The Musical Box / Steve Hackett - Only One is the Gold Standard

In a few weeks, I am going to see The Musical Box at the Riviera Theater just outside of Buffalo NY. I absolutely love The Musical Box. The band has been endorsed by every one of the members of Genesis as the most authentic experience. When a member of Genesis was quoted as saying, "I wanted to take my kids to see The Musical Box so my kids could see what it was like to play in Genesis", you can't find a better endorsement. 

A little history and context to this discussion. Back in 1993, The Musical Box was formed in Montreal Canada as a tribute to early Genesis. I often compare their efforts to Beatlemania. The band studied each tour and meticulously recreated the experience to the point you thought it was the original production. Truly, they were ahead of their time and created the most inspiring reproduction of earlier Genesis. 

Fast forward to today. You have many options for Genesis tributes. The two at the top often talked about are Steve Hackett and The Musical Box. For fans who want an authentic experience, they are misguided to think Steve Hackett is a more authentic experience. Steve plays Genesis as a compliment to his solo work, whereas The Musical Box wanted to honor the authenticity of the original material. Without a doubt, The Musical Box is the Best Tribute Band to date that plays original Genesis material. 

Steve offers fans an amazing show. If you are a fan of his solo work and his work in Genesis, this is your best option.  As part of his show, he provides an authentic representation of his contributions to the band. Having seen Steve's band perform, I found there were subtle differences to the original songs and concert material from the 1970s. 

The biggest difference is The Musical Box found accomplished musicians that honor each band member's contributions and stick closely to the original concerts. Steve's band does not. I actually think his decision to return to play Genesis was in part, due to the success of The Musical Box. In my opinion, he borrowed heavily from their success. For example, Steve's shows use a similar format that models his concerts after certain albums. This was something The Musical Box has done since 1993. They both theme a return to the stage after a Genesis-themed album or concert that is unique to a certain year. 

As this might be the last tour for the original band Genesis, fans will be left with tribute bands to fill the void as we have done for many years. For this fan of Genesis, The Musical Box is the Gold Standard.