Turns out they're a Genesis cover band that not only cover Genesis songs... but actually reenact actual concerts--down to the costumes, sets, movements, on stage banter, even (if you believe my brother) the in-the-dark-pre-first-song tuning noises.
Here's a picture of faux Peter Gabriel in concert. (See below for real Peter Gabriel in same silly costume.).
I have to say, the concert was pretty cool, if a little bizarre. Bizarre that so many people are so seriously into the early days of Genesis that they'd want to see these concerts reenacted. Bizarre than many of these people (including my brother) were too young to have ever seen these concerts when they actually happened. (Early 70's)
Me? I didn't discover Genesis until the Duke album... Way past the era being reenacted by The Musical Box. Watching the concert I couldn't help wonder why, if I had as a 10 year old, discovered bands like Yes, (and Rick Wakeman) and Jethro Tull etc. Why not Genesis? (I realized the "cool" bands from the early 70's I did know about were all introduced to me by older cousins or siblings of friends. I guess none of them were into Genesis.)
It also made me slightly nostalgic for the much maligned decade of the 70's. As much bad music came out of that decade, it was also kind of a renaissance period for rock music where exremely talented often classically trained musicians (above bands, plus Frank Zappa come to mind) were exploring the limits of the new electric/electronic instruments--pushing them further than "rock and roll" ever had, creating symphonic-style concerts and albums, rather than a bunch of hit songs.
Now, I'm no sort of music historian so I'm probably talking out of my ass here... but the concert did make me nostalgic for a time when FM radio was avante guard, for a time when not all music had to have hooks or get radio play to be appreciated, for a time when when black lights and strobes were the "coolest things ever!"
Would I have sought out this concert on my own? No way. Did I enjoy the experience? You bet.
4 comments:
Very cool. I love Genesis, but I didn't discover them until much later on. I'll have to keep my eyes open to see if this group ever pops down my end of the country. :)
Ah yes, the seventies. I never did hear much Genesis. My boyfriends were always playing Led Zeppelin and the like. Remember those eight track tapes? How they'd unspool themselves or melt in your car? Good times.
I have a very strong memory of the first time I heard Led Zeppelin. I was babysitting across the street (my first time getting paid to babysit, I think) and which ever album has the Immigrant Song was on their turntable and after the kid was sleeping, I bravely, boldly, (naughtily), put it on, listening with the headphones. Blew my mind.
Oddly, I don't think I ever bought a Led Zeppelin album, though. But I still get chills when I hear that song.
I was at the show as well. I think the group was having an off-night (I've seen them before) but it was still a fantastic show.
I am one of those people who is too young to know Genesis pre-Duke. But watching a show like this turned me into a huge Genesis fan.
Little known Musical Box fact: the Rickenbacher(sp?) double neck bass/guitar had to specially made for the left-handed musician. Rickenbacher never designed that model for lefties. The original instrument used by Michael Rutherford in 1973 had to be examined to create the model you saw that night.
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