The biggest surprise is the traditional piano intro is gone. Instead, there is a soft opening to the song. It does introduce the hand-over-hand we are used to hearing later in the song. I truly enjoyed this version of the Lamb. The last song was Follow You Follow Me. If you saw the acoustic version of this song years ago, it was similar however, Tony did play the keyboard crescendo on the piano this time which sounded amazing.

I think including the acoustic set was brilliant. Including the Lamb as one of the songs was an amazing choice. It will have the usual critics from the early '70s. However, for the majority of fans that love all the eras, this was an awesome decision to include the Lamb. Lastly, it shows that Phil, Mike, and Tony worked together even in their 70's to ensure their legacy will always be about the music. 

Genesis 2021 - The Last Domino Tour? Relevancy v. Tribute

I, like some fans of Genesis, have watched the Last Domino tour footage for hours. Even though I have tickets for late November in Buffalo, I wanted to see how this tour is shaping up. I am not that guy who feels spoilers will ruin it for me. Watching them prior to a show gets me excited about the upcoming experience.

After watching the footage and reading the comments online, I am truly excited. A theme is evolving that I hope fans realize makes this tour different. Critics (who probably never went to 2021 or 2007) are saying "oh just the same songs and a money grab." I think they are incorrect. This show is very different compared to 2007. Somehow, this tour is less than a tribute. It is in fact, thanks to timing this concert is about the relevancy of their catalog and emotions of their time together that coming to an end. 

Song choice is different this time. The Invisible Touch album guides some of the relevancy regarding current events. Domino and Land of Confusion, (thanks to the pandemic) are powerful songs. We lived the lyrics throughout this entire pandemic. And let's face it, the title song Invisible Touch got a boost from Orianne. I have heard Phil sing, "She will F*** up your life" for years, but this time it's deeply personal. Even Mama feels different. It feels darker compared to past tours. More reflective of the darkness felt when the mind starts to fantasize during long periods of isolation.  

Some songs are about the mood of the band. Duchess and Fading lights reflect their age and saying goodbye. We know this is most likely the end of the 3 man lineup. Any future projects will not include Phil. This is the final goodbye. Throwing it All Away also has a great backdrop of a digital curtain, hinting this is the final curtain call. 

Comparing this tour to tribute bands like Steve Hackett and the Musical Box will be the go-to for critics that only listen to pre-1977. Genesis post 1977 was never about hanging on to the past. For us fans that enjoy the 50 years of music, we know this band is much more than their progressive roots. For us, this tour is less about authenticity to the pre-1977 past and more about the final curtain call of their entire catalog being played live for one last time. They choose the songs and choreographed a show that is reflective of 2021, not the 1970s. This is a concert to say goodbye to us, and I for one think they did an amazing job.