Genesis
Over the years, I’ve seen Genesis live many times. Philadelphia has always been one of their favorite cities to play, and they frequently performed multiple nights in a row at the Spectrum. In the ’80s and ’90s, I went as many nights in a row as I could afford.
ABACAB Tour — Philadelphia, November 25–27, 1981
The first times I saw Genesis were during the ABACAB tour dates in Philadelphia on November 25, 26, and 27, 1981.
Setlist
Duchess
The Lamb Lies Down on Broadway
Dodo / Lurker
Abacab
Carpet Crawlers
Misunderstanding
No Reply at All
Firth of Fifth
Man on the Corner
Who Dunnit?
Like It or Not (first time played live)
In the Cage Medley:
In the Cage
The Cinema Show
The Colony of Slippermen
Afterglow
Turn It On Again
Dance on a Volcano
Drum Duet
Los Endos
Encore:
I Know What I Like (In Your Wardrobe)
Mama Tour — Philadelphia, November 25–27, 1983
The most memorable Genesis shows were on the Mama tour. After the second night, we managed to get backstage (Backstage Pass), hang out in the green room, drink Heinekens, and spend time with Phil Collins, Mike Rutherford, and Chester Thompson. All were cordial, funny, and completely down to earth.
My girlfriend at the time was over six feet tall, which made it especially amusing to see her towering over the relatively petite Phil Collins.
Photo Gallery
Setlist
That’s All
Abacab
Mama
Old Medley:
Eleventh Earl of Mar
Ripples…
Squonk
Firth of Fifth
Illegal Alien
Man on the Corner
Who Dunnit?
Home by the Sea
Second Home by the Sea
Keep It Dark
It’s Gonna Get Better
Follow You Follow Me
Cage Medley:
In the Cage
The Cinema Show
…In That Quiet Earth
The Colony of Slippermen
Afterglow
Drum Duet
Los Endos
Encore:
Misunderstanding
Turn It On Again
“Turn It On Again: The Tour” — September 20, 2007
After a long break from touring, it was great to see Genesis again in 2007—especially since I now had a son old enough to experience the band live. Sadly, the Spectrum had been torn down and replaced by the Wells Fargo Center, Wachovia Center, or whatever was the latest name.
Setlist
No Son of Mine
Land of Confusion
In the Cage / The Cinema Show / Duke’s Travels / Afterglow
Hold On My Heart
Home by the Sea / Second Home by the Sea
Follow You Follow Me
Firth of Fifth / I Know What I Like
Mama
Ripples…
Throwing It All Away
Domino
Drum Duet / Los Endos
Tonight, Tonight, Tonight / Invisible Touch
Encore:
I Can’t Dance
Carpet Crawlers
Seeing such a great group of musicians, singers, and songwriters still performing at that level gave me hope about growing old—or at least growing older.
My favorite drum duet of all time remains the Los Endos drum duet. I was lucky enough to hang out with and interview Phil Collins and Chester Thompson back in the '80s—masters of both percussion and wit. Another percussion highlight for me remains Phil Collins' "Hands, Head, and Feet" tambourine routine. The famous tambourine solo during live performances of "I Know What I Like (In Your Wardrobe)" turns into a hilarious physical routine he once described as a cross between Morris dancing and John Cleese's "Ministry of Silly Walks."