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North America Genesis Revisited 2013 tour part 1 - September 2013

On September 18 we arrived in Chicago airport and then drove to our hotel in picturesque St Charles. Walking along the banks of the beautiful Fox River, Jo and I came across an impressive statue of a Native American chief, a poignant reminder that a large community of them once lived in the region.

The next day I went by cab to Chicago for an interview and acoustic guitar performance for the local TV station WGN. On the way the heavens opened with thunder, forked lightning, hail and torrential rain. A cab ahead of us skidded on the wet surface and crashed into the side of the tunnel before spinning back into the road. Our driver immediately braked and narrowly avoided colliding with the other car, which finally stopped, again hitting the side. The driver of the other vehicle must've been really shaken up. We were lucky to arrive at the TV studios in one piece...

The interview and performance went well and Steve Sanders was great to talk to. The studio was lit with rainbow lights on an effective star curtain.

On day three was the first show in the beautiful atmospheric old Arcada theatre. The warren of dressing rooms beneath are believed to be haunted and several people claim to have seen apparitions...

The ghosts must have been with us as the show was a real blinder! The audience was ecstatic from the start and the atmosphere was really powerful. A great way to kick off the US tour. The following night was just as amazing as the first, and The Fountain of Salmacis brought in for the first time was the strongest it's ever been. A weekend to remember!

And so on to Milwaukee... To the grand Nineteenth Century Pabst Theatre, full of charm and character. We burst into a progressive Blues number when Roger's computer went down, but the powers that be were with us again and all those old Genesis songs then went from strength to strength.

Following an early flight we nearly missed the next day, the gig in Royal Oak near Detroit thankfully went really well.

Next stop New York! As chaotic, steaming and full of life as ever, it welcomed us with open arms. An extraordinary coincidence - I'd just finished an interview at Sirius XM when I bumped into Graham Nash at exactly the same spot where I saw him three years ago! He's not only extraordinarily talented but also a particularly nice guy. It was also great to touch base with my great friend Ian MacDonald.

The New York show at the fabulous Best Buy Theatre beside Broadway / Times Square was a tremendous success. The lamb really sprang up on Boadway with a fabulous crowd and the band were on great form! Francis Dunnery also did a great guest spot which went down really well. The whole evening had a special buzz.

So on to to Lakewood, NJ...