We’ve got to get in... to get out
Dad took my Sister Erika and I to see Genesis during their "We Can’t Dance" tour at the Carrier Dome in Syracuse, NY back in 1992. I was 15 at the time. Half my life and a ton of concerts later, I can honestly say that none of those shows have even come close to meeting the bar that Genesis had set that night. It was that good. Well, seeing Peter Gabriel’s "Us" tour open at the Rochester War Memorial (now the Blue Cross Arena) back in 1993 would be the only exception (makes sense).
Upon hearing word that the group was reuniting for a 2007 world tour, Sister Erika and I snagged 3 (rather pricey*) tickets to the September 8th performance in Buffalo. Obviously we’re big fans, and we wanted to surprise our Dad on his 56th birthday (which was this past May). Yes, he was VERY surprised.
Anyway, the show was this past weekend.
After an hour long drive, we managed to arrive at HSBC a little too early - despite stopping off for some of Buffalo's finest dining, Mighty Taco. We had no other choice but to walk amongst the vast sea of middle-aged tailgaters, each blaring a fine Genesis tune from within their vehicle (aside from the a$#$^$# playing "Freebird" - what an unoriginal jerk). Once we were allowed inside the arena, E and I got Dad a shirt ($40!!!) then rode the long, never-ending escalator to our section (I thought long, never-ending escalators were a European thing?) Our seats were nosebleed, but dead center toward the stage (nice!) The only issue I have with the nosebleeds at HSBC (and I’ve sat up there for a few Sabre’s games in the past) is that they are steep. Steep, as in one false move and you're plummeting toward your death, steep. I was clinging onto walls, chairbacks, and the legs of other people just to get in and out of my seat (it’s not that I fear heights... I just don’t trust gravity). Dad was kind enough to buy me one seriously overpriced Canandian beer to calm my nerves. As other people arrived to fill the surrounding seats, moving in and out became an impossible feat. I had to hold that large cup of Labatt’s in my bladder throughout the whole show.
It didn't matter, I was too entertained to care about the burning sensation in my kidneys.
Back to the show... mesmerizing. I cannot put it into any more words than that. What I loved most about the performance was the emphasis on the pre-commercial, old school, prog rock Genesis. And naturally, they performed a few of my favorites such as: "Home by the Sea" (accompanied by some awesome Edvard Munch-esc videography), "Domino," "Follow You, Follow Me," and "Carpet Crawlers." Say what you will about Adult Contemporary Tarzanish Phil Collins, but that guy can perform and he's one helluva drummer. I was too blown away to absorb all the detail. Supplement by reading this review in the Buffalo paper.
Or, see for yourself.
The video screen in the background is all LED. Oh, and there was a fireworks display ON THE STAGE.
* worth every penny.
Comments
I think I have almost died in those nosebleed seats in the past. Genesis fans are so hardcore, it's almost hard to believe that Phil Collins turned into easy listening guy.
Posted by: Noelle | September 10, 2007 2:31 PM
i cannot believe that phil collins is the same age as my dad. the nosebleeds at HSBC? what brought you there?
Posted by: kir | September 10, 2007 9:11 PM
"Invisible Touch" was my first CD. I was so excited, especially after "Tonight Tonight" was on Magnum P.I. -- I had a rough childhood.
But then my eighteen-year-old sister started going out with a thirty-year-old owner of a second-hand record store. He grew up in the seventies, and maybe because he wanted me to like him to get closer to my sister or because he actually wanted me to listen to good music, he introduced me to all of his favorites. So of course I ended up having all the old Genesis (including two versions of the first one and hours of videos with Peter Gabriel dressed like a flower).
And as for Phil Collins, his song on "Selling England..." ("More Fool Me") is one of my favorite songs.
Posted by: People in the Sun | September 10, 2007 11:02 PM
This feels like a safe space to admit two things: "We Can't Dance" was one of the first CDs I ever bought (Tom Petty's "Into the Great Wide Open" was the first, and much less cringe-inducing), and "Turn It On Again" rocks, and I mean that unironically, mostly.
Was "Tonight Tonight" in Magnum PI too? Because it was that first episode of Miami Vice that really took that song to another level.
Posted by: George | September 11, 2007 12:08 AM
Damn. I knew I should have snapped up those tickets my parent volunteer offered me! I just didn't want to pay to see the Police AND Genesis... but now I can see that I'll have to suck it up and sit in the nosebleed section anyway.
Posted by: shelley | September 11, 2007 8:12 AM
P: I had a copy of my dad's vinyl version of Invisible Touch with me the summer of 1988, when I lived in Stockholm. It kept me from getting too homesick... and even better, there were Genesis videos all over the MTV Sweden (since that album was quite popular then). Gabriel's stage personas have always amused (esp the flower costume). So glad to hear you're a fan!
G: was "tonight tonight" on Miami Vice... i thought it was phil collin's "in the air tonight" that was made big, thanks to that show. "We Can't Dance" some great lesser known tracks, such as Driving the Last Spike and Dreaming While You Sleep. I need to find my copy of that album. now you got me trying to recall what my first CD was... me thinks it was Siouxsie and the Banshees "Superstition"
S: Honestly, our nosebleeds (aside from the plummeting thing) were fantastic because we had a full, straight on view of the entire stage. The floor seats looked kind of lame to me because you had to stand in order to see anything.
Posted by: kir | September 11, 2007 11:54 AM
you're right, it was "in the air tonight"
Posted by: George | September 11, 2007 2:16 PM
Woman! I had no idea you were a die-hard Genesis fanatic! Dave is going to love you even more now. We are seeing them at the end of the month Giants Stadium Style we can't wait!
Posted by: b | September 11, 2007 8:52 PM
NIIIIIIIIIIIIIICE. I didn't think it was possible...being even MORE excited to see the greatest band in the world. But now that I've seen this footage there aren't words to describe just how excited I am.
You know how in Lord of the Rings Gandalf turns from grey to white after a life changing experience?? I will come out of this David Peter the White. Nuff said.
Posted by: David Peter | September 11, 2007 9:15 PM
B & D: sweet! you guys are going to have such a good time! I'm thinking of catching them again in San Jose in October. my Dad jokingly asked if they were playing East Rutherford because of Mike Rutherford. Ah, Genesis humor.
Posted by: kir | September 12, 2007 1:09 PM
So not about Genesis (although I still tell people about "The Land of Confusion" video, people younger than us I'm afraid):
Just today I was walking in Old Town with Ryan and he was carrying a mason jar. (Are you giddy with excitement just hearing a story about a man and a mason jar. Oy. I've got to get out more. [And use parentheses less.]) He was flipping it in the air and catching it. A mason jar made from GLASS. You know, fragile, breakable, shards of glass. When I asked him if he wanted me to carry it (translation, "Let me carry it."), he said, "Don't you trust me?" And I replied, "Of course I trust you, dear. 'I just don't trust gravity.'"
He thought that was one of the silliest things he'd ever heard. But reading your post, just now, I felt poised to take over the world.
Rock on Mike Rutherford!
Rock on Kirsten Linquist.
Posted by: Alexa | September 14, 2007 11:13 PM
ha! so glad to see that i'm not alone! i've got a scar on my pinky finger from the "caught some broken glass" incident of 1997. gravity will cut ya.
Posted by: kir | September 16, 2007 11:58 AM