It’s been 10 years since I’ve seen Peter Gabriel perform live. In 2013 I had a VIP ticket for his Back To Front concert at Ziggo Dome Amsterdam. I attended the soundcheck before the show and I had a front row seat. This time Gabriel played the same venue as he did 10 years ago and I decided I wanted to expereince his i/o concert from a different angle. For most of the Peter Gabriel gigs I attended in the past I was close to the stage. Therefore, I bought myself a pair of tickets for the first ring of the balcony from where my view was just excellent. The stage is state of the art, hightech and it adds to Gabriel’s theatrical performance in every aspect. I really enjoyed overviewing the spectacle and seeing a brilliant show with high-end lighting design.
Gabriel played lots of new songs, some of which were unfamiliar to me. I hadn’t watched much footage from earlier gigs and I especialy avoided the new songs because I think a film on the tube doens’t do them justice. I wanted to experience the newcomers unspoiled, without any preconceptions. Back in 2003 at the Growing Up Tour, I felt that the songs from Up didn’t sound as good live as they did on record. From the new batch of songs Gabriel’s let out in the past few months, I must say that the live versions are outstanding and played well with a lot of enthousiasm. Man, this band is on fire! I hope Gabriel will continue his i/o tour after his visit to the States, and that he’ll add a few more dates in Europe. One can only hope that this wasn’t the last time Gabriel let his input out.