By Wayne Baggs
Steve Hackett at Massey Hall was nothing short of magnificent — a night that reminded me exactly why he’s one of my all-time favourite guitar players. Seeing him live again, in such a perfect venue, was like reconnecting with an old friend who still has endless stories to tell through six strings. His tone, his phrasing, that unmistakable sustain — every note felt alive. It wasn’t just nostalgia; it was pure musicianship at the highest level.
The show covered so many eras of his career, but of course, the Genesis material got the biggest reaction. When those opening notes of “Firth of Fifth” and “Supper’s Ready” rang out, the audience was completely transfixed. You could feel the reverence in the room — Hackett wasn’t just revisiting the past, he was reanimating it with incredible precision and passion. Steve Hackett’s 2025 touring band includes Roger King (keyboards), Nad Sylvan (vocals), Jonas Reingold (bass), Rob Townsend (sax/flutes/keyboards), and Nick D’Virgilio (drums) for the North American dates, celebrating the 50th anniversary of Genesis’s The Lamb Lies Down on Broadway. They were tight, fluid, and clearly in awe of the music they were helping bring to life. The keyboard textures, the soaring flute, and the rhythmic drive all wrapped around Hackett’s guitar like a beautifully woven tapestry.
What makes him so special is that effortless blend of technical brilliance and deep emotion. He never overplays, yet every solo feels monumental. The way he builds and releases tension — it’s something only a true master can do. Massey Hall’s acoustics made every delicate harmonic and thunderous crescendo shimmer with clarity.
By the encore, the whole place was on its feet, cheering a man who continues to inspire generations of musicians. A truly superb night of music, from one of the greats who proves that artistry and heart never fade with time.
Set 1:
1-People of the Smoke
2-Circo Inferno
3-These Passing Clouds
4-The Devil’s Cathedral
5-Every Day
6-A Tower Struck Down
7-Basic Instincts
8-Camino Royale
9-Shadow of the Hierophant
Set 2:
10-The Lamb Lies Down on Broadway
(Genesis song)
11-Fly on a Windshield
(Genesis song)
12-Broadway Melody of 1974
(Genesis song)
13-Hairless Heart
(Genesis song)
14-Carpet Crawlers
(Genesis song)
15-The Chamber of 32 Doors
(Genesis song)
16-Lilywhite Lilith
(Genesis song)
17-The Lamia
(Genesis song)
18-it
(Genesis song)
19-Supper’s Ready
(Genesis song)
Encore:
20-Firth of Fifth
(Genesis song)
21-Drum Solo
22-Los Endos / Slogans / Los Endos
(Genesis song)
BKonthescene 