Directed By: David Mallet
Starring: Tony Banks, Phil Collins, Mike Rutherford, Daryl Stuermer, Chester Thompson
This is the last of twenty two shows from Genesis’s 2007 European Tour. A free concert in Rome for half a million people.
The Movie
Invisible Touch was one of the seven free tapes I got for joining the Columbia House Music Club. I would have worn it out too if I hadn’t lost it on a band trip. As much as I loved that album, it’s still one of my favorites, I never picked up any of Genesis’s other albums so it was a real treat to have the opportunity to review this DVD. Actually I should say DVDs. The concert proper spans two DVDs and then there is one for the documentary Come Rain or Shine.
The stage, set between two hills, was huge. Behind it loomed a large screen that looked like a wave about to crash over the band. Towering over the screen were several large light towers connected by a net that the lights could dance around on and create all kinds of interesting effects. Bookending the stage were two additional oval screens that combined with the wave like screen directly behind the stage. The three screens were constantly filled with some kind of video. The bookend screens usually spotlighting a band member while the wave screen displayed some abstract visualizations. The band was nestled in a very small area in the middle of stage, which had the effect of making even this huge monster of a stage seem intimate.
It’s hard to believe it’s been fifteen years since these guys toured together, well at least until you watch some of the extras of them rehearsing, they are tight and sound great. Phil’s voice still is as good as ever even if a few of the songs are performed a key or two lower than they originally recorded them. Tony and Mike still have it as well. Daryl and Chester the two hired guns are more than hired guns, they’ve been playing in Genesis for thirty years and from just watching the live show you’d never know that they weren’t as much a part of Genesis as Phil, Tony and Mike.
If your just a casual fan like me I don’t think you’ll be disappointed by the set list. The only big hit that I noticed missing was In the Air, but there wasn’t anything they performed that I found myself thinking, why didn’t they do In the Air instead. The entire Invisible Touch album is in there except for The Brazilian. Some of the other highlights in my opinion were No Son of Mine, In the Cage, Home by the Sea, Mama, I Can’t Dance. The whole show is really strong. The stage show is impressive the lights and video visuals really enhance the music without making the show feel like a music video. It’s shot really well too. Your not going to feel like your there but David Mallet has done a great job of capturing the spirit and spectacle of the show.
8/10
The Video
The video, presented in wide screen, is great. There are some issues with it though. Most of the video was shot in challenging situations. The concert footage is at night with extremely bright lights doing all kinds of crazy things. On top of that some of the shots are from an incredibly long way off using massive telephoto lenses. The extras are all shot documentary style with available light. There is aliasing, moire and some blooming, it never rises to the level of being distracting but if you look for it it’s there.
7/10
The Audio
As you would expect for a concert DVD the sound is great. You’ve got your choice of DTS or Dolby Surround Sound or good old fashioned Stereo. The mix is great, everything is sharp and clear. It doesn’t sound bad with the volume turned down but like all good rock ‘n’ roll the louder you can play it the better it’s going to sound.
9/10
The Packaging and Bonus Features
The packaging is top notch. Instead of an Amaray case the DVDs come in a nice cardboard foldout holder that fits in a cardboard slipcase. The slipcase is simple, and classy. The foldout is covered with beautiful shots of the stage during the concert. There is a gorgeous little booklet full of photos from the tour, it even has a foldout centerfold. There is behind the scenes material for each song. While watching the concert an icon will appear at the beginning of each song. While the icon is on the screen you can switch over to the extra material or continue to watch the concert uninterrupted. You can also watch the extras separately. The extras are either shots of them rehearsing or discussing the stage show for each song. It’s all interesting stuff with no filler. On top of that there is a tour documentary Come Rain or Shine on the third DVD. It’s almost as entertaining as the concert and a lot more dramatic.
9/10
If your a hardcore Genesis fan you’ve probably had this preordered anyway, but if your more of a casual fan like me you really need to pick this DVD set up. One warning though you may find your self itching to go pickup some Genesis CDs the next time your out.
Overall (Not an Average) 8/10
The Review
The Movie 8/10
The Video 7/10
The Audio 9/10
The Packaging and Bonus Features 9/10
Overall (Not an Average) 8/10