Nick Beggs and Steve Hackett at the Bilston Robin. Photograph by Ian D. Hall

Originally published by the Birmingham Mail. November 2009.

Thanks to the popularity of his latest album, Out Of The Tunnel’s Mouth, Steve Hackett is enjoying success once more where it matters, in front of audiences who never stopped believing in the prolific musician/songwriter.

Steve and his band kicked off with the maniacal Mechanical Bride before heading straight into the childlike but message-heavy Fire On The Moon from the new album. An array of other songs from his long solo career followed.

The singer took the chance to play some of the Genesis material that he had a major hand in during his time with the band, including Firth of Fifth, Blood on the Rooftops and Fly on a Windshield from 1974’s epic The Lamb Lies Down On Broadway.

There was also a segment from the Foxtrot album entitled Horizons which left every self-respecting Genesis fan in the Robin awestruck.

The gig finished on a massive high with the bluesy Still Waters and a truly magnificent version of Los Endos which bassist Nick Beggs in particular seemed to revel in.

Ian D. Hall