Steve Hackett - Wuthering Nights: Live in Birmingham (Special Edition 2CD + 2DVD Digipak)
InsideOut Music
http://www.insideoutmusic.com/release.aspx?IdRelease=2079

Rating: A

Steve Hackett is an extremely talented musician. He is quieter and more soft-spoken than Steve Howe of Yes, Carl Palmer of ELP and Peter Gabriel of Genesis. Perhaps, because of this, Steve does not always get all of the spotlight he deserves…even in the Prog World.

The guitar maestro’s latest release, Wuthering Nights: Live in Birmingham (Special Edition 2CD + 2DVD Digipak) is nothing short of a musical masterpiece. His guitar virtuosity is getting even more styled and refined with age. His band, Roger King (keyboards), Gary O'Toole (drums/percussion), Rob Townsend (saxes/flutes), Nick Beggs (bass, stick & twelve string) and Nad Sylvan on vocals, plus special guests John Hackett and Amanda Lehmann, augment the amazing performance.

The entire night, both band and band-leader put on a Prog Performance worthy of a sea of cheering pocket-protector wearing prog rock nerds. Okay…I could not resist one prod nerd joke…hell, I am a closet one myself!  Suffice it to say this album is musically and visually stunning.

The show was recorded and filmed at the Birmingham Symphony Hall during Hackett's recent, critically-acclaimed Genesis Revisited & Classic Hackett tour. As trite as it is for a reviewer to type this…this time I mean it…This is a must-own for Prog fans around the globe.

Hackett’s amazing tour marked the 40th anniversary of the album Wind & Wuthering. This was Steve’s last album with Genesis. Fans of the early era of Genesis were treated to five of best tracks on this classic album. Steve and band kicked out “Eleventh Earl Of Mar,” “One For The Vine,” “Blood On The Rooftops,” “In That Quiet Earth” and “Afterglow.” The audience was simply stunned with delight. This was not all of the early stuff Hackett hit them with, however. They were equally thrilled to experience “Dance On A Volcano,” “Inside & Out,” “Firth Of Fifth,” “The Musical Box” and, one of their absolute best, “Los Endos.”

Steve recalls the Birmingham performance, "I'm excited about imminent release of Wuthering Nights. It felt special to celebrate the 40th anniversary of Wind & Wuthering, the Genesis album I had the most songwriting involvement with and a favorite among many fans. Songs like ‘One for the Vine,’ ‘Eleventh Earl of Mar’ and ‘Blood on the Rooftops’ come across powerfully on this release, which also features other Genesis and solo Hackett favorites along with songs from my latest album The Night Siren... Sit back and enjoy!"

See…I told you he is soft-spoken and humble. Steve is also a musician of the highest order and this collection of songs proves his musical prowess from beginning to end.

As if this were not enough, the DVD/ Blu-Ray also includes behind the scenes footage, most of which was filmed the day of the show on sight. There are also three videos for tracks from his latest solo effort The Night Siren.

I’ll say it again…this is a must-own for any Prog fan anywhere in the world.

2CD+2DVD Digipak Tracklisting

CD 1:
1. Every Day
2. El Nino
3. The Steppes

4. In the Skeleton Gallery
5. Behind the Smoke
6. Serpentine Song
7. Rise Again8. Shadow of the Hierophant
CD 2:
1. Eleventh Earl of Mar *
2. One For the Vine *
3. Acoustic Improvisation
4. Blood on the Rooftops *
5. In That Quiet Earth *
6. Afterglow *
7. Dance on a Volcano *
8. Inside and Out *
9. Firth of Fifth *
10. The Musical Box *
11. Los Endos *
(* Genesis track)

DVD 1 - Concert Part 1:
1. Every Day
2. El Nino
3. The Steppes
4. In the Skeleton Gallery
5. Behind the Smoke
6. Serpentine Song
7. Rise Again
8. Shadow of the Hierophant
- Bonus -
Wuthering Nights, Live in Birmingham - Behind the Scenes Documentary 32:32
DVD 2 - Concert Part 2:
1. Eleventh Earl of Mar *
2. One For the Vine *
3. Acoustic Improvisation
4. Blood on the Rooftops *
5. In That Quiet Earth *
6. Afterglow *
7. Dance on a Volcano *
8. Inside and Out *
9. Firth of Fifth *
10. The Musical Box *
11. Los Endos *
(* Genesis track)
- Bonus - Official videos
Behind the Smoke
Fifty Miles from the North Pole
West to East

By Jeb “Prog Nerd” Wright