The sincerest form of flattery
jblyn | Maryland, USA | 02/06/2005
(4 out of 5 stars)
"Tribute bands celebrating the music and ouvre of bands from the 60s and 70s are flourishing everywhere throughout the world these days. The Beatles are widely celebrated in this format, of course, but the Grateful Dead, Deep Purple, King Crimson, The Ramones and Bruce Springsteen (Bruce Springsteen???) all have spawned bands that play their songs and hew to their stage mannerisms with a reverence of orchestras playing chamber music on original 16th century instruments. It's great if you weren't around for the originals (or miss them keenly), but if you're looking for new spins on old songs, these bands aren't the ones to see. Remember, too, that the "tribute" aspect only works as well as the band's ability to carry off the impersonation, both musically and in appearance.
The Peter Gabriel-era version of Genesis has been the source of a lot of tribute bands, and groups with names like The Musical Box and Cinema Show have been on the circuit for years covering material from the Gabriel period. Regenesis is the only Genesis tribute band I know of who have made their live appearances available on CD. This 2-CD set is their third live album, recorded during a tour of England (this band's place of origin) and musically they have their mentors' music down to a T. Lead singer Tony Patterson doesn't really sound that much like Peter Gabriel, but except for an annoying tendency to rasp off-key every now and again, his singing here does all of the songs justice (Patterson's predecessor Glyn Protheroe was a better Gabriel clone, if you're interested in the previous 2 Regenesis live discs that feature him). The other members of the band have the abilities to do all of the parts as they were done originally, and carry it off they do. Guitarist Steve Marsh particularly has Steve Hackett's style cold; he left Regenesis shortly after this set was released and will be a name to watch in "prog" circles if he ever surfaces with an original musical project.
If you were ever a fan of the original Genesis lineup from 1970 to 1975, you might find yourself intrigued enough to give this CD set a spin. It's not a substitute for NURSERY CRYME, SELLING ENGLAND BY THE POUND or the other Gabriel-era albums, but it's a good testament to the power of the original band...and a good time on it's own secondhand terms.
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Track Listings (13) - Disc #1