Guitar virtuoso Steve Hackett brought a touch of 'Night Siren' melodrama to Dublin on Wednesday (26th April 2017) night, as his 'Genesis Revisited And Classic Hackett' tour reached the Irish capital. Kicking off a run of dates that will see him play fifteen shows across the UK in the coming month, the lauded multi-instrumentalist was in stunning form during his two hour plus set.
Photo: Eamon O'Neill.
By Eamon O'Neill On 27th April 2017.
Guitar virtuoso Steve Hackett brought a touch of 'Night Siren' melodrama to Dublin on Wednesday (26th April 2017) night, as his 'Genesis Revisited And Classic Hackett' tour reached the Irish capital. Kicking off a run of dates that will see him play fifteen shows across the UK in the coming month, the lauded multi-instrumentalist was in stunning form during his two hour plus set.
Kicking off with the bright, laid back harmonies of 'Spectral Morning' classic 'Every Day', the melodious opener aptly set the scene for what was to come. As Hackett backed by his band of progressive rock luminaries including long time collaborators Roger King (keys / effortless cool) and Nick Beggs (bass / guitar / beaming smiles) filled the Vicar Street venue with aural textures of depth and meaning, it was clear that an evening of glorious musical tapestries lay ahead.
Launching into the first of many tracks from latest release 'The Night Siren' in the dramatic stomp of instrumental 'El Niňo', Hackett greeted the audience, jokingly apologising for anyone that may have come expecting something else entirely. Said the guitarist; "Good evening. It's lovely to be back in Dublin. Apologies for some of you who are here under false pretences who thought you were getting a singer, not a guitarist".
Alluding to some beginning-of-tour technical difficulties, the mild-mannered player also offered apologies for his cutting tones, saying; "[They'd] take the top off you, some of these guitars", whilst later alluding to the frantic footwork on his pedals needed to control his sound, saying; "It's about a whole week since we've done a gig. You forget the tap dancing".
He needn't have worried however, as with a crisp and clear sound throughout, and a dramatic lights show to support it, the likes of the twisting and turning 'In The Skeleton Gallery' and baritone vocals of 'Behind The Smoke' mesmerised the enthralled Dublin theatre goers.
In a reflective mood, the former Genesis player went on to dedicate "a song from a gentler time" - the wistful 'Serpentine Song' - to his multi-talented father Peter - "a painter, he could strum a chord or two and play the harmonica, he was a juggler", before praising drummer Gary O'Toole, following the incredible dynamics of 'Shadow of the Hierophant', saying; "it's amazing what the Irish can do".
With a second set that focused firmly on the 'Genesis Revisited' banner of the show, gifted singer Nad Sylvan joined the five instrumentalists for a run through some of the pioneering outfit's early material. "This year is the fortieth year of this album, so we're celebrating quite a lot of it tonight", said Hackett, before running through the first of a healthy smattering of tracks from 1977 release 'Wind & Wuthering', that included a roof-raising 'Eleventh Earl Of Mar', and the Spanish-guitar featuring 'One For The Vine'.
Giving a nod to another former Genesis member in Phil Collins, 'Inside And Out' meanwhile prompted the guitarist to reveal it was; "One of Phil's early lyrics", before going on to explain that; "It written around the same time [as Wind & Wuthering], and we're going to do it tonight as I feel it belongs with the rest".
Ending their main set with the standing ovation-pompting 'The Musical Box', the band took their bows before coming back for a much demanded encore.
Steve Hackett's tour continues in Cardiff on Friday (28th April) night, before winding its way around the UK and finishing in London with a sold out show at The Palladium on 19th May. The full list of dates can be viewed below. Tickets available now from Myticket.co.uk and venue box offices.
Steve Hackett 'Genesis Revisited And Classic Hackett' 2017 UK Dates:
Fri 28th April - Cardiff, St. David’s Hall
Sun 30th April - Reading, Hexagon (SOLD OUT)
Mon 1st May - Birmingham, Symphony Hall
Wed 3rd May - Sheffield, City Hall
Thurs 4th May - Bristol, Colston Hall
Fri 5th May -Manchester, Bridgewater Hall (SOLD OUT)
Sun 7th May -Liverpool, Philharmonic
Mon 8th May - Portsmouth, Guildhall
Wed 10th May - Southend, Cliffs Pavilion
Thurs 11th May - Nottingham, Royal Concert Hall
Sat 13th May - Oxford, New Theatre
Sun 14th May -Cambridge, Corn Exchange (SOLD OUT)
Tues 16th May -Glasgow, Royal Concert Hall
Wed 17th May - Sage, Gateshead
Fri 19th May - London, Palladium (SOLD OUT)
Guitar virtuoso Steve Hackett brought a touch of 'Night Siren' melodrama to Dublin on Wednesday (26th April 2017) night, as his 'Genesis Revisited And Classic Hackett' tour reached the Irish capital. Kicking off a run of dates that will see him play fifteen shows across the UK in the coming month, the lauded multi-instrumentalist was in stunning form during his two hour plus set.
Kicking off with the bright, laid back harmonies of 'Spectral Morning' classic 'Every Day', the melodious opener aptly set the scene for what was to come. As Hackett backed by his band of progressive rock luminaries including long time collaborators Roger King (keys / effortless cool) and Nick Beggs (bass / guitar / beaming smiles) filled the Vicar Street venue with aural textures of depth and meaning, it was clear that an evening of glorious musical tapestries lay ahead.
Launching into the first of many tracks from latest release 'The Night Siren' in the dramatic stomp of instrumental 'El Niňo', Hackett greeted the audience, jokingly apologising for anyone that may have come expecting something else entirely. Said the guitarist; "Good evening. It's lovely to be back in Dublin. Apologies for some of you who are here under false pretences who thought you were getting a singer, not a guitarist".
Alluding to some beginning-of-tour technical difficulties, the mild-mannered player also offered apologies for his cutting tones, saying; "[They'd] take the top off you, some of these guitars", whilst later alluding to the frantic footwork on his pedals needed to control his sound, saying; "It's about a whole week since we've done a gig. You forget the tap dancing".
He needn't have worried however, as with a crisp and clear sound throughout, and a dramatic lights show to support it, the likes of the twisting and turning 'In The Skeleton Gallery' and baritone vocals of 'Behind The Smoke' mesmerised the enthralled Dublin theatre goers.
In a reflective mood, the former Genesis player went on to dedicate "a song from a gentler time" - the wistful 'Serpentine Song' - to his multi-talented father Peter - "a painter, he could strum a chord or two and play the harmonica, he was a juggler", before praising drummer Gary O'Toole, following the incredible dynamics of 'Shadow of the Hierophant', saying; "it's amazing what the Irish can do".
With a second set that focused firmly on the 'Genesis Revisited' banner of the show, gifted singer Nad Sylvan joined the five instrumentalists for a run through some of the pioneering outfit's early material. "This year is the fortieth year of this album, so we're celebrating quite a lot of it tonight", said Hackett, before running through the first of a healthy smattering of tracks from 1977 release 'Wind & Wuthering', that included a roof-raising 'Eleventh Earl Of Mar', and the Spanish-guitar featuring 'One For The Vine'.
Giving a nod to another former Genesis member in Phil Collins, 'Inside And Out' meanwhile prompted the guitarist to reveal it was; "One of Phil's early lyrics", before going on to explain that; "It written around the same time [as Wind & Wuthering], and we're going to do it tonight as I feel it belongs with the rest".
Ending their main set with the standing ovation-pompting 'The Musical Box', the band took their bows before coming back for a much demanded encore.
Steve Hackett's tour continues in Cardiff on Friday (28th April) night, before winding its way around the UK and finishing in London with a sold out show at The Palladium on 19th May. The full list of dates can be viewed below. Tickets available now from Myticket.co.uk and venue box offices.
Steve Hackett 'Genesis Revisited And Classic Hackett' 2017 UK Dates:
Fri 28th April - Cardiff, St. David’s Hall
Sun 30th April - Reading, Hexagon (SOLD OUT)
Mon 1st May - Birmingham, Symphony Hall
Wed 3rd May - Sheffield, City Hall
Thurs 4th May - Bristol, Colston Hall
Fri 5th May -Manchester, Bridgewater Hall (SOLD OUT)
Sun 7th May -Liverpool, Philharmonic
Mon 8th May - Portsmouth, Guildhall
Wed 10th May - Southend, Cliffs Pavilion
Thurs 11th May - Nottingham, Royal Concert Hall
Sat 13th May - Oxford, New Theatre
Sun 14th May -Cambridge, Corn Exchange (SOLD OUT)
Tues 16th May -Glasgow, Royal Concert Hall
Wed 17th May - Sage, Gateshead
Fri 19th May - London, Palladium (SOLD OUT)
