The Musical Box, who recently appeared at the King’s Theatre, are a Genesis tribute band. Some background: Genesis delivered 15 studio albums. Their debut album in 1969 ‘From Genesis to Revelation’ sold only around 650 copies in its first year and their last album in 1997 ‘Calling all Stations’ reached the heights of No 2 in the album charts.
Despite Genesis having five UK number one albums from 1980 (Duke) to 1991 (We Can’t Dance), The Musical Box perform only songs from the Genesis back-catalogue from 1969 to 1977.
If you are wondering why, then please allow me to explain. By 1977 both Peter Gabriel and Steve Hackett had left the band and consequently the music of Genesis changed.
Some might say the soul of Genesis changed after Gabriel’s departure in 1975 but when Hackett too announced his departure in 1977 many fans felt not only had Genesis changed but that they had sold their soul to the devil.
The long and intricate prog-rock tracks were gone, only to be replaced with much shorter pop songs. These did very well in the music charts, but bore no resemblance to the music of Genesis from the late sixties to mid seventies.
Some might go as far to say that the music spawned by the album Genesis to Revelation had become Genesis to Aberration. Genesis as a band continues to have millions of followers, but not many of them span their full career.
There are many, like me, who hanker back to the early Genesis years and crave any opportunity to see and hear the music of that era played in front of a live audience.
Despite rumours over the years of a Genesis reunion, it has never happened and is not likely to do so.
So tribute bands are what fans have to cling on to and after watching and listening to The Musical Box I’d advise anyone who has the chance to do so to hold on tight.
The first half of the set covered tracks from albums Trick of the Tail and Wind and Wuthering (both post Gabriel).
Whilst excellent in delivery of those songs the band at times struggled to win over the crowd, not by the poor quality of song or performance but simply by the fact that none of the songs were really what the audience had come to hear.
Even the barbed message displayed on the screen by the band at the intermission announcing they would be back shortly finished with the words “AND YES WE KNOW”.
They knew what the punters had come for and this was their apology for not having delivered… yet.
The second half of the set put that right. Enthusiastic applause at the end of songs in the first half was replaced by rapturous applause and standing ovations. The Roman mob were most appreciative; they now had their bread and circuses. And this was Hovis bread and proper Barnum and Bailey circus too.
These guys were good. Musically expert in reproducing the material and lead singer Denis Gagne remarkably close to the voice of Peter Gabriel to make you just almost imagine that if you closed your eyes and listened you were back at the Apollo in September 1973 (the last time the real Genesis played here).
The members of The Musical Box are French Canadian hailing from the city of Montreal. They are officially licenced by Genesis to perform their back catalogue. It’s slightly ironic that Gagne, surname of the lead singer is a French word which means “wins” in English. Win? This was a victory of the highest order. Well played, The Musical Box.