April 2017 I witnessed one of the best performances of a Genesis tribute band on a Dutch stage (see review). The name of this British band was The Book Of Genesis. The venue was 't Blok in Nieuwerkerk aan de IJssel. At this small but cosy venue they gave in the best possible way, a very good impression of how Genesis performed in the seventies. The bands lead singer Nigel Betteridge impersonated Peter Gabriel very well with

The Book Of Genesis @ Parkvilla Theater

all of his costumes and gestures. After the band performed their final piece of music an overwhelmed applause could be heard. Making clear that the Dutch audience loved them all the way and would love to have them back on a Dutch stage sooner or later. No doubt about that! Because they brought back the fantastic musical period of Genesis between 1970 and 1976. Without any doubt The Book Of Genesis are most certainly capable to relive the golden years of Genesis. Anybody present during this sunny Sunday afternoon at 't Blok would agree with me! They certainly wanted more! Much more!
 

And they got it almost one year later. However not at the same venue but still at a very cosy venue. Certainly one of the finest in the Netherlands. Because the Parkvilla Theater in Alphen aan de Rijn has a kind of theatrical setting and therefore is perfect for the theatrical show done by The Book Of Genesis. The people of Serious Music Alphen made the right choice to book this incredible tribute band, and they soon found out. Because the venue was sold out well in advance. Those who couldn't get a ticket or thought they had to stay at home certainly missed out one of the best concerts I have seen in 2018.

Mike Morton

I will not go into detail in telling you which songs the band did during their performance this time around. I did it when they visited our country one year earlier. So I will try to tell it now in a different way why this second concert in the Netherlands was again a tremendous success. But first, I have to mention that unfortunately the lead singer of the band Nigel Betteridge was unable to perform this time due to illness. Luckily their former lead singer was available to step into his shoes to play the role of the Genesis' front man. So once again Mike Morton climbed the stage of this venue after the last time with The Gift September 2017 (see review).

That Mike succeeded with flying colours to replace Nigel seemed to be obvious after being in this tribute band for several year. But that would be too easy to say. Because it certainly must have cost him and the band several rehearsals to get it all done as it was done by the original band. So a show of hands first for Mr. Morton and secondly to the band that accompanied him in a perfect way. Because it was perfect all the way during the two sets and final encore. Mike perfectly took over the role of Peter Gabriel in the seventies by wearing the same kind of costumes in Watcher Of The Skies (Bat Wings), Dancing With The Moonlit Knight (Britannia), Supper's Ready (Magog, The Flower etc), I Know What I Like (In Your Wardrobe) (Lawnmower) and The Musical Box (The Old Man). But also by telling the same kind of short stories in between the perfect performed Genesis tunes.

Bat Wings	Britannia	Magog Click to enlarge	The Flower	The Old Man

The projections on the screen behind him brought the audience back to the seventies, by showing pictures and drawings which belonged to the songs performed. Such as the same kind of slides used by the original band while they performed tracks from The Lamb Lies Down On Broadway (1974).

That the band this time around also played music of the period when Phil Collins took over the lead vocals from Peter Gabriel was certainly a positive thing. Because when Collins replaced Gabriel some beautiful songs were composed as well. Therefore it was a must to see the band do songs such as Ripples, Blood On The Rooftops,

Conversations With Two Stools

Dance On A volcano and Los Endos. The addition of two drummers on stage several times was also spectacular to watch. Phildas Surakshadevi Bhakta was behind the drum kit last year but now replaced by Russ Wilson. But for this occasion and several other shows in the UK she made a guest appearance to assist Wilson during the performances of Supper's Ready, Dance On A volcano and Los Endos. The absolute highlight of their partnership on stage was when they did the well know Genesis percussion show called Conversations With Two Stools.

Of course I could go on and on raving about this amazing performance done by this excellent Genesis tribute band. But words hardly can describe what took place at the stage of the Parkvilla Theater. And the videos and pictures that accompany this review only show a small part of how awesomely they replicated the amazing music of Genesis. The second time on a Dutch stage was a major success and there probably will be a third time, fourth time, fifth time as well. No doubt about that. Because like anybody present during the ProgFrog concert in 't Blok and at the Serious Music Alphen event at the Parkvilla Theater. We also want more and more! Much more!

Henri Strik (edited by Tracy van Os van den Abeelen)