“Lest We Trespass” - Regenesis’ “Trespassing At Forty” show at the Shepherds Bush Empire Theatre London on Saturday 16th October 2010 reviewed by Alan Hewitt. Photographs by Stuart Barnes.

Well, here we are again… sorry we’ve already done that one! Anyway, another ReGenesis show but this one had something of a twist to it as you will find out as you read this review.

This time the band have taken it upon themselves to celebrate the fortieth anniversary of the Trespass album by including several tracks from that project among the live set. Usually only The Knife graces a show by most of the UK tributes but tonight we were going to be served up several more tasty treats from this underrepresented album. Unusually tonight, there was a band opening for ReGenesis. Tonight this was the unusually named Is I Cinema who put in a solid performance of some excellent and thought provoking music which sadly was the victim of inattention by the evidently partisan crowd waiting for the main event.

Eventually, ReGenesis took the stage and opened with the evergreen Watcher Of The Skies which set everyone up nicely for the night. You will pardon me if once again, memory fails me as to the exact running order of the show - age gets to us all you know! The evening saw many of the band’s favourites performed including Get ’Em Out By Friday which was delivered with suitably comic theatrics from Tony. Musical Box was somewhat subdued tonight for reasons which are a mystery to me. Firth Of Fifth though was impeccably performed although Andy must have been nervous knowing that Mr Hackett was watching from somewhere in the Gods - he never let it show though!

For me though the real treat was the Trespass era stuff, which as I said before, seldom gets a hearing at gigs. Tonight the band gave us respectful versions of Stagnation and Dusk which were lapped up by the crowd apart from one group of idiots who spoiled the entire evening for me by chatting away incessantly just in front of my vantage point on the merchandise stall - they obviously weren’t there for the music so … oh never mind!

Other old favourites including Horizons and Supper’s Ready were served up piping hot (pun intended) and thoroughly enjoyed by the crowd and all in all the band put in yet another impeccable performance. It has to be said though that the music, although flawlessly played, seemed to lack a certain amount of verve tonight. Somehow the celebratory atmosphere which had very much been in evidence at last year’s show was definitely lacking here. Maybe it was down to the surprisingly low turn out from the audience who didn’t even fill the stalls this time round I don’t know. One thing I know though, the spirit of the late John Mayhew was definitely in evidence and I am sure he was enjoying the performance from his vantage point “upstairs”. Either way, I thoroughly enjoyed myself even if I was disappointed not to hear White Mountain - next time, eh lads…?

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