LIVE OVER EUROPE 2007

Banks, Collins and Rutherford with Chester Thompson and Daryl Stuermer, reunite after talks with Peter Gabriel breakdown to reform the classic five man lineup (with Steve Hackett). Originally conceived to help promote the career spanning 5 box sets that Genesis was about to release, the plan was to play 'The Lamb Lies Down on Broadway' in its entirety before PG backed out and SH was disinvited. I think PG was correct as I don't know how the Genesis crowd, which was much bigger for the three man version, would have responded to it. I would have rather seen the 5 of them play a greatest hits of the 5 man Genesis, with a few songs from the 3 and 4 man versions. Throw in a solo song or two into each show. Oh well, the 5 man never happened and 30 years of 'maybe'.

So how was what did happen? Sound wise, it might be their best sounding album with Banks keys never sounding better. Playing wise, the tempos on several songs are slower and many of the keyboards are dropped a key to account for Collins not having the vocal range that he had in his younger days. The song selection naturally leans more toward the trio lineup with a handful of tracks from the pre ATTW3 lineups. This is a well oiled machine of gave it all it had and Stuermer and Thompson giving top notch performances as usual. So after a 15 year absence, Banks, Collins, Rutherford and company play as well as can be expected but not as good as their heyday. A great way to say goodbye to old heroes retiring the grand name of Genesis.

4 stars