Review by Gary Spiller for MPM
Greeting the Beacon assembly the vastly experienced Mike Rutherford quips “It was all going so well” before inserting the briefest of pauses then adding “Until a week before the tour I broke my fucking hip!” Well, this is “Iron Mike” otherwise known as “The Chief Mechanic” according to vocalist supreme Tim Howar. Undaunted by this unexpected challenge the tour has gone ahead as planned with Rutherford and co. playing to packed venues across Great Britian throughout the entirety of March and into April. Clearly there is a great deal of energies in those living years.
Suited and booted in a salmon-hued suit Rutherford offers a nod back to the rusty orange / brown ensemble he donned for Genesis’ appearance at the prestigious Knebworth Silver Clef Festival back in 1990. That was a day of stellar rock n’ roll suits – Knopfler, Clapton, Page, Gilmour all swept along in the tidal wave of coloured and expensively tailored cloth – on which Genesis shone. 35 years on and I finally get to see Rutherford’s one-time side-project now turned day-job. Simply put there’s certain songs such as the evocative multi-Grammy nominated ‘Living Years’ that should be witnessed in the live spectrum.
Close your eyes as the intro tape rolls and you’re conveyed to sandy coral shore with gentle waves lapping. A blue tinged stage awaits Mike and The Mechanics’ arrival. The ambience is set perfectly for an evening of soulful, refined rock. Assembling the band are greeting by polite but loud applause; it’s quite the team that Rutherford has collocated about him. Such a raft of exquisite talent that at several points, throughout the two sets, I find myself having to remind myself that Rutherford was indeed on the Beacon’s stage.
The current version of The Mechanics has, in main part, been together since their reformation, following a six-year hiatus, in 2010. The only change being the addition of a certain Nic Collins behind the drum kit; by any chance does anyone remember his father Phil? Kicking off with the title, and opening, track from 1995’s ‘Beggar On A Beach of Gold’ Canadian vocalist Tim Howar takes the forward reins. His rich deep, soulful vocals engage in this top-down cruising the freeway vibed rocker. Luxurious it provides a captivating entrance that is, naturally, well received.
Following the album’s running order the tearjerker that is ‘Another Cup of Coffee’ cosies up. The lead vocal duties are handed to the more than capable Andrew Roachford (yes, he of ‘Cuddly Toy’ fame and one of my ‘guilty secrets’). The twin keys of Roachford and, to his right, Luke Juby shimmer, as Equatorial sun upon ocean waters, whilst The Beacon gently sways. Incredibly this renown track, rightfully considered a classic, only reached 51 in the UK singles chart.
A brief dalliance in the direction of The Allman Brothers Band’s ‘Jessica’ gets ‘Get Up’ going before swerving off into silken tones. Roachford, up on his feet for the lead vocals, shares the mic with Juby momentarily as the reggae-tinged daubs slink into AOR territory. Although the tour is branded ‘Looking Back – Living The Years’, in conjunction with the recently released Greatest Hits package of that title, there’s room for new material with the gentle sensuous ‘Song For You, Song For Me’, replete with bluesy guitaring courtesy of Anthony Drennan underpinning, taking centre stage.
From current day we refract back to the mid-80s for a particularly rumbustious ‘Land of Confusion’ its lyrics still as resonant today as they were when penned. One of several most welcome nods towards Rutherford’s Genesis heritage dotted across the night it’s a potent despatch. Howar, synched with the lyrics, makes a heart symbol with his hands, singing “There’s not much love to go around” as Rutherford hits those oh-so familiar riffs whilst the keys go all Tears For Fears for a moment. A heady brew that is rapturously received.
Gently meandering The Mechanics air the melodic ballad ‘Let My Fly’ the equally mellow AOR of ‘East and West Of The Sun’, the second of this evening’s new tracks, afore switching to the up-tempo strides of ‘The Best Is Yet To Come’. A well-aligned precursor to The Mechanics’ debut single ‘Silent Running (On Dangerous Ground)’ that energetically concludes the first set with an electrifying presence. Rutherford’s Strat sparks resonantly accentuating this befitting crescendo to the evening’s initial salvo.
Mixing it up, part two commences with an acoustic medley that pushes away from the interval berth with a bluesy ‘Nobody Knows’ which seamlessly segues into a great delivery of ‘Invisible Touch’ that has the Beacon crowd on its feet. Looking around it’s fantastic to see a gathering so in the moment, there’s barely a single mobile phone aloft. ‘Everybody Gets A Second Chance’ rolls into ‘Out Of The Blue’ with the latter dripping soul ahead of an extremely faithful reproduction of ‘Follow You Follow Me’.
Make absolutely no bones about it ‘The Living Years’ is a phenomenal number, one with stirring lyrics that can crumble the stoniest of hearts. It’s one, however, that I’ve avoided listening too closely to as I succumb to bitter memories of a failed relationship with my parents. Scars of the psychological abuse at the hands of my mother run deep to this day but listening, with tears, tonight I find perhaps the beginning of a cathartic healing. There are some tracks that simply need to be heard, and witnessed, live.
I’m sprung from my reflections with Roachford’s stunning vocals, à la Seal, alone herald the anthemic ‘I Can’t Dance’, a top ten 1991 worldwide smash for Genesis. With some choreographed ‘steps’ The Mechanics and their chief Mike ‘dance’ through this reverently adored classic.
“I wrote this one a long time ago!” notes Roachford before the hip-shaking ‘Cuddly Toy’ receives a re-working Blue Brother style. Always a ‘guilty pleasure’ of mine the track gets the Beacon moving with the “21 times” moment working a treat. All we need is for Jake and Elwood to make an appearance and all is complete!
Stepping up through the gears the strongarm rock of ‘All I Need Is A Miracle’ is injected. Howar reaches out to a lady in a red top, front row, no doubt making her night and year simultaneously. Rutherford lights up the Beacon, not for the first time, with a conflagrant solo that’s seemingly effortless. Taking the much-deserved applause, the six components of The Mechanics exit to gather senses from a barnstorming delivery.
The classy classic ‘Over My Shoulder’ engages party mode ahead of further pinnacles being scaled in an extended ‘Word of Mouth’ that features a mid-track medley / showcase with the spot falling on the individual band members. From the east side to the west side Bristol beams with ringmaster Rutherford quietly pulling the strings for the entire duration. It’s been a night of artistry from artisans right out of the top drawer. With two new tracks in the set there’s much to be positive about in this corner of the world of rock n’ roll. A glorious triumph.
Photography by Kelly Spiller for MPM
