Do we need another live album by Steve Hackett? This is how I started my reviews of Genesis Revisited Live: Seconds Out & More (2022, see review) and Selling England By The Pound & Spectral Mornings (2020, see review) and the answer to that question is again a definite YES! I saw/heard the Foxtrot at Fifty & Hackett Highlights in Maastricht on 9 May (see review), and I was totally overwhelmed by that concert as Hackett and band again did a wonderful job indeed. Guitar virtuoso Hackett was “helped” by a great band, again, consisting of Nad Sylvan (vocals), Roger King (keyboards), Jonas Reingold (bass), Rob Townsend (flute, saxophone, percussion) and Craig Blundell (drums). The setlist on this recording in Brighton was almost immaculate and differs only a little bit from the setlist in Maastricht. Basic Instincts was not played in The Netherlands and Shadow Of The Hierophant clocks in at over 11 minutes while in Maastricht I could only enjoy the instrumental section of that classic Hackett track. Highlights on this spectacular album are definitely Spectral Mornings, Every Day, and the entire Foxtrot album indeed. Supper's Ready is still one of the best prog rock epics ever and Sylvan does an excellent job there, while Genesis classics like Watcher Of The Skies and Get 'Em Out By Friday also belong to the musical highlights of this show recorded in Brighton. Encores Firth Of Fifth and Los Endos are a bit disappointing as the classic Genesis song Firth Of Fifth contains an utterly superfluous way too long drum solo while Los Endos contains way too much saxophone and flute, at least in my humble opinion as these two songs are best played live on the classic Genesis live album, Seconds Out! But, Foxtrot At Fifty is again a superb live album by one of the most underrated guitar players ever, just listen to Steve's brilliant solos in tracks like Spectral Mornings, Every Day or Firth Of Fifth and you will catch my drift indeed.... A classic live album and a must have for Hackett and Genesis fans. Buy or die, prog fans! Available as Ltd 2CD+Blu-ray and Ltd 2CD+2DVD! **** Martien Koolen (edited by Tracy van Os van den Abeelen) Where to buy? |
