One Great Month.
Four amazing bands within the last 30 days, and they did not disappoint. It's been a busy month. |
| 1 |  | Steve Hackett
Spectral Mornings
May 23 - De Boerderij, Zoetermeer: Genesis Revisited Tour 2019
Selling England By the Pound & Spectral Mornings 40th Anniversary
As a member of Genesis during their best years, Steve Hackett has of course become known for his fondness of the original material, and continues to play the classics. As any proper Genesis fan knows, Selling England is one of their best albums, and in the absence of a much-dreamed of reunion of the entire quintet, Hackett is as close as anyone can get. I for one was thrilled to see him play the entire album, including the infamous Battle of Epping Forest. The fact that his popularity around these parts is as high as ever became more than clear when he sold out three consecutive nights in no time at all. He also played the majority of Spectral Mornings, which just happens to be his best solo album, making this even more of a treat.
Set 1:
Every Day |
| 2 |  | Steve Hackett
At the Edge of Light
Under the Eye of the Sun |
| 3 | | Steve Hackett
At the Edge of Light
Fallen Walls and Pedestals |
| 4 | | Steve Hackett
Spectral Mornings
The Virgin and the Gypsy |
| 5 | | Steve Hackett
Spectral Mornings
Tigermoth |
| 6 | | Steve Hackett
Spectral Mornings
Spectral Mornings |
| 7 | | Steve Hackett
Spectral Mornings
The Red Flower of Tachai Blooms Everywhere |
| 8 | | Steve Hackett
Spectral Mornings
Clocks - The Angel of Mons |
| 9 |  | Genesis
Selling England by the Pound
Set 2:
Dancing With the Moonlit Knight |
| 10 | | Genesis
Selling England by the Pound
I Know What I Like (In Your Wardrobe) |
| 11 | | Genesis
Selling England by the Pound
Firth of Fifth |
| 12 | | Genesis
Selling England by the Pound
More Fool Me |
| 13 | | Genesis
Selling England by the Pound
The Battle of Epping Forest |
| 14 | | Genesis
Selling England by the Pound
After the Ordeal |
| 15 | | Genesis
Selling England by the Pound
The Cinema Show |
| 16 | | Genesis
Selling England by the Pound
Aisle of Plenty |
| 17 |  | Steve Hackett
Genesis Revisited
Deja Vu
(originally an outtake from Selling England) |
| 18 |  | Genesis
A Trick of the Tail
Dance on a Volcano |
| 19 | | Genesis
A Trick of the Tail
Encore:
Los Endos |
| 20 |  | Alice in Chains
Facelift
May 27 - 013, Tilburg: Rainier Fog Tour
For a great many reasons, Alice in Chains has been one of my favourite bands for years. I'd been wanting to see them the right way for years, after a short festival appearance with bad sound a number of years ago fell far below expectations. I finally got that chance last month, and it was worth the wait. What stood out most here is just how rich and powerful a catalogue of songs they have to choose from at this point, with a very nice balance between the classics and newer material. Layne Staley will always be missed, but his spirit truly still radiates in their performance.
Fun fact: it was Sean Kinney's birthday this day, resulting in an impromptu 'happy birthday' by the band.
Bleed the Freak |
| 21 |  | Alice in Chains
Black Gives Way to Blue
Check My Brain |
| 22 |  | Alice in Chains
Alice in Chains
Again |
| 23 |  | Alice in Chains
Rainier Fog
Never Fade |
| 24 |  | Alice in Chains
Dirt
Them Bones |
| 25 | | Alice in Chains
Dirt
Dam that River |
| 26 |  | Alice in Chains
The Devil Put Dinosaurs Here
Hollow |
| 27 | | Alice in Chains
Black Gives Way to Blue
Your Decision |
| 28 | | Alice in Chains
Rainier Fog
Rainier Fog |
| 29 | | Alice in Chains
Dirt
Down in a Hole |
| 30 |  | Alice in Chains
Jar of Flies
No Excuses |
| 31 | | Alice in Chains
The Devil Put Dinosaurs Here
Stone |
| 32 | | Alice in Chains
Rainier Fog
Red Giant |
| 33 | | Alice in Chains
Facelift
It Ain't Like That |
| 34 | | Alice in Chains
Jar of Flies
Nutshell |
| 35 | | Alice in Chains
Dirt
Angry Chair |
| 36 | | Alice in Chains
Facelift
Man in the Box |
| 37 | | Alice in Chains
Rainier Fog
Encore:
The One You Know |
| 38 |  | Alice in Chains
Sap
Got Me Wrong |
| 39 | | Alice in Chains
Dirt
Would? |
| 40 | | Alice in Chains
Dirt
Rooster |
| 41 |  | UFO
Force It
June 11 - De Boerderij, Zoetermeer: Last Orders - 50th Anniversary Tour
Ah, UFO. The definition of a cult classic, so to speak. This band has been rocking harder than you and everyone else for 50 years, with and without Michael Schenker (of course, it doesn't hurt when Vinnie Moore is playing for you these days). Phil Mogg, 71 years old, felt old age creep up on him and announced this as a fitting farewell. I must say recent UFO releases had me a little worried about the shape of his voice, but those worries proved to be completely unfounded: Mogg visibly squeezed out every bit of power left in him during this last tour, it seems, as he commanded this great set of mostly stone-cold classics with vigour. He's also got British charm to spare. I take my hat off to you, sir.
A sad note for this one: long-time keyboardist and guitarist Paul Raymond died unexpectedly two months before this concert. Though the band gave a thrilling performance, he was indeed missed.
Mother Mary |
| 42 |  | UFO
Mechanix
We Belong to the Night |
| 43 |  | UFO
A Conspiracy of Stars
Run Boy Run |
| 44 |  | UFO
Walk on Water
Venus |
| 45 |  | UFO
Lights Out
Lights Out |
| 46 |  | UFO
You Are Here
Baby Blue |
| 47 |  | UFO
Obsession
Only You Can Rock Me |
| 48 |  | UFO
Seven Deadly
Burn Your House Down |
| 49 | | UFO
Obsession
Cherry |
| 50 | | UFO
Lights Out
Love to Love |
| 51 |  | UFO
The Wild, the Willing and the Innocent
Makin' Moves |
| 52 | | UFO
Lights Out
Too Hot to Handle |
| 53 |  | UFO
Phenomenon
Rock Bottom |
| 54 | | UFO
Phenomenon
Encore:
Doctor Doctor |
| 55 | | UFO
Force It
Shoot Shoot |
| 56 |  | King Crimson
Radical Action To Unseat The Hold Of Monkey Mind
June 22 - De Vereeniging, Nijmegen: 2019 Celebration Tour
King Crimson. In the flesh. Need I say more? This band is perhaps the very cornerstone and embodiment of progressive rock, going against the grain every step of the way during their long career. Brought back by His Majesty Robert Fripp after being presumed dead, the band's present-day line-up is more than impressive. Even today, The Seven-Headed Beast defies traditional expectations by performing with three drummers at the front of the stage. I'm definitely a fan of the setup, but must also admit that some of the group's original numbers lend themselves better to the bombast of a trio of percussionists than others. Nevertheless, the interplay of all musicians involved was captivating and at times hypnotizing. It's also a dream come true that they actually play the classics since they've returned.
Set 1:
The Hell Hounds of Krim |
| 57 |  | King Crimson
Beat
Neurotica |
| 58 |  | King Crimson
The ConstruKction of Light
The ConstruKction of Light |
| 59 |  | King Crimson
In the Court of the Crimson King
Epitaph |
| 60 | | King Crimson
Radical Action To Unseat The Hold Of Monkey Mind
Interlude |
| 61 |  | King Crimson
The Power to Believe
EleKtriK |
| 62 |  | King Crimson
Red
One More Red Nightmare |
| 63 |  | King Crimson
Discipline
Discipline |
| 64 | | King Crimson
Discipline
Frame by Frame |
| 65 | | King Crimson
Discipline
Indiscipline |
| 66 | | King Crimson
Radical Action To Unseat The Hold Of Monkey Mind
Set 2:
Drumzilla |
| 67 |  | King Crimson
Lizard
Cirkus |
| 68 |  | King Crimson
In the Wake of Poseidon
Cat Food |
| 69 |  | King Crimson
Larks' Tongues in Aspic
Easy Money |
| 70 | | King Crimson
In the Court of the Crimson King
Moonchild
In the Court of the Crimson King's classic artwork has been adorning my profile picture pretty much since I joined this site, so seeing the masters of the art perform was way overdue. And then I even almost got the whole thing: 4 out of 5. There are some who consider the album itself to be a bit of a '4-out-of-5'-type situation, meaning you'd expect an obvious track to be omitted with 4 out of 5 played. You'd be wrong. A very surprising Moonchild, with the familiar lead-in to... |
| 71 | | King Crimson
In the Court of the Crimson King
The Court of the Crimson King |
| 72 | | King Crimson
Radical Action To Unseat The Hold Of Monkey Mind
Radical Action II |
| 73 | | King Crimson
The Power to Believe
Level Five |
| 74 | | King Crimson
Red
Starless
Wow. I have no words. Everything you may have heard is true. This is mind-blowing live. |
| 75 | | King Crimson
In the Court of the Crimson King
Encore:
21st Century Schizoid Man |
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