“Cruisuing to the edge” - This year’s Cruise To The Edge performance by Mr Hackett reviewed by Mario Hudon. Photographs by Mario Hudon.

When I went to Cruise To The Edge in 2015 I was very sad to learn that Steve Hackett wasn’t included in that year’s event but as soon as I got the news about Steve being part of this year’s event I knew I wanted to be there, I wanted to see Steve on CTTE because of the intimate atmosphere this cruise provides with good sound and a good seat anywhere in the r theatre plus you get the chance to have your photo taken with him and you can meet him at any moment on the cruise and this happened to me at breakfast the day after the show (by the way I did say hi to Steve for you, Alan ).

Sadly it is only an hour and a half show on CTTE because of so many bands playing at the same time and to lessen a possible schedule conflict, the show must be shorter so you have less songs than a normal show. Before going on this cruise I already knew that it would probably be my last one as our Canadian Dollar isn’t worth as much as its US counterpart and my limited budget made this kind of vacation only possible because my best friend invited me to stay at her home in Florida.

Anyway, on to the gig… Steve’s first gig of 2017 is scheduled to take place on the second night of the cruise for us with blue laminates so we are first to have the chance to see Steve. I am very excited because he announced earlier that he would be playing songs from Wind & Wuthering, one of my favourite albums! I was more than excited, I was bouncing off the walls with excitement and anticipation and hopes to hear my favourite song from this album: One For The Vine, and let me tell you, Steve and the band played that song so well!

I have decided not to tell you the entire setlist because I know so many of you will go to see him soon even if CTTE’s setlist is different from what you are about to see soon on tour, so no spoilers if you don’t mind, apart from a few … The show was amazing. We got great seats in the fourth row close to the stage and the sound was perfect. Obviously the band had rehearsed plenty beforehand as this band was tight and they play so well together. Mr Beggs was wonderful to watch up close, especially for the ladies as he was wearing a rather nice green kilt and was even sitting on the floor hitting his pedal board with his hands for one song. Wonderful to watch him do that, a very powerful moment and as you will know, he is also a great singer and bassist ..oh and for the record… I didn’t peek to see if he was wearing anything under his kilt!

I have to admit that I am very impressed with the drummer, Gary O’Toole, this man is s good I couldn’t believe how often I had to stop watching him play to focus on Steve and his guitar. This man has so much charisma and talent my eyes were always looking at him and he is great to watch!

Steve was amazing as usual, his guitar playing was perfection , just to see and for a man of his age he looks so good on stage and always hit’s the notes like he used to do during his days with Genesis. The last time I saw him was in Quebec City on 4th October 2013 and when he played Supper’s Ready that night I had tears in my eyes. I couldn’t hold them in. Well, I guess it was no different on the Cruise because when Steve dedicated Afterglow to John Wetton whom, as we all know, had passed away not long ago, and he and his wife Lisa were supposed to be with us on the Cruise, and John was supposed to perform that song. I LOVE John Wetton and his death has hit me hard, even harder than other such as Chris Squire so Afterglow was special for me especially as it is one of my favourite and believe me when I say that it was so good!

Cruise To The Edge 2017 was a great success as far as I am concerned because Steve was there and talking to him for a brief spell was an honour and I will LOVE this man forever just because of who he is and what he still continues to do for us Genesis fans. He plays Genesis like no one else can, his presence on a stage is a powerful thing to see and I know from what I have seen on this cruise that this tour will, once again, be something that you will not want to miss. I know that if Steve plays in Montreal during this tour then I shall be there!