Genesis- The Recycling Tour live in Berlin
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Hello,
I've been in Berlin at the same time like Genesis and decided to go and
see
it together with Dirk from Sussudio. I don't know about other posts of
that
particular concert as I'm only subscribing for a few days (so flame me
next
week, I'll be off then!), but here's what I thought of it.
No son of mine -- The very beginning is excellent, only white lights and
the drum pattern; it takes much longer than usually before the
keyboards
start. Great version. Ray does some strange movements and doesn't seem to
be too used to all that yet, but improves during the show.
Land Of Confusion
Lamb-- well, first reason for me calling it The Recycling Tour: Ray takes
a
big sheet of paper with the german national colours on one side and a
german text on the other to welcome us in german.. that's just too Phil;
he
should use his proper jokes and ideas and not the ones of Mr. Collins.
The
song itself is fantastic, it's the first time I see it live and
it's
amazing.
Calling All Stations-- finally the jumbotrons appear, but only three,
and
they don't move at all, it's quite different from what they showed
in
advance. Were they forced to reduce their means because of the lack
of
interest in the US or what?
Alien Afternoon
Carpet Crawlers -- difficult with Ray, he doesn't have the necessary
"magic" which both Peter and Phil had.
There Must Be Some Other Way -- Ray actually talks of Phil while
he
introduces this song which astonished me, he says that this was the
first
song where he had to sing without having prepared any lyrics. Really
strong
performance, Ray is very convincing, this is the type of song which
suits
him very well.
Domino/ The Last Domino-- Some of my Genesis-favorites, excellent sound,
but Recycling again, the same Screen animations like on the WCD-tour.
Shipwrecked
Firth of fifth-- EXCELLENT performance, but disappointing solo
from
Mr.Drennan.
Congo-- I couldn't stop laughing about this ridiculous video in
the
background, some poor jungle pictures which repeat after some
moments
(recycling tour). Maybe they should use some scenes from the new
Tarzan
movie? Then they could advertise in the US with "Come to see Genesis
live,
the show where you'll see bits of Tarzan, the movie with PHIL COLLINS
music" and the tour would be sold out.
Home By The Sea / Second Home By The Sea-- EXCELLENT performance
again.
Great, cristal clear sound. Very good jumbotrons, but, ahm, aren't
these
pictures recycled?
Dancing With The Moonlit Knight-- not a song for Ray Wilson. He
introduces
it with a comment on the album-launch mini-concert which had taken place
in
Berlin as well.
Follow You Follow Me-- very nice version, very unplugged.
Lover's Leap -- again, I don't think Ray's voice is made for this kind
of
songs.
Mama-- some technical problems at the beginning, some elements are
missing
for a few moments, but then everything sounds perfect. His laughing
is
alright, but there is nothing left of the dramatic feeling... it is a
bit
like a good cover band version.
The Dividing Line -- EXCELLENT. Longer than on the CD and a very good
Nir.
One of my favorites not only of the album but also of this concert.
Invisible Touch-- Ray tries to make just a part of the audience sing
and
scream (the left part, then the right, then those in the back and so
on)
just like Phil did during the introduction of Domino, so, here we
are,
Recycling again.
Turn it on Again-- not too exciting version. Recycling again during the
band introduction with "me" when he introduces himself at the end.
encores:
Throwing It All Away-- I couldn't believe they were playing this song
since
I thought this type of songs was meant when Tony said in an interview
that
there are certain songs which just don't go with Ray's voice.
I Can't Dance-- Now, who said this was a recycling tour? They have two
new
ideas. First, they take a girl on stage on do a ridiculous little
dance
which is to me neither funny nor necessary. And then, he doesn't do the
walk but something in between, some strange movements but not the
real
thing. Again a song which I absolutely didn't expect to see on this tour,
a
poor performance, a song which is too much connected with Phil.
So that was it. All in all most of the time excellent sound with
perfect
performances of Mr. Banks and Mr. Rutherford, Mr. Drennan who does a
good
job and Mr. Z a very good job and Mr. Wilson who will certainly
still
improve as the tour proceeds and in upcoming tours. I liked several of
the
songs with his voice, but there are other songs where he simply isn't
the
right man for it so they should replace these songs, or make
instrumental
versions out of it.
One more word to the recycling thing. Of course every concert, every
tour
contains some old elements, things which have been performed before
and
which were that good that they decided to stay with them. But IMO they
just
made too much of that recycling on this tour (maybe because the
word
"recylcing" is a bit similar to "Ray") . More new elements would have
been
more interesting. I just think they don't really know what to do, CAS
hasn't sold too well so they don't play very much of it, and on the
other
side they want to get back to that famous darker and heavier sound but
they
play I Can't Dance and Invisible Touch, really dark and heavy songs,
right?
Make up your minds, guys.
Oliver