Emmie - How was the Genesis concert??

[Magnolia]

I've been wondering how it went and if you enjoyed the new venue. When you get a
chance, please come tell us about it!

[Refugee]

^ I second that!

[emmie]

Hi!

I'm sorry, I didn't even notice this thread. I got a PM about it.

Well, I'm not a technical person, so I'm afraid I can't tell you anything about which guitar Mike Rutherford played for every different song, nor can I say much about the sound quality by going into detail, I only know if isomething sounds good or bad to me.

The BMO field is a brand new soccer stadium so not really set up for concerts and it's also completely outside, no cover at all for any seating. I was worried because a huge thunderstorm was forecast for Friday evening/night and I knew there was going to be no cover, no umbrella's allowed either. I called the venue and was told that the show would still go on rain or shine regardless.

So I met my son after work downtown and we went out for dinner first then drove to the venue. Now, this ride from the restaurant to the venue should take 10 minutes only..15 mins maximum. Traffic was completely horrendous and it took us 75 minutes to reach the venue! It then took a further 15 minutes to park. On leaving the venue it took us 45 minutes to get out. This venue is NOT user friendly for the audiences.

The venue itself is absolutely enormous. Good things about it were the plentiful washrooms dotted around, there were more than enough, and they were clean, which made a change. There were also plentiful concession stands all around serving everything from beer and coolers and wine to hotdogs, popcorn, ice cream - you name it.

When I bought the tickets in May, the seating plan I was working from was terrible so until we got there I wasn't sure how good or bad the seats would actually be. They were fantastic. No complaints there. Unfortunately, there was a group of very drunk women behind us and they were very grating on the nerves. Also, something else that surprised me was the fact that the 2 guys sitting next to me were both shelling and eating peanuts that had been purchased at the venue. That kind of worried me from the stand point that SO MANY now are deathly allergic to peanuts. In fact our 23 year old cousin Justin is so allergic that he's had a few very narrow escapes getting rushed to hospital via ambulance. Had just been seated there he'd have quite possibly died! For sure he'd have had to leave.

So, there was no warm up band which didn't bother me, they are often terrible anyway. Genesis ended up playing for about 2 hours and 45 minutes. They played just about everything from material waaaayy back in the 70's (which to tell the truth I found boring - way to long and boring) then of course right up to the time they split up. Loved the latter songs which I thought were performed very well. I think they did a great job. The stage set up was really nice, lots of cool lights, and coloured smoke, even fireworks, which I found a nice touch as I love fireworks.

Phil Collins was on very good form. Very affable, friendly, jovial, made alot of jokes and alot of participation with the audience. He looks wonderful by the way. I thought he looked fitter and in better shape then he did in the '80's. His voice is still top notch.

Poor Mike Rutherford - God love him, still skinny as ever, looks much the same, maybe hair's a tad thinner, but bless his heart - he stood on the stage and looked completely bewildered for all the world as if he was wondering how the hell it was he was standing on a stage with Phil and Tony again in Canada. He just seemed bemused. But maybe he was always like that on stage? What is it with lead guitarists that mostly all of them seem only half there?

They did 2 songs for encore, after the first encore song, Phil said, sorry we're only going to do one more song, of course people went, awwwwwwwwwwww - and he said, no sorry.....we'd love to do more, but it's 11:50 pm now and we all have to be back at the "home" by 12:00 lol. Incidentally, they were allowed to go past the venues curvew time!

So that was it. My son and I enjoyed the show, very entertaining, and I'm glad we got the chance to see them, but I'm not sure if I'm in a hurry to see another show at the BMO field, I just don't think it's audience friendly enough.

[LizzieB]

Emmie! Thanks for that update. As usual, you've made me laugh (Mike comments, lol). I'm so glad you and your son enjoyed the night. I sort of regret not getting tickets....

(I was a Twickenham Stadium to see the Police on Sunday and it took 2 hours to get home by train. 30 minutes walking to get to the horde of people waiting for the train and 30 minutes on the train. The other hour was standing in a tight, hot crowd of people, some of whom had the most attrocious beer breath, waiting my turn to get to the train platform. There, do you feel better about your experience now? LOL!)

[KansasPettyFan]

That sounds like a good time, despite the traffic. Glad you enjoyed yourselves. :)

[Echosoftom]

Very nice reveiw Emmie. So glad you guys enjoyed the show. I've never seen Genesis but I have seen Phil Collins a couple of times and I always enjoy his shows.

Mike Rutherford - Too funny. I must say I loved his band Mike and The Mechanics. Thanks for sharing your evening with us.

[Magnolia]

Wow, thanks Emmie! I've been wondering about Genesis in concert. 2 hours
and 45 minutes is a nice length for a concert. I'm curious what the fans were
like, did they know all the songs and sing along like we tend to do with our
TPATH? How did your son like it? I really wish I'd made the effort to see them
now. Thanks for telling us about it! Sorry about the traffic hassles. Seems to
be a common complaint no matter where the venue is.

[Refugee]

Wonderful review, Emmie! Thank you so much for sharing your night with us. I'm not a huge fan of Genesis, but I am always interested in hearing from a fan how the concert went.

Drunks and traffic, seems to be a something we must deal with now.

[Marion]

Nice review Emmie. Thanks for sharing it! That traffic mess sounds like the San Diego venue we went to during the TPATH tour. You're so frustrated by the time you get to your seat, it takes a while to calm down.

Nice long set! Glad you had a good time.

[WildflowerNJ]

Emmie, that was a great review...thank you so much for sharing that time with us....yes, sorry about the traffic...but so glad you had a good time.....

[Starfish]

I dislike stadium shows for all the reasons you mentioned... glad the show was a good one!! Genesis is here soon - this week or next? - but I'm not sure if it is an indoor or outdoor show. Now I'm sorry I didn't get tickets.