Much as I love the 3 minute pop song and the 8 minute disco 12"-er, last Saturday night Paul, Colin and I indulged another of my great musical loves - the concept album. But not just any old concept album mind you - the 2nd best concept album of all time - the prog rock classic The Lamb Lies Down On Broadway. Genesis's 1974 classic was lovingly recreated by French-Canadian Genesis tribute band The Musical Box as a live (and truly bonkers) stage show at the Eventim Apollo in London's glitzy Hammersmith.
The show had been painstaking researched to be a note for note duplicate of the original 100 date world tour that Peter Gabriel fronted before he left the band (and Phil Collin's went on to all but ruin it.). The music, vocal work, choreography, OTT staging, wild lighting, and Doctor Who-like monstrous costumes were all perfect and loving duplicates.
The show has actually been endorsed by Gabriel himself, Phil Collins, Tony Banks, Steve Hackett and Mike Rutherford. Which says something for it's authenticity.
For three hours Paul, Colin and I sat entranced. It was joyous. It was wonderful. It was prog.
We came out singing Carpet Crawlers and The Grand Parade of Lifeless Packaging.
Oh, and the best concept album of all time? Kate Bush's Hounds of Love of course*.
Oh and the 3rd best? Pink Floyd's The Wall, of course.
The 4th? Donna Summer's Once Upon A Time.
(*Other opinions are available)
Set list:
Theo Botschuijver interview & archive footage
The Lamb Lies Down On Broadway
Fly on a Windshield
Broadway Melody of 1974
Cuckoo Cocoon
In the Cage
The Grand Parade of Lifeless Packaging
Back in N.Y.C.
Hairless Heart
Counting Out Time
The Carpet Crawlers
The Chamber of 32 Doors
Lilywhite Lilith
The Waiting Room
Anyway
Here Comes the Supernatural Anaesthetist
The Lamia
Silent Sorrow in Empty Boats
The Colony of Slippermen
Ravine
The Light Dies Down on Broadway
Riding the Scree
In the Rapids
it
Encore:
The Musical Box
Watcher of the Skies
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