AT SANTA MONICA CIVIC
FANTASY WORLD OF GENESIS

Settled comfortably in a simple, striking black set on the Santa Monica Civic stage, illuminated by some absolutely stunning lighting, Genesis returned to Los Angeles Thursday and Friday and not only offered its captivating, carefully arranged, complex music, but convincingly created a fantasy world, a thorough and imaginative realization in sight and sound of its whimsical flights of fancy.

Lead singer Peter Gabriel's various identities, achieved sometimes through costume, sometimes by means of basic and effective mime-like gestures, are exaggerated images designed to illustrate the story lines of the songs. The cartoon quality of his visuals serves as a warning not to take the whole thing too seriously, as does his surreal patter, which, while stylized and bizarre, brings a touch of engaging humanity to the show without bursting the dream's bubble.

Which is not to say that the show is merely enjoyable but trivial. On the contrary, several of the images are profoundly affecting, burrowing deep into one's mind to linger like haunting after-images from strange, half-remembered dreams.

It's the array of archetypal characters who roam through the lengthy "Supper's Ready" that cling most tenaciously. The moment at which the apocalyptic war ends in a blinding explosion and Gabriel emerges through the smoke as a silver-suited Christ-like figure (or is it just a rock 'n' roll star?) is completely breathtaking and makes all the tentative, dead-end steps theatrical rock has taken worth the trouble.

Sometimes the music tends to get ignored amid all this spectacle. Tony Banks, Phil Collins, Mike Rutherford, and Steve Hackett comprise a consummate band, displaying complete mastery over both searing climaxes and gentle interludes. In conception and execution, visually and musically, Genesis continues to stake a strong claim as a group of virtually unlimited potential and appeal.

Transcribed for The Path by Joe Harden

Joe's story:

The Selling England Tour at The Santa Monica Civic

When Genesis came back to town a mere three months after the Roxy shows, I was again initially excited, but this quickly turned to disappointment when I read in the paper that the shows at the Santa Monica Civic had sold out quickly. I found that news hard to believe. At the time, I thought that I must be one of only a few people in LA who had even heard of Genesis. Except for the Roxy broadcast, I still had not heard any Genesis played on the radio. My local record stores still did not carry Genesis records. The only place I had ever seen a Genesis album was at Pooh Bah Records in Pasadena, my favorite record store in the entire world. In fact, at sixteen, Pooh Bah's had replaced Disneyland as my favorite place on earth. It was musty and cluttered and small, but wonderful. I bought my first Genesis record, Foxtrot, at Pooh Bah's in June of 1973 after hearing it the night before. My sister's boyfriend had brought Foxtrot to our house for me to listen to right after he bought it on the recommendation of a Melody Maker article. Because he and I had similar musical tastes, he thought I'd probably like it. He was right. I was immediately drawn into the music, the fantasy lyrics, the album artwork, and the individual pictures of the band members. After listening to it for the first time, nothing else sounded quite the same. When I bought my own copy the next day, I wanted to listen to it over and over, but I didn't want to wear out the vinyl grooves for fear that I might not be able to replace it. It was a rare treasure, one that immediately became one of my most valued. A week after buying Foxtrot, I went back to Poh Bah's and bought Nursery Cryme, the only other Genesis album that they had. A month later I found Trespass at a record store down at the beach. The band was still pretty much of a mystery to me, not having read or heard anything about them, but these three albums, and then later "Selling England" and "Live" had quickly become my favorites and the standard by which I judged everything else. When Genesis came back into town for those shows at the Santa Monica Civic, I couldn't believe that I was going to miss them again. I was sure I was their number one fan in LA. It wasn't fair that I wouldn't see them.

Joe Harden

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