Hey LiLeigh -

We met at the Musical Box show in La Mirada... are you aware of our upcoming Genesis show at Curtis Theater in Brea?

Would love to have you there!

Check us out at 
https://www.facebook.com/#!/events/267695313305932/

I'd love to hand with you! I'm the keyboardist... got lots to talk about; love your youtube stuff on the technicals on Shrine show... brilliant! Way to go.

--brian

Hellay, L.A., Brian (and everyone else in the talented band -Squonk)!

The upcoming April 20th event looks great...and I'm hoping everyone in the L.A. area - who are into early Genesis - can make it out to see you at the Curtis....

I wish I could "beam over" from Phoenix - to also enjoy all the musical deliciousness, too - it being just 3 days after my birthday.
I'm getting packed up to head east to catch the last leg of The Musical Box and their LLDOB Tour...catching them in Miami, NYC and the final concert in Montreal.  (Hopefully, they have that Slide Show free of technical probs, by now - Hahaha!)

All my best to you guys...and I hope to catch the next Squonk concert when I return!

xoxo Leigh

Dear Lileigh,

I would like to say a big Thank You for your analysis series. 

In these days progrock almost seems to be forbidden in the radio or tv stations (at least over here). Progrock lovers are a minority. So it´s always good to see that there still are folks around that share this passion.

By the way, it always makes me smile when you listen to your fav parts and accompany them with your facial expression. 

I think it´s very cute and shows your ambition (please don´t feel insulted by that).

I hope you will continue your magnificent series. My wish list includes Watcher Of The Skies and Tony´s keyboard rig :-))

Best Wishes from Germany,
Klaus


~~~~~

Lil replies:

No offense taken, whatsoever, Klaus !  *huge grin*


I'm so very happy that you guys, in Germany, are enjoying my Analysis series...and, believe it or not, it makes ME smile, thinking about how I make YOU smile, when I make those silly-but-very-humanly-honest facial expressions on my goofy Genesis-loving, audio engineer's face.  
I love it, so...and thus, know all you guys understand and forgive me for them !  *embarrassed laughter*

xoxo  Lil  aka 'She with gobs of Sunshine in her Stomach*  LOL

P.S. - Tom Lord-Alge (Gabriel's audio re-mix engineer and 4-time Grammy award-winning producer) and I are currently working on a FULL video on the famed BankSynths for my "TMB Vintage Instrument Tour - Genesis vs TMB" video series.  STAY TUNED!!!

Hi LiLeigh,

Just a quick note to thank you for your work on the Lamb material - discovered it while trawling for genesis/gabriel stuff on You Tube. 
I was too young to see the Lamb live, and incredibly jealous to discover my sister in law did. 
Have been a huge gabriel fan since first time I saw him live in '83. 
Closest I will get to Lamb era will be the Musical Box recreation - seen them several times and they're performing the Lamb again in Glasgow in March. 
Anyway Fantastic effort on your part and I will make a point of working my way through all of your uploads. 
So thanks from one fan to another.

all best,
Tony


Which encores did they perform in Glasgow, last month, Tony?!  Was it "Watcher"..and "The Musical Box"?  
Also, did you get to see the YouTube video of Hackett PLAYING with TMB - doing those two encores - when they played Zurich?  MIND-BLOWING !!!!!  (I have posted the link to the front/home-page of my website..if you haven't.  Enjoy.)
And, tell your sister-in-law that I AM JEALOUS, TOO !!  *big laughs..but, not all that non-serious*

xoxo Lil

Hi there!
Nice interesting site about Genesis you have, love it!
I have a great passion for music and Genesis is very close to my heart. 

It all started in 1984 when I bought Trespass and Genesis..and the rest is a wonderful musical journey. 

This week i'm gonna see The Lamb lies down on Broadway performed by Musical box...I wish it was the original band but this is close enough:-)
Many thanks

Henrik (Sweden)


~~

How did you enjoy the show, Henrik ?!  *big smile...knowing that I will be seeing TMB performing The Lamb, next month as they triumphantly return to New York City..and their final date, in their home city of Montreal*

xoxo Lil

The LAMB collectively means more to me than any other single piece of music.

That does not mean I do not love other GENESIS.

But there is something very, very special about THE LAMB.

When I first came across one of your masterfully done videos my jaw hung open thru-out and goosebumps came on so hard I could not move for a few seconds.
Your insights are so well done that I was not suprised to see that you're into production.

Even though I might be late in the game,I am sure to be one of your biggest fans. 

sincerely, MIKE PARISE


~~~~~

You honor me, Mike...   *tears spring to Lil's eyes, in response to this incredibly heart-felt comment!*

Wow, surprisingly, I have just discovered this site and what a terrific surprise it is! 

As a long time old Genesis fan, I'm intrigued by the analyses and I plan on watching all the videos. 

My dream... a beautiful woman who loves and understands old Genesis... Will you marry me!!??


~  Matt

~ pleased chuckle from Lil ~

Sure, Matt !    *grin*

But, the ceremony must be held in Black Light..with the "Watcher of the Skies' magnificent chords emanating from the borrowed Mellotron ...and with complete white drapings on everything (and everyone) who surround us!   *peels of impish, lovingly-ribbing laughter - just visualizing the scene*
So grateful you are enjoying the series...more great ones in the pipeline and soon to come (now that I've finished off my long indentured servitude to providing audio to Major League Baseball's Spring Training season...my reason for my uber-tardy reply. so sorry!)
xoxo Lil

I absolutely love everything you do on GENESIS.

Hi, Lil. 
I have thoroughly enjoyed your in-depth analyses series of classic Genesis. 

I learned a lot from the Shrine comparison. I just saw your analysis of Hackett's '74/75 rig. 

As a huge fan of Hackett, I pretty much knew this already (and have reissues or clones of all his pedals), but it was really good to see it all in one place and thoroughly described.

I'd like to point out one historical inaccuracy regarding the EBow that was carried over from Wikipedia: 

"One of the first notable users was Genesis guitarist Steve Hackett, who used the device on "The Carpet Crawlers" from the band's 1974 album The Lamb Lies Down on Broadway. (Source: Wikipedia, www.ebow.com)"

The EBow was released at the 1976 NAMM show (source:http://www.ebow.com/faq.php), so Steve obviously could not have used it on The Lamb. Perhaps the author intended to mean that Steve used it on later live versions of the song? If so, then I'd say the statement is misleading.

I hope this helps.

Best Regards,
Jamey

PS - If you ever get to Tony's effects, you'll see every site mention the Boss CE-10 Chorus...this should, of course, read Boss CE-1 Chorus.


Lil Replies ~

Excellent information, all, Jamey...

My sincerest and deeptest thanks to you for forwarding on the background (and introduction) of the EBow.  

I am always interested in interactive collecting of every single piece of historic insight and knowledge we can gather - and post on my site (if not always within the time-finite versions of my filmed videos).
Upon receiving your info - I went back to my YouTube video and added a more "open" phrase to the visual graphic notation I put up on the screen (above Francois Gagnon's own EBow..which he had lying on TMB's borrowed EMS unit.)
It may very well have been (as one of my other subscribers pointed out) - that Steve started to use it on the tours Genesis did in '76 & '77..specifically, on some of the older tunes like "Carpet Crawlers" - and this might have led to the confusion of the fellow who posted that on the Wikipedia page.
I found out about the EBow (which ultimately became a favorite toy of Steve's - during that later 1970's period ) thanks to an e-letter from one of my more stalwart (and knowledgable) YouTube subscribers.

Just when it seems I've unlocked all of the secret mysteries of Steve Hackett's "Magical Guitar and FX" box...there emerges yet another tale of technological & artistic wizardry to be investigated!  *appreciative laugh, still totally in awe of the man!* 

All my best,

xo Lil

Dear Lilith,

Thank you very much for the work of love you do with your videos.
Best regards.

Ps: Me?   I'm just an argentinean lawnmower, you can tell me by the way I walk.
~ appreciative giggle from Lil ~Hola a mi cortadora de césped favorito!     *risa*
Gracias por sus amables palabras, mi amigo....Mi corazón es tuyo para mantener - a causa de tus palabras dulces!xoxo Lil
P.S. - has limpiado tu cuarto?  (Have you "tidied" your room, now?)

Hi Lil

Firstly, I have to say, what a great site: many congratulations! Anyone who puts the time, dedication and skill into producing videos such as these deserves a huge amount of admiration and recognition. 

A Genesis nut since '74 as a 14 year old completely obsessed with the band, I find myself even more enthralled by the sheer craft and musicianship behind their music now than ever before. Must be something to do with maturity eh?!

Listening to The Lamb recently, I was struck by just how advanced the whole piece must have been for its time. Isolated in suburban England, and without such luxuries as the internet, one relied totally on peers, music journalists and perhaps the letters page of the music papers to glean critical insights from what we were all listening to. So to have these videos is pure luxury.

The Lamb was my first Genesis album and can even now vividly remember being overwhelmed by the raw power of the title track. And I'm pretty sure it was the gatefold and inner sleeve graphics that steered me into my love of and eventual career of graphic design. 
Looking at the George Hardie illustrations now, I'm still taken back by their modernity. In fact, even the cover was pretty spare even then for what was a pretty wild era graphically. I'd be proud of that layout now, that's for sure. 

Suffice to say that since the point I first heard a Genesis song - I know what I like - and was struck by the sitar-esque feel, sophisticated percussion and Peter's vocals, I've been hooked and still am. 

Probably like yourself, they've been an integral part of who I am, and have accompanied me through both good and bad times; births and deaths. I sometimes wonder what Genesis song I'd have played at my funeral? Is that terribly morbid? But wouldn't it be great to have a church reverberating to some thudding bass pedals and keyboards as Cinema Show gets into full flow...!

I've also had a 40 year love affair with meteorology, but that's a whole different story...

Anyway, thanks again for a great site and taking the time to allow us to discover the stories behind the band. Your generosity and spirit are very much appreciated.

Best
Hugh


Lil writes ~

Hellay, Hugh !

So sorry you had to  wait....  *sly smile*

Please forgive my tardiness in writing back, I'm very rarely late... (but, my brain & audio-engineering hands have been owned, lock, stock and barrel by our American  Major League Baseball and its spring training season, for the past month.  Being paid to sit through 32 days straight of baseball seems a somewhat harsh way of supporting my Genesis video-editing hobby...but, one has to do what one HAS to do, to provide more Lamb Love to you, me and the rest of "The Faithful", right?!  *mock impudent look & amused laugh*)

I am SO glad you brought up the Hipgnosis artwork on the covers of the "later" early-Genesis albums...for I was just studying them in more detail (especially The Lamb, obviously) - as I was starting to edit down my newest trilogy of Lamb videos (focusing on the pivotal "Chamber of 32 Doors").

So, you went into Graphic Art, as a career, then?  I wish I had had you beside me when I got to interview Paul Whitehead, last fall - at the La Mirada, California TMB concert - performed, last October.  I would have LOVED listening into the "insiders" pearls of observational wisdom that would have fallen from both of your knowledgeable lips !  *appreciative snort of laughter*

He's quite a character, is Paul.  *twinkle of eyes, recounting the memory at the things he told me - of the Trilogy of album covers he designed for Genesis...especially the one for Foxtrot!*

I promise, that at some point, I will try to get that unexpected little nugget of an interview edited down into something somewhat-polished.  

Meanwhile, on to your preferred Genesis artist:  George Hardie....I have one question:  did he oversee the photographic layout, as well as provide the Escher-like renderings, do you know?

I've never really delved heavily into all that is subliminally suggested or implied by all those enigmatic photographic visuals which grace the entire cover (and its sleeve), by way of research.  But, if you (as a knowledgable professional) would like to write up a piece about this historic cover...I would be absolutely delighted to feature it  on my website (within a future-planned new section - featuring early Genesis research backgrounder information).

As you know, I truly enjoy combining my background as a TV news researcher (for I also was once a TV news producer, as well as an audio engineer - thanks to my start in radio..) with that of my love of Gabriel/Hackett-era Genesis.  Publishing insightful, non-commercial/educational information (which elucidates upon the depth of their early works) provides me great happiness.
Spoken with complete "tuning fork" understanding, in response to your simple-yet-brilliant statement of "they've been an integral part of who I am, and have accompanied me through both good and bad times; births and deaths."

As for your question of interpretive morbidness....I'm right there with you, Hugh.  *understanding bark of laughter*

Don't know if you've watched my "Analysis: Anyway" video...but, in it I state that I want my children to print (on my funeral leaflet) the immortal lines:  
"I feel the pull of the rope, let me off at the rainbow.  I could have been exploded in Space. Different Orbits for my bones. Not me...just quietly buried in stones.  Keep the deadline open with my Maker!
See me stretch...yeah, for God's elastic acre."  ;-)

xoxo Lil