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| Steve Hackett - Live Archive NEARfest |
 Released: 2003 Label: Camino Records / NEARfest Records Cat. No.: CAMCD32 Total Time: 66:16/37:22 | |
Reviewed by: Stephanie Sollow, August 2005 Though it is not listed as the first CD in the NEARfest Records catalog - that number is assigned to Nathan Mahl - Live At NEARfest 1999 - Steve Hackett's Live Archive NEARfest is the first NEARfest-related CD release from NEARFest Records, in conjunction with Hackett's own Camino Records (and ties in with the other Archive releases that Hackett has released). Steve Hackett and his band (Hackett himself on guitars and vocals (funny how that worked out, eh?), Rob Townsend on sax and flute, Roger King on keyboards, Terry Gregory on bass and vocals, and Gary O'Toole on drums and vocals) headlined NEARfest in 2002 and I was lucky enough to be at that performance. As many know by now NEARfest always sells out and sells out fast, so a little luck is involved in getting a ticket. It was a tremendous performance, as anyone who listens to this CD will hear. Everyone was in top form, the sound was great, and the production on this release lets that come through. If you aren't a dedicated Hackett fan, you'll hear why this guitarist has so much respect come his way. The mellower pieces are simply beautiful... the Satie piece "Gnossienne #1," "Serpentine Song," "Walking Away From Rainbows," and, of course, his classics "Spectral Mornings," "Every Day" and "Horizons" are just terrific, at least to these ears. Not just Hackett though, each member is spot on, Townsend's flute and sax playing stunning, for one. The whole band was tight that night... just... great. Anyone who is a Hackett fanatic probably bought this the moment it became available - at NEARfest 2003, or from either the NEARfest Records or Camino websites, the only way to get this release new. I wasn't a fanatic then, but I'm in the first group. The more I play this, more I'm growing into one... Anyway, Hackett was on his Darktown tour, though Darktown had, by that time, been out since 1999. This was the first chance for US audiences to see that show... in the US. The set itself was lit very darkly (Darktown, you see), yet used some cool lighting effects... The setlist includes material from many Hackett solo albums, and a few Genesis albums as well. And, in fact, contains material that would come out on the following year's To Watch The Storms release, such as "Mechanical Bride" and "Serpentine Song," here performed wonderfully, beautifully (Townsend's flute takes flight and sounds as if it were played in an open-air setting; The War Memorial in Trenton wasn't, though). Of the classic Genesis pieces we get "Hairless Heart," "Los Endos," an abbreviated, instrumental version of "Watcher Of The Skies" (basically the intro, up to the point where Peter would begin singing, and then the concluding instrumental passages), and part of "Firth Of Fifth." There is also a piece that I've determined appears on a non-Hackett album, but that he wrote and performs on -- "The Floating Seventh,"* which opens this 2 disc set. Hackett holds a seventh note while drums come rumbling in, picking up their pace as they go. It leads into the heavy industrial rhythm that opens the angular "Mechanical Bride." The "Medley" that comes at track three includes "Myopia," "Los Endos" (which appears again at the end of disc two), "Imagining," "Ace Of Wands," and "Hackett To Bits." The brief "Pollution" leads into "The Steppes," a sultry, sax and guitar led piece. I love every track, but the one I love the most, the one that truly, truly gets me right "there" is "In Memoriam"... its hauntingly, achingly beautiful, somber and reverent. While not included on the live CD, Hackett dedicated this piece to The Who's John Entwistle, who had passed away not long before the concert. So, there was an added sadness to the atmosphere as a result. You don't need know that to be moved by the piece, but it adds another dimension to this particular performance. While I'm not sure this CD's availability now, I recommend you see this one out any (legal) way you can, as it's well worth it. If you were there, it’s a perfect memento, if you weren't but wanted to be, it's the perfect way to feel you were a part. Frankly, this is one of the finest live CDs I have heard. *Hackett talks about this piece (briefly, and more) in an interview at The MouthPiece.com. Rating: 5/5 More about Live Archive NEARfest: Track Listing: Disc One: The Floating Seventh / Mechanical Bride / Medley / Serpentine Song / Watcher Of The Skies / Hairless Heart / Firth Of Fifth / Riding The Colossus / Pollution / The Steppes / Gnossienne #1 / Walking Away From Rainbows / In Memoriam / The Wall Of Knives / Vampyre With A Healthy Appetite Musicians: Contact: Website: www.stevehackett.com Discography
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