Steve Hackett
Royal Albert Hall, London

IN DRAB early 1970s Britain as the left-wing optimism of the late ’60s slipped away, Genesis captured the zeitgeist as prog-rock pioneers, crafting intricate and sometimes sinister depictions of a land where faded Victorian grandeur lingered and yet a strange new world of brutal social realities was taking hold.

With Peter Gabriel as frontman — and tonight’s star at the Royal Albert Hall, Steve Hackett on lead guitar — the group produced an album a year from 1969 to 1974.

The work becoming progressively less whimsical and darker, culminating in the magnum opus to alienation The Lamb Lies Down On Broadway, Gabriel’s last album with the group, and the focus of Hackett’s current tour.

While The Lamb… has always been recognised as an important album in rock history, hearing the note-perfect depiction of nine of its tracks tonight makes it feels like even more — a neglected masterpiece, its tracks rarely showcased live following the fracturing of the original Genesis line-up.

And so it falls to Hackett to give the album a long overdue live revival. The tour marks 50 years since The Lamb’s release — but Hackett’s supremely talented band and, of course, the legend himself, make the music sound as fresh and vital as ever, recreating its complex arrangements with breathtaking ease.

For The Lamb… songs that form the centrepiece of the three-hour event Hackett takes lead guitar and backing vocals, while lead vocals are expertly delivered by Nad Sylvan, who manages to render versions faithful to the recordings without ever bordering on pastiche — and at times even soars to new levels of power.

Being the Albert Hall, Hackett also takes the opportunity to heighten the sense of occasion with guest appearances from Marillion lead guitarist Steve Rothery, who guests on Fly On A Windshield to the delight of the audience. And there’s even an appearance from a former Genesis frontman… no, not that one, Ray Wilson, who sang with the band from 1996 to 2000. He lends his stage presence to Carpet Crawlers, and Hackett encourages an audience singalong.

The concert is bookended by an hour of solo material from Hackett to start (which gets a standing ovation) and a handful of early ’70s Genesis classics that bring the evening to a close — Aisle Of Plenty and Firth of Fifth either side of the pause for “Encore!” being especially dazzling highlights.

It’s a supremely successful night for Hackett in which he proves his unquestionable right to be included in the annals of great British rock guitarists.

His new material might not have quite the sparkle of the old, but his lead guitar work throughout the night is virtuosic and iconic; his modest generosity sharing the limelight with other musicians — bassist Jonas Reingold and drummer Craig Blundell both deliver draw-dropping solos — is estimable; and the love and respect he receives from his army of life-long fans thoroughly genuine and completely well deserved.

For remaining tour dates visit www.hackettsongs.com.