Thursday, August 25, 2011

Four Vegas, Villa Celimontana, August 11, 2011

















A nice concert by the Four Vegas in Rome’s Villa Celimontana. A great two-hour show with such olden goldies such as “Johnny B. Goode”, Tutti Frutti” and “The Twist”!

Wednesday, August 24, 2011

Ballroom Kings at Villa Celimontana, Rome 10/08/2011
























A nice and entertaining concert by the Italian Ballroom Kings in Rome's Villa Celimontana, just near the Colosseum. Cool way to play the bass, isn't it?

The concert consisted mainly of be-bop music and 1950s tunes plus a short burlesque show. 'Twas nevertheless very, very entertaining!

Sunday, August 14, 2011

Steve Hackett, guitar magician extraordinaire, Spilimbergo August 1st, 2011
























































British singer-songwriter and guitarist Steve Hackett played in the beautiful and ancient square of Spilimbergo in front of an adoring crowd, and of all ages too! Perhaps Hackett’s most famous performances though have been with the progressive rock band Genesis, which he had joined in 1970, only to leave Peter Gabriel and Co. seven years later. Nevertheless, Hackett did contribute to six Genesis studio albums (such as “Foxtrot”), three live albums and seven singles. His work can also be heard on one of Genesis’s greatest pieces, “The Musical Box”. His superb guitar playing has influenced the likes of Rush’s Alex Lifeson and Queen’s Brian May.

A Genesis reunion together with Mike Rutherford, Tony Banks and Phil Collins has been in the works for years now, but unfortunately nothing has been seen so far on the rock and roll horizon regarding this former great band. Hackett is considered to be one of the most innovative musicians of the British music scene, so much so that he and his former mates were recently inducted into the “Rock And Roll Hall Of Fame” in March, 2010. This also confirms Hackett’s extraordinary contribution to Genesis and to the entire music scene.

The Spilimbergo concert certainly confirmed that as he put on a splendid show together with his four fellow musicians on stage: Roger King on keyboards, Gary O'Toole on drums and percussions, Rob Townsend on sax and an amazing and very “colorful” Nick Beggs on bass! The band’s performance included a 19 song set-list, including pieces from Hackett’s latest “Live Rails” album, an LP which is part of his recent two-year world tour, plus songs from the album “Out Of The Tunnel Mouth”. Some golden oldies from the Genesis days also included hits such as “Carpet Crawlers”. At this point, it was indeed hard for die-hard Genesis fans to be still sitting in their seats! For someone who’s now 61 years of age Hackett was in tip-top shape and put on a high-energy finale which left fans more than happy of Hackett’s nearly 2-hour performance.

While waiting for this old Genesis icon and his old mates to make up their minds on that eventual (and hopeful) reunion, the Spilimbergo concert gave all those present a chance to close their eyes and dream a little on when and if that memorable day shall ever indeed take place!

Hackett’s set-list:

1. Intro

2. Every Day

3. Emerald

4. Golden Age

5. Watcher

6. Carpet Crawlers

7. Fire On The Moon

8. Ace Of Wands

9. Pollution B/Steppes

10.Acoustic

11. Blood On The Rooftops

12. Fly On A

13. Sleepers

14. Nick Solo

15. Spectral

16. Prairie

17. Los Endos

18. Firth Of Fifth

19. Clocks

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