SPILL ALBUM REVIEW: STEVE HACKETT – THE LAMB STANDS UP LIVE AT THE ROYAL ALBERT HALL

STEVE HACKETT
THE LAMB STANDS UP LIVE AT THE ROYAL ALBERT HALL
CENTURY MEDIA RECORDS

Steve Hackett continues his journey through classic Genesis albums with a recording of his favourite songs from the album The Lamb Lies Down On Broadway. The Lamb Stands Up Live At The Royal Albert Hall also was also an opportunity for Hackett to promote his then current album, The Circus and The Nightwhale. Other solo and Genesis classics are performed as well. Once again, Hackett is surrounded by an excellent band, and some special guests including Ray Wilson (Genesis), Steve Rothery (Marillion), vocalist Amanda Lehmann and John Hackett (guitarist).

The Lamb Stands Up Live At The Royal Albert Hall opens the show with the brilliant “People of The Smoke” (from Hackett’s 2024 album The Circus and The Nightwhale). While it is very close to the studio version, there is the live energy that can only be caught in front of a live audience. It is a great way to open the concert and this album. He continues with more songs from that album, which come off remarkably well live. “These Passing Clouds” sounds particularly brilliant in concert. He also tackles songs from his 2021 album, Surrender Of Silence (“The Devil’s Cathedral”) and 1975’s classic Voyage of the Acolyte (“Hands Of The Priestess” and “A Tower Struck Down” sound fantastic live, with a few twists and turns from Hackett.

Then he is off into Genesis land. Nad Sylvan’s vocals throughout are spot on, and a great deal of credit must go to his band, Roger King (keyboards), Craig Blundell (drums), Rob Townsend (saxophone, woodwind, percussion, vocals, keyboards, bass pedals) and Jonas Reingold (bass, variax, twelve string, vocals). Not only do they do justice to his solo material, but they bring Genesis to life, live on the stage. This is not an easy task, but they succeed. Hackett is not trying to better Genesis or replace the original. He does, however, do some extremely good versions of some of the songs.

While the songs are faithfully replicated on stage, it is still exciting to hear songs like “Lilywhite”, with Hackett’s melodic solo and Sylvan’s great vocals. The title track, “The Lamb Lies Down On Broadway” explodes with this performance. While “Fly On A Windshield” and “Carpet Crawlers” are faithful to the originals. Hackett also adds a couple of other Genesis favourites, such as “Fifth Of Firth” (from Selling English By The Pound) and “Los Endos” (from Trick Of The Tail). Both of these songs are concert staples for Hackett and his band.

Some fans may argue that Hackett should have done more songs from The Lamb Lies Down On Broadway, but Hackett’s choice of material, from his solo albums and Genesis complement each other and form a pretty perfect concert and live recording. The Lamb Stands Up Live At The Royal Albert Hall is a well performed, well recorded live recording. Live recordings are tricky, and some have worked, and some live albums just do not make sense. Not only does The Lamb Stands Up Live At The Royal Albert Hall make sense, but it is an album well worth your time. Hackett and his band are a treat to see live, but this serves as a taste of the Hackett live experience. The Lamb Stands Up Live At The Royal Albert Hall stands up well alongside Hackett’s catalogue, both with and without Genesis.

Artist Links