Hackett, Steve - Somewhere In South America - Live In Buenos Aires

Year of Release: 2003
Label: InsideOut
Catalog Number: IOMDVD002
Format: DVD
Total Time: 120:00:00

To be honest with you, it wouldn't be such a bad idea to bundle both this DVD and the Hungarian Horizons DVD into one package, as they illustrate both sides of Steve Hackett. The versatile ex-Genesis guitarist is either very intimate, as in his Hungarian experience, or a vital element within a band structure as on this DVD. Recorded at the Teatro Coliseo in Buenos Aires, Argentina, Hackett is backed by a selection of virtuosos from various angles of the musical spectrum. The end result is prog, jazz, experimental, avant-garde ... in fact, a true concoction of styles and dynamics. Contrary to those in Hungary, the fans here get their fair share of Genesis classics, combined with a fine selection from Steve's very own solo output plus several brand new songs. And that's rather unique in these days of piracy and illegal copying. Indeed, several tracks on this DVD still had to be properly recorded for the To Watch The Storms album, so although this was rather common in the seventies it's very rare in the 21st century!

In fact, I would advise you to start with the 15-minute long bonus track first, as here we see Steve and band during rehearsals, whilst Hackett gives an interview, mainly talking about how he set this band up in the first place. When you watch this, you'll understand the rest of the set better. The very first track on offer here is already one of those brand new compositions, which is a very daring experience from Hackett and company. "Mechanical Bride," although being an incredible piece from a musical point of view and where complexity is concerned, still remains a rather "difficult" piece for most fans present. Especially with the saxophone being so up front in the mix, I'm convinced a lot of people were asking themselves whether at all this would be the kind of set they would like to hear. However, during "Medley," Hackett puts so many recognizable bits and pieces in, that he can't do anymore harm all evening. By then, the rest of the lads are really getting into it and although there are thousands of fans out there, it feels like they are playing music just for their very own benefit. Versatility really is the keyword on this DVD, as every single musician in the line-up can tackle every kind of music and really has the feel for it as well. Take Rob Townsend who sounds furious and improvisational on saxophone, yet very well together, balanced, romantic and ever so melodic on flute. Hackett surely has found the ideal people to surround him, enabling him to shine even more not only as an ace guitarist but also as the leader of this fine collective.

Incredible how only one single chord can set the audience on fire. Yep, it's that one chord on the mighty mellotron as delivered by Roger King that really does it. The chord of all chords: "Watcher Of The Skies"! Contrary to the snippets of Genesis classics on Hungarian Horizons, you get the full song here, although Hackett has ingeniously wiped all of Gabriel's vocal passages from the song, turning it into a complete instrumental experience. And as we're in a Genesis mood, why not continue with "Hairless Heart" and, why not, "Firth Of Fifth" as well? The crowd goes bonkers and from now on Steve can't do anything wrong. Even when he tackles the rather experimental "Pollution," they remain very interested. But it's once again a treat to hear how the band is able to "swim" from this selection of difficult approaches towards another well-known highlight, that being "The Steppes." Again with "The Wall Of Knives," the guys throw all formats out of the window and go for the extreme improvisation with drummer Gary O'Toole sounding like he has just entered Ronnie Scott's, whilst Hackett tries to cut his guitar in half with his bare hands! Even a song like "Darktown" gets immediate applause, although this one is fairly new and probably unknown to most of the people present. Hackett grabs his acoustic guitar so that everyone can enjoy "Horizons" and when he straps his electric guitar back on, what better way to end this unforgettable evening than with "Los Endos"?

As a momentum from this tour, they could have recorded the show everywhere, however they chose Buenos Aires. The people remain seated throughout the entire concert and only become loud and enthusiastic during the heavier parts they know rather well. Only towards the very end do they give Steve and his band a standing ovation. I would have loved to see more of a live feel in the audience with people dancing about; however, when you analyze Steve's set, there was plenty of material that you needed to sit down for in order to digest it all. Although it was a very varied set, the complete package comes as a very professional one, highlighting every single member of the band the way it should always be done!

Released also by Hackett's own Camino Reocrds imprint (CAMDV29)

Tracklisting:
DVD: 105 minutes of concert footage shot at Buenos Aires Teatro Coliseo (same setlist as on the audio CDs) / Extra footage / Backstage footage / Interviews

CD 1: The Floating Seventh / Mechanical Bride / Medley / Serpentine Song / Watcher Of The Skies / Hairless Heart / Firth Of Fifth / Riding The Colossus / Pollution / The Steppes / Gnossienne No. 1 / Walking Away From Rainbows

CD 2: Sierra Quemada / The Wall Of Knives / Vampyre With A Healthy Appetite / A Tower Struck Down / Lucridus / Darktown / Camino Royale / In Memoriam / Horizons / Los Endos

Musicians:
Steve Hackett - guitars, vocals
Roger King - keyboards
Gary O'Toole - drums, vocals
Terry Gregory - bass, vocals
Rob Townsend - sax, flute

Discography:
Genesis - Nursery Crime (1971)
Genesis - Foxtrot (1972)
Genesis - Live (1973)
Genesis - Selling England By The Pound (1973)
Genesis - Lamb Lies Down On Broadway (1974)
Voyage Of The Acolyte (1975)
Genesis - Wind And Wuthering (1976)
Genesis - Trick Of The Tail (1976)
Genesis - Seconds Out (1977)
Please Don't Touch (1978)
Spectral Mornings (1979)
Defector (1980)
Cured (1981)
Highly Strung (1983)
Bay Of Kings (1983)
Til We Have Faces (1983)
GTR - GTR (1986)
Momentum (1988)
Genesis - Three Sides Live (1982)
Genesis - Genesis Archive 1967-75 (1988)
Time Lapse (1992)
The Unauthorised Biography (1992)
Guitar Noir (1994)
Blues With A Feeling (1994)
There Are Many Sides To The Night (1994)
A Midsummer's Night Dream (1997)
Watcher Of The Skies: Genesis Revisited (1997)
The Tokyo Tapes (1997)
Darktown (1999)
Genesis - Genesis - Turn It On Again (1999)
Sketches Of Satie (2000) (w/John Hackett)
Feedback '86 (2000)
Genesis - Genesis Archive #2 (2000)
Live Archive 70s 80s 90s (2001)
Live Archive - Newcastle (2001)
To Watch The Storms (2003)
Live Archive NEARfest (2003)
Live Archive 03 (2004)
Live Archive 04 (2004)
Genesis - The Platinum Collection (2004)
Metamorpheus (2005) (w/The Underworld Orchestra)
Live Archive 05 (2005)
Live Archive 83 (2006)
Wild Orchids (2006)
Tribute (2008)
Out Of The Tunnel's Mouth (2010)
Beyond The Shrouded Horizon (2011)
Genesis Revisited II (2012)
Wolflight (2015)
THe Night Siren (2017)
At The Edge Of Light (2019)

Steve Hackett Live (VHS) (1981)
The Tokyo Tapes (DVD) (1998)
Hungarian Horizons - Live In Budapest (DVD) (2003)
Somewhere In South America - Live In Buenos Aires (DVD) (2003)
Once Upon A Time (DVD) (2004)
Spectral Mornings (DVD) (rec 1978; rel 2005)
Fire & Ice (DVD) (2011)
Genesis Revisited: Live At Hammersmith (2013)
Genesis Revisited: Live At The Royal Albert Hall (2013)
The Total Experience Live In Liverpool - Acolyte To Wolflight with Genesis Classics (2016)
Wuthering Heights - Live In Birmingham (2018)

Genre: Progressive Rock

Origin UK

Added: December 24th 2003
Reviewer: John "Bobo" Bollenberg

Artist website: www.hackettsongs.com
Hits: 3408
Language: english