The Last Domino Tour, Genesis Catalog, and a Pandemic

Genesis was a band, that used allegories in their music to explore human relationships. This was a component of all their albums. For this reason, there is something special about the Last domino Tour that fans might not realize. Genesis, as a band had many songs that reflected a fictitious world that existed at times during a post-apocalyptic nature that explored human relationships. We, maybe without realizing it, experienced this world during the pandemic. In a sense, their lyrics in so many songs became a part of our world during the pandemic. 

Here are a few examples from all eras of Genesis to consider that might be played during the Last Domino Tour. Mostly likely "in The Cage."  will be played. This song is off the album, "The Lamb Lies Down on Broadway." The man character on the album is Rael. Rael goes through many incarnations throughout the album. At one point Rael is trapped in a Cocoon. He felt comfort at first being in the
Cuckoo Cocoon. Yet something dark and sinister happens when he realizes he is trapped. Later in the song the impact that his brother John was not much help during his time in the cage cause confusion and anger. Does this sounds haunting familiar to many of us being locked up in our homes during the pandemic. Strange occurrences happen when humans are locked up. We all heard the stories during the pandemic. At first, we stayed positive, and felt like we had "sunshine in our stomach." Staying home was great until we realized we felt locked up. Anxieties of feeling trapped in our own realities are real. Things can "Turn Fast - Turn Sour" quickly during lockdowns. 

When we think about it, a pandemic is a reminder that the entire Genesis catalog reflected storylines with similar experiences of Rael. Some fans of the early era truly believe the later albums did not reflect the complexities of their earlier counterparts. I always found every Genesis album to have some component of exploring realms of realities through storytelling. The experiences of living through the pandemic reinforced in my mind that their later pop/prog incarnations were much more relevant than I realized.

Let's fast forward a bit and explore the lyrics of Afterglow and Me and Sarah Jane. Afterglow was from the 4 men Genesis and Me and Sarah Jane were written during the 3 men era. Hauntingly similar, the search for a loved one is the backdrop of both songs. I think Tony Banks used metaphors amazingly well in both songs to describe the insanity of being denied a loved one. The thoughts that go through one's mind are the backdrop for the lyrics. I have always felt the lyrics "The fires are burning in another land", was a clever take on what was going on in the mind of the person that is going insane never finding his girlfriend, either real or fictitious. Did we not hear this storyline over and over again during the pandemic. Restrictions from loved ones relegated to an IPAD causing the family members to lose hope and sink into an abyss/coma. So many people around our world experiencing the loss of loved one in a manner that caused people to regress into daily confusion as it was going on. Sound familiar? 

Let's fast forward to the Invisible Touch album. First, let's examine Land of Confusion. A pop song that reflected on a world launched into confusion. From terrorism to political upheavals, this song explores how messy things can get when politicians have to lead during a world crisis. We saw the same things happen during the pandemic. We saw what happens when political leaders worry about profits over people. Should we open? Should we close? Superman where are you now? 

The one song that highlights this tour provided the biggest debate as the pandemic progressed was Domino. Or as Genesis fans know the 2-part suite as, "The Domino Theory."  Domino was originally a song that in my opinion was Art imitating life, and then the pandemic happened. When I see the dominos fall in concert, I will immediately think about the mask debates of 2020. Some did not want to become sheep as they saw it as a government ploy, while others saw wearing a mask as a civic responsibility to help reduce the loss of life. Can you think of a better example of the Domino Principle. All those years of Phil talking to the audience about, "How the actions of those people over there, impact the people in the front, center, sides, and back of the concert hall." Little did he know we would live it. Little did we know at the time we listened to the song, we would have the opportunity to witness life imitating art in 2020. 

When you think about it, Genesis provides us many realities to explore throughout their entire catalog. That's why in the author's opinion, their music will remain relevant for many generations to discover and enjoy. 

The Daily Doug - A Classical Examination of Genesis

So many people are rediscovering Genesis. In fact, a new generation of diverse people around the world and sharing on YouTube their discoveries daily. What I love about the rediscovery is the joy people experience for the first time. Their experience listening to the music, we all knew for 50 years is pretty special to watch. It's like a mirror for me, and their expressions and thoughts probably were similar to mine so many years ago. 

Recently, I discovered a technical take on Genesis that reaffirms what many fans know. This band and their musical compositions were pretty special. Their arrangements were unique and the imagery conjured up by their talents brought us all to a special place in our hearts and mind. I say this because progressive lyrics and arrangments from Genesis are not common by any means. I have always felt every album provides samples that only this band can produce due to their very unique talents. And this is reaffirmed by a discovery known as, "The Daily Doug."

On YouTube, the Daily Doug takes a dive into two of the band's most progressive songs, "Supper's Ready" and "Firth of Fifth." Doug is a classical music professor and his take on Genesis is different than most you find. Because he is a music professor, he breaks down the entire composition in a very unique way by analyzing the technical aspect of their music. By watching the videos, his reactions are unique to the technical aspect of the music. 

Like the Beatles, the band members were very young at the time when they wrote their masterpieces. It's hard to fathom when you think about it. Die-hard fans from long ago knew their music was very special. The Daily Doug allows us to visualize what was going on in their minds at the time. He also reaffirms what we knew, Genesis has many layers to their music. 

The Daily Doug reinforces what I have always believed about the band and that is the Tony Banks was the Maestro. The arrangements are guided by his vision. Like many classical musicians, his unique thought process might have been the guiding light to many of their arrangements. I remember in a documentary when their manager once said, "Genesis was Tony Banks solo records." Now he meant this figuratively of course. However, I truly believe he was the creative force when it comes to the most revered compositions that are revisited today. The synergy of Peter, Mike, Steve, and Phil allowed the vision to be expanded upon during the early era. Later compositions would also have the very same elements of songwriting, only taken into new directions. While dismissed by prog-era fans, a new appreciation has also been given to later compositions. 

If you are a true fan of Genesis, check out the Daily Doug. You will find the experience as rewarding as I did the first time I listen to their music.