Steve Hackett, Philharmonic Hall Liverpool, Sunday 7th May 2017

(Read my other review of Steve at Manchester here).

So here we are in beautiful Liverpool, in a very sunny Hope Street with Cathedrals at either end and the gorgeous Philharmonic Pub right opposite the venue.

Here's Steve.  It's all less political tonight - no mention of the B word.

Now, I had a quite different view of proceedings at this gig - I was right at the front with Mr Beggs in my direct line of sight.  It was really hard to get a shot of Steve without a mike stand across him, or a clear view of Nad standing behind Steve. 

So you'll just have to make do with dozens of photos of Nick Beggs in a kilt.  Sorry.

I know.  Apologies.

Okay, here we go.  Steve playing the harmonica.

Shadow of the Heirophant, playing the bass pedals with his hands.

This man got straight up from sitting cross-legged.  I can't.

Oh for a piece of charcoal and some paper...

This is the second half, with Nad coming on to do the Wind and Wuthering vocals.

 

At the end of the set, drummer Gary O'Toole brought on an award to present to Steve.

 

The encore Los Endos.  Good grief, that man is flexible.  He leant right back.  Last man I saw do that (and get up again) was Jim Kerr during a Simple Minds concert.

And goodnight!

Steve Hackett, Bridgewater Hall Manchester 5 May 2017

(Read my other review of Steve at the Philharmonic Hall in Liverpool here.)

After an eventful journey, involving late trains, liver surgeons, and an encounter with Jeremy Corbyn, it was on to the beautiful Bridgewater Hall to see the ex-Genesis legend Mr Steve Hackett.  Again.

I've never been to the Hall.  I was right at the top, at the very very back.  I couldn't have been further away from the stage, so I do apologise for the quality of the photos taken with my teeny tiny Olympus SZ 31MR.

This is how far away I was. Seriously.  I needed oxygen to get up to my seat.

The first half of the show was the new album 'The Night Siren', which is about Scotland, refugees, immigration, (Hackett's own family came from Poland), and is a direct response to the far-right ideas currently domination the political landscape.  (Interview about the album.)

"What do we all think of Brexit then?" Steve asked.  This didn't go down particularly well with the Manchester crowd.  Some of them made it quite clear that they loved Brexit, thank you very much. Steve told them how this lack of freedom of movement made life pretty impossible for a touring musician, and that the whole xenophobic introspection of Brexit was a totally backward step.  

The crowd murmured disapprovingly.

"F*ck Brexit!" said Steve.

(Steve usually comes across as a very calm, polite and measured man in his temperament, so this was a bit of a surprise.)

This is  Shadow of the Heirophant.  When I saw the band in Birkenhead at the Floral Pavilion some years ago, I was right in front of Nick Beggs.  He was wearing a top hat and a long black leather coat, which he pulled back at the right hip to free up his leg for the bass pedals.  It was just amazing, such a beautiful gesture amidst the great overwhelming roar of Heirophant.  

This time however, he sat on the floor and played the pedals with his fists.

The second half was about the 40th anniversary of Wind and Wuthering.  Which isn't necessarily a cause for celebration.

But it did mean Nad Sylvan was on stage to do the vocals.  (To be honest though, I prefer his Gabriel to his Collins.)

And we did get Blood on the Rooftops.

 

Please model for me, Mr Beggs...

Firth of Fifth.

And a last word from Roger King on keyboards...

Anderson Rabin and Wakeman, Manchester Apollo 25th March 2017

Well, here we go, final gig everyone.  Sorry about the quality of these - I was sitting in Row L!!

The first thing to note is that the concert was being filmed - one camera at the back, two midway down at either side, and two on hydraulics at either side of the stage, plus hand-held cameras.

What a pity then that this turned out to be not as good a concert as Glasgow in terms of sound, energy and performance, although much better than the dire cheesefest of cold, rainy Edinburgh.  Because it may have been winter in Edinburgh on Wednesday with ice in the morning, but by Saturday in Manchester, it was well and truly sunny spring.  Taps aff!!

But here's Trevor, wrapped up warm.

 Twang! etc.

Noddy Holder was a surprise guest vocalist on one song.

However, he missed out a whole verse of Rhythm of Love. 

Lee had a long Paisley scarf tied to his Rickenbacker.  I've no idea why. 

But then there was also a teddy strapped to the drum kit.

I'm afraid this is a bit of a Lee love-in.

It's The Fish.  Here we go....

Dingggggggg...........!

Keytar Time.

Trevor and Rick go for a bit of a walk around the crowd during Owner.

 Wooooh!!! It's Rick!!!!!

Squeeee!!! It's Trevor!!!!!!!!

Rick getting back onstage.

That's all, folks!