Live: Steve Hackett @ Birmingham Symphony Hall

by | Nov 7, 2015

Steve Hackett Live Review, Birmingham Symphony Hall.

Former Genesis guitarist Steve Hackett plays songs from Acolyte To Wolflight with Genesis Revisited. (Photographer Simon Jay Price)

Former Genesis guitarist Steve Hackett plays songs from Acolyte To Wolflight with Genesis Revisited. (Photographer Simon Jay Price)

Designed by specialist architects in the 1980s and officially opened in 1991 the Birmingham Symphony Hall was purposely constructed to create acoustics of exceptional sound quality, so unique that Steve Hackett expressed in his introduction that simply rehearsing there is a pleasure. It was no accident that this venue was chosen for the penultimate concert for the Acolyte to Wolflight and Genesis Revisited Tour 2015 by Steve Hackett and his band.

Tonight was a voyage from Acolyte to Wolflight as the latest line up of the Hackett band launched into the first set of solo material with Spectral Mornings, this being the title track of his third solo album released in 1979. This instrumental embodies the total uniqueness of Steve Hackett’s fundamental sliding guitar style technique, highlighting the power and majesty of his music.

Former Genesis guitarist Steve Hackett plays songs from Acolyte To Wolflight with Genesis Revisited. (Photographer Simon Jay Price)

Former Genesis guitarist Steve Hackett plays songs from Acolyte To Wolflight with Genesis Revisited. (Photographer Simon Jay Price)

Turning to an acoustic guitar Hackett breathed life into the title track of his latest album, Wolflight, released in April 2015 and brings his impressive tally to twenty-four albums of solo and Genesis Revisited work, spanning a career outside of the official Genesis ranks which now celebrates thirty-eight years.

Hackett takes the lead vocal on all of his latest material, his voice velvety and capable. Wolflight draws on very dark and heavy chords and is a complex and continually changing piece which the whole band played with great precision in the spirit of Hackett’s self-cited Russian composer influences such as Alexander Borodin.

Former Genesis guitarist Steve Hackett plays songs from Acolyte To Wolflight with Genesis Revisited. (Photographer Simon Jay Price)

Former Genesis guitarist Steve Hackett plays songs from Acolyte To Wolflight with Genesis Revisited. (Photographer Simon Jay Price)

After Everyday, the crowd gave their first standing ovation. Steve Hackett spoke for the first time and introduced the band.   He was simply dressed in grey jeans and a black t-shirt with a gold logo, as with the set design there was no over embellishment. The lighting show continued to astound as the players exhibited their skills to a willing audience.

Rob Townsend plays with former Genesis guitarist Steve Hackett plays songs from Acolyte To Wolflight with Genesis Revisited. (Photographer Simon Jay Price)

Rob Townsend plays with former Genesis guitarist Steve Hackett plays songs from Acolyte To Wolflight with Genesis Revisited. (Photographer Simon Jay Price)

Rob Townsend delivered soprano saxophone and wind instruments, the drums were mastered by Gary O’ Toole who also supplied backing vocals in the higher tones and range of Phil Collins. Meanwhile Roger King set the orchestral effect on keyboards with bass being pumped by Roine Stolt who was introduced to Hackett by Nad Sylvan after the two Swedes formed Agents of Mercy in 2009.

Roine Stolt plays bass with former Genesis guitarist Steve Hackett who plays songs from Acolyte To Wolflight with Genesis Revisited. (Simon Jay Price)

Roine Stolt plays bass with former Genesis guitarist Steve Hackett who plays songs from Acolyte To Wolflight with Genesis Revisited. (Simon Jay Price)

Love Song For A Vampire is a lavishly dark creation from Wolflight, the studio recording featured the late Chris Squire on a Hackett owned bass guitar which was resurrected from his massive archive collection. This was the possibly the last new song Squire worked on and this was a fitting tribute by Steve to his friend. The duo had only recently collaborated on the project drawing from their surnames, Squackett.

Nad Sylvan sings with former Genesis guitarist Steve Hackett plays songs from Acolyte To Wolflight with Genesis Revisited. (Photographer Simon Jay Price)

Nad Sylvan sings with former Genesis guitarist Steve Hackett plays songs from Acolyte To Wolflight with Genesis Revisited. (Photographer Simon Jay Price)

Further into the show Hackett deemed it appropriate to pay homage and a fitting tribute to Richie Havens who passed away in April 2013 as Nad Sylvan was introduced to perform Icarus Ascending. This song was originally released on his second album of 1978 under the title of Please Don’t Touch. Havens sang the emotional lead vocal on the studio recording of Icarus, a song which before this tour had never been played by Hackett in a live environment.

The song is based on Greek mythology about a man who, wearing wings of feathers and wax, flies to close to sun and falls as they melt.  But ascension was the spirit of this song. In the original Richie Havens uniquely combined the natural feel of soul, blues, folk and gospel in one incredible gravelly vocal range and it comes full circle that Sylvan’s own voice perfectly recreates all of these attributes, after all, these are the very qualities which Hackett sought out for his leading singer, it seems he got his man.

Former Genesis guitarist Steve Hackett plays songs from Acolyte To Wolflight with Genesis Revisited. (Photographer Simon Jay Price)

Former Genesis guitarist Steve Hackett plays songs from Acolyte To Wolflight with Genesis Revisited. (Photographer Simon Jay Price)

Steve took the time to mention his mother was in the audience that night and so it was a proud family moment as he introduced his brother John to play flute on a classical duet from his album Jacuzzi. On the song Tower Struck Down (co-written with Mike Rutherford) Hackett played his heart out and this turned into very heavy stuff, where at the end he scraped his knuckles along the floor in a gesture to the audience that he could not have given any more.

As the audience headed to the bar for the interval it was apparent that no one had seen Hackett play better, he was on fire and clearly this was a special night, musical magic was in the air. This was no normal gig and we sincerely hoped the sound was being officially recorded.

Former Genesis guitarist Steve Hackett plays songs from Acolyte To Wolflight with Genesis Revisited. (Photographer Simon Jay Price)

Former Genesis guitarist Steve Hackett plays songs from Acolyte To Wolflight with Genesis Revisited. (Photographer Simon Jay Price)

The second half set, which focused on Genesis Revisited material, the lighting design was in the style captured on the cover of the 1973 Genesis Live LP.   Simply hung gantries at the sides of the stage providing colour changes synchronized to the music creating spectacular effect. Get ‘Em Out By Friday is the opening song here with Nad Sylvan showcasing his vocals and he was unable to resist some playful miming during the instrumentals.

Former Genesis guitarist Steve Hackett plays songs from Acolyte To Wolflight with Genesis Revisited. (Simon Jay Price)

Former Genesis guitarist Steve Hackett plays songs from Acolyte To Wolflight with Genesis Revisited. (Simon Jay Price)

Hackett then introduced a further track from Foxtrot and proudly explained that Can-Utility And The Coastliners has never been played before on a Genesis Revisited tour.  This was also the case with the evenings pièce de résistance, the classic track Cinema Show from selling England By The PoundSylvan melted hearts with his interpretations of chocolate surprises, scented flowers and pretty smells.

Land Of Plenty led us back into two tracks from Voyage Of The Acolyte both Star Of Cirius and Ace Of Wands performed in full on Hackett style setting us up for the set finale of The Musical Box, which saw Nad Sylvan waving his microphone stand around in the style of Roger Daltrey.

Former Genesis guitarist Steve Hackett plays songs from Acolyte To Wolflight with Genesis Revisited. (Simon Jay Price)

Former Genesis guitarist Steve Hackett plays songs from Acolyte To Wolflight with Genesis Revisited. (Simon Jay Price)

Genesis’ music has woven webs of intrigue, fantasy and incredible stories over the past five decades and is now being passed down to a younger crowd to absorb.  But cutting through all this background it is soul lifting that a certain rock legend still is proud of introducing his mum to one and all in the audience and takes comfort in the fact that she supported the band and cooked their meals in the heady days of the those London studio sessions in the mid 1970’s. Bless.

The encore commenced with the ticking of Clocks taking us into another dimension for a moment.  Then Gary O’Toole took the lead with the drum solo and his beats reverberated through the floor and the seats.  The vibration continued to work its frenzy and built up to the only logical encore, Firth of Fifth.  Townsend’s soprano saxophone replaced the original flute and was sublime, as that formidable Hackett guitar sound expanded to create the most intense solo music beyond our dreams.

Former Genesis guitarist Steve Hackett plays songs from Acolyte To Wolflight with Genesis Revisited. (Simon Jay Price)

Former Genesis guitarist Steve Hackett plays songs from Acolyte To Wolflight with Genesis Revisited with Nad Sylvan as vocalist.(Simon Jay Price)

After the ordeal both Nad Sylvan and Steve Hackett personally told us that the energy of the crowd urged them on to achieve the best concert of the tour.  Steve’s mum had attended five of the shows and confirmed that this one had been outstanding.  Sadly the gig had not been officially recorded for prosperity, so, in the end an evening of pure perfection had to be committed to memory.  Oh, but what memories!

[photoshelter-gallery g_id=”G00001DDfE0bp6Uk” g_name=”Steve-Hackett” f_show_caption=”t” f_show_slidenum=”t” img_title=”casc” pho_credit=”iptc” f_link=”t” f_enable_embed_btn=”t” f_send_to_friend_btn=”t” f_fullscreen=”t” f_show_watermark=”t” f_htmllinks=”t” f_mtrx=”t” fsvis=”f” width=”600″ height=”450″ f_constrain=”t” bgcolor=”#ffffff” bgtrans=”t” btype=”new” bcolor=”#CCCCCC” crop=”f” twoup=”t” trans=”flip” tbs=”4000″ f_ap=”t” linkdest=”c” f_topbar=”f” f_bbar=”f” f_bbarbig=”” f_smooth=”f” f_up=”f” target=”_self” ]

Live Review by Shirley Ann Williams and Tim Price.

Photography by Simon Jay Price

Steve Hackett  at Birmingham Symphony Hall. October 30th 2015.

 

 

 

 

 

Matt Cameron of Pearl Jam @ BST Hyde Park 2022 (Simon Reed)

Matt Cameron Departs Pearl Jam After 27 Years Amidst Wave Of Drummer Changes In Rock

After nearly three decades behind the kit, Matt Cameron has announced his departure from Pearl Jam. The legendary drummer, 62, shared the news via social media on 7th July, marking the end of a 27‑year tenure that began in 1998. His departure comes in the wake of the band’s Dark Matter World Tour, which concluded earlier this year.

Sydney Rose @ BST Hyde Park 2025 (Kalpesh Patel)

Sydney Rose Shines In Mid-Afternoon Magic On The Rainbow Stage At BST Hyde Park 2025

While headliner Noah Kahan was preparing to command the Great Oak Stage later in the evening, over on the Rainbow Stage a quieter but equally stirring performance was unfolding under the soft mid-afternoon sun. Georgia-born singer-songwriter Sydney Rose brought her headline tour to a moving finale, wrapping her journey in heartfelt lyrics and gently fierce vocals that captivated a festival crowd seeking intimacy amid the day’s growing energy.

Gigi Perez @ BST Hyde Park 2025 (Kalpesh Patel)

Gigi Perez Captivates London With Raw Emotion And Rising-Star Power At BST Hyde Park 2025

At just 25 years old, Gigi Perez has already carved out a reputation as one of indie-pop’s most compelling new voices — and her late afternoon set on the Great Oak Stage at BST Hyde Park proved exactly why. Supporting headliner Noah Kahan and following a string of breakout moments this year, the Hackensack, New Jersey native delivered a deeply affecting performance filled with vulnerability, power, and soaring vocals

Paris Paloma @ BST Hyde Park 2025 (Kalpesh Patel)

Paris Paloma Brings Barefoot Magic To The Rainbow Stage At BST Hyde Park 2025

In a festival rich with soaring choruses and star power, it was Paris Paloma’s barefoot grace and gothic romanticism that carved out one of the day’s most mesmerising sets. Taking to The Rainbow Stage on a golden midsummer afternoon, the Derbyshire singer-songwriter captivated her growing legion of fans with an intimate, emotionally charged performance that felt part séance, part storybook.

FINNEAS @ BST Hyde Park 2025 (Kalpesh Patel)

FINNEAS Warms Up London With Heart And Humour Before Noah Kahan’s Headline Set At BST Hyde Park 2025

It’s not every day that a support slot feels like a moment of main event magic, but FINNEAS — the GRAMMY®-winning songwriter, producer, and solo artist — brought just that to the Great Oak Stage at BST Hyde Park on Friday. Performing ahead of headliner Noah Kahan and main support Gracie Abrams, the 27-year-old delivered a slick, emotionally charged set that balanced heartfelt sincerity with tongue-in-cheek charm.

Noah Kahan @ BST Hyde Park 2025 (Kalpesh Patel)

Northern Attitude In London: Noah Kahan, Gracie Abrams & Friends Light Up BST Hyde Park 2025

It was, as the name requires, the perfect summer's day for British Summer Time Hyde Park on Friday. The sun was...
The Raven Age @ London Stadium (Kalpesh Patel)

Heirs To The Throne? The Raven Age Blaze Their Own Trail Supporting Iron Maiden At The London Stadium

On a scorching June evening that would culminate with the almighty Iron Maiden setting London Stadium ablaze, the...
Olivia Rodrigo @ BST Hyde Park 2025 (Sophia Carey)

Olivia Rodrigo Proves That London Is Her Favourite City At BST Hyde Park 2025

British Summer Time is officially underway in Hyde Park, and the unbearable heatwave will continue to remind us all of...

Pin It on Pinterest

Share This

Share Thing