This was about the 7th time I've seen Genesis Visible Touch and they get better every time. Now a well oiled machine,
the band
Chris O'Connell on Vocals & Drums Martin Gordon - Bass, Guitar, Pedals & Vocals Tony Turrell - Keyboards Stuart Norman - Guitars, Bass & Vocals Russ Wilson - Drums & Percussion
chose the valleys for their Welsh date of the tour, so we head for The Savoy Theatre in Tonyrefail for the first time. From the outside it seems like it's had better days but this was contrasted by the inside which proved a small, lovely seated venue which could hold about 200, I reckon. The very epitome of these Valleys villages social halls. The welcome was excellent and the people running it worked hard to give a very professional show. They also had a raffle to help renovate the outside of the hall and I gave my support without hesitation. I wish them well, the venue deserves to be supported and renovated.
This tour, the band are celebrating the 40th Anniversary of the 'Shapes' album, so we got most of the album throughout the night.
GVT kicked off with Dodo/Lurker from the Abacab album and we were on our way.
The band have now got these songs down to a T and they were technically superb all evening.
I've not seen a better Genesis tribute band out there and I can tell you honestly I've seen quite a few.
The key to their success is their front man - Chris O'Connell is the perfect Phil. But he has his own personality and he shines throughout the show. And if you didn't know, Chris is also part of the Phil Collins tribute show - And Finally Phil Collins.
And Finally.. Phil Collins
so he has quite a bit of experience of Phil's music. But more importantly he is working on his own album which I'm looking forward to hearing - here is his first single from that project
Cornered
We then get treated to a lively version of Abacab and That's All before the band really hit their stride with the spooky epic Home By The Sea parts 1 & 2, which sees Chris take to the second drumkit on the stage and shows what an accomplished drummer he is. The special thing about this band is that they tend to concentrate of post Trick Of The Tail material when most Genesis tribute bands tend to concentrate on the older material. Which was good news for the three energetic young ladies sat next to me who had little idea of the older music. Although I can guarantee you they had a great evening!
What was also great to see is the joy and banter between the band members - very unlike the real Genesis but warmly received in this circumstance. Lots of smiles from band and the audience tonight in this show.
ABACAB
Illegal Alien comes up next followed by a track from 'Shapes' which was neve performed live - Silver Rainbow,
Silver Rainbow
Another rarely heard live song - It's Going To Get Better - was up next and we were almost at the end of Part 1, which had just flown by.
The end of Part 1 came which a fabulous version of the big hit from the 'Shapes' album - MAMA which saw Chris giving it the full Phil!
MAMA
After a short break it was Part 2 and this kicked off with two Trick Of The Tail songs- Squonk and the fabulous Ripples which saw Martin strap on his double neck a la Mr Rutherford. A couple for us oldies - not the three young ladies.
Ripples
By now the audience were ready for a standing song and the band give them a beauty with Turn it On Again and Invisible Touch - the audience now up on their feet.
Invisible Touch
Throwing It All Away gave the audience a breather before the equally lovely Follow You Follow Me got the audience singing in fine voice as only the Welsh can. Another fabulous moment in a fabulous night.
Throwing It All Away
Follow You Follow Me
Almost there. We return again to A Trick Of The Tail for an explosive Squonk and then Chris takes to the drumkit for the incredible Los Endos. Which unless you have heard the song that didn't make the TRICK album - It's Yourself - may not make perfect sense,
It's Yourself/Los Endos
After a tremendous standing ovation the band come back for one encore. It was 1 O'clock and it was time for lunch as the band say goodbye with I Know What I Like with Chris recreating Phil's acrobatic tambourine routine perfectly.
So, the end to a perfect evening of music. Genesis Visible Touch, the best I've seen them play. Hopefully they'll make Tonyrefail Savoy a regular Welsh stop an any forthcoming tours. The audience had come from all over South Wales to the venue. They had a great night!
All photos copyright ©️ Nick Baker 2023
Twitter - @genesis_vt
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