Reviews

As one of only two dates for the Turn it On Again Tour in the UK, the expectations were certainly going to be high, and as Phil Collins, Mike Rutherford and Tony Banks walked on stage to open with an instrumental introduction to the tour’s title track, the fans certainly weren’t disappointed.

Set against an impressive backdrop of nine million LEDs, it was clear from the start that this was one big gig in every sense of the word. And, as Phil Collins’ unmistakable voice broke through the air, there was something slightly surreal about hearing his album-perfect vocals in person.

From the familiar echo of No Son Of Mine to the racing pulse of Domino, Collins proved himself the consummate professional throughout, dispensing with any lingering desires to see Peter Gabriel at the front. Perhaps more unexpected though was the energetic playfulness Collins brought to the stage.

Racing from drums to vocals, stopping to take photos of the crowd and making the required jokes about the golden oldies in the audience and on the stage, he brought the enthusiasm of a novice to the job at hand.

As the night continued, Home by the Sea provided the perfect opportunity for the tour’s impressive staging to kick into full effect, with scary visuals, flaming floodlights and technical theatrics a-plenty.

Drawing the night towards a close with a spectacular duet, Collins and drummer Chester Thompson cemented their musical mastery by drumming on bar stools before switching to the kits.

Returning to the stage for a two piece encore, Genesis called time with the statutory walk of I Can’t Dance and The Carpet Crawlers. As the spectacular stage lighting threw out one final flood of rays, one thing was certain; for the thousands of fans who packed out Old Trafford, this was a gig of a lifetime.