Continue reading “In Concert: Genesis’ Last Domino Falls?” → Seeing them again in 1980 - when, with live guitarist Daryl Steurmer ill, Genesis still put on a great show as a quartet - then in 1981, when they opened with that same arresting fanfare.įorty years on, I was happy that Genesis still meant business the players - Tony Banks, Mike Rutherford, Daryl Steurmer & Nic Collins - were firing on all cylinders from the word go, a tight ensemble that already promised each player choice turns in the limelight.Īnd already sitting at center stage, surveying the scene with a satisfaction that was obvious even to those five rows from the top of Chicago’s United Center, Phil Collins was getting ready to sing. Hearing the band live the same year (my first rock concert ever) and being thoroughly blown away by their precision and power.
The impact of hearing 1978’s And Then There Were Three and the ensuing deep dive into Genesis’ back catalog. And boy, did that one bring back memories as it rampaged. In a blaze of white light recalling their iconic Seconds Out album cover, Genesis kicked off opening night of their North American tour with a rampaging “Duke’s Intro”, the instrumental beginning and end of 1980’s Duke. Genesis, United Center, Chicago, November 15, 2021 ( Check out Bryan Morey’s detailed review here.) But such considerations pale in the face of what we’ve been given this one - easily my favorite BBT effort since the English Electric days - is a real thing of beauty, an album to be treasured and listened to again and again. In the wake of Longdon’s untimely passing, we can’t know if Welcome to the Planet is the last stop on Big Big Train’s journey or a way station before what might come next. Throughout, Greg Spawton’s firm hand on the tiller and the late David Longdon’s vocal authority are rock solid, their partnership the beating heart of this music. With Nick D’Virgilio, Rikard Sjöblom, new guitarist Dave Foster and new keyboardist Carly Bryant all involved in the writing, rockers like “Made of Sunshine” and “The Connection Plan” hit with maximum impact ballads like “Capitoline Venus” and “Oak and Stone” are masterfully expressive instrumentals like “A Room with No Ceiling” and “Bats in the Belfry” unleash the requisite nifty twists and turns - not forgetting less easily classified delights like the multi-sectioned “Lanterna” and the woozy dreamland wash of the title track. But don’t worry - on epics like “Ghost Light,” (extensively featured starting at 1:50 in the promo video below) the guitars and synths still go all the way to 11!īig Big Train, Welcome to the Planet:Yet another stellar addition to BBT’s discography, their latest effort consolidates the widened horizons of Grand Tour and the intimate subjects of Common Ground, casting an epic light on the everyday glory of family, community, love and loss.
I haven’t heard anything quite like this in a long time it’s gripping, heart-on-sleeve romantic stuff. His new album, To the Far Away (exclusively available in multiple formats from Gonzo Multimedia) is a genuine tour de force, based on deeply personal subject matter it simultaneously evokes the sound of Iona and hones the power of Bainbridge’s solo work into a dramatic swirl of thrilling acoustic and electric guitar work, pounding rhythms and lush orchestral soundscapes. Fusing rock with progressive, jazz and folk elements and steeping it all in the spirituality of early Celtic Christianity, this British band captured an international audience while collaborating with prog luminaries like Nick Beggs (the band’s first bassist) and Robert Fripp (who provided ambient sounds for two of their finest albums).Īfter Iona wound down, Bainbridge continued making music his solo albums feature both a sweeping range of styles and an impressive array of collaborators.
(That’s right – Bainbridge is a world-class player on both instruments!)īut Dave Bainbridge’s track record goes a lot deeper than his recent credits from the 1990s through 2015, he was a major creative force in Iona. Or maybe even his keyboards on the last two Strawbs albums, The Ferryman’s Curse and Settlement. If you’re deeper into modern progressive rock, you may have heard his guitar on Downes Braide Association’s Halcyon Hymns. Chances are that if you’ve seen Dave Bainbridge’s name on this website, it’s due to his role as the current guitarist in Lifesigns (both live and on their fine Altitudealbum).
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