Concert Review #5: Peter Gabriel

Peter Gabriel – Scotiabank Arena – Sep 11, 2023

Peter Garbriel, has always pushed boundaries. He has been outspoken in campaigns against injustice in human rights, he has pushed boundaries musically, and his show at Scotiabank Arena was no exception. At age 73, Gabriel could easily skate through a show of greatest hits, but instead used his time in the spotlight to promote his new unreleased album i/o (input/output). The set list relied on a mix of new songs blended with familiar hits from the past (particularly from his 1986 album “So”).

It can be somewhat of a risk, planning half of the show around new material but the risk seems to have paid off; this audience didn’t seem the least bothered by the fact that the songs were unfamiliar. The show was presented with elaborate staging, depicting artwork from artists commissioned by Gabriel, keeping it visually interesting as well.

The show opened, not with a song, but with Gabriel sauntering onto the stage musing about the origins of mankind. Taking a meteor from the sky, he lit a campfire and spoke of the passage of time, and Artificial Intelligence. He joked that he was in fact an avatar, but unlike most people he elected to make his 20 lbs heavier, 20 years older, and with much less hair. He went on to say that he is in fact ripped and currently lying on a beach somewhere.

At his point, Gabriel moves to the campfire and is joined by long time bassist, Tony Levin. The rest of the band wanders in as they launch into the openers “Washing of the Water” and “Growing Up”. Gabriel is a storyteller both in song and on stage as he took moments to explain the meaning behind many of his songs throughout the evening. Also at many times throughout the show, he graciously took time to acknowledge and introduce his band members that included some amazing talent. Included in the show along with drums (Manu Katche’), bass guitar (Tony Levin) and Gabriel on keyboards, we were treated to many multi-instrument, talented musicians including Richard Evans (Guitar, flute) David Rhodes (Guitar, Ayanna Witter-Johnson (Cello, piano and vocals – They did a haunting version of Don’t Give Up with Witter-Johnson taking on Kate Bush’s part), Marina Moore (Violin, viola, vocals) Don McLean (Keyboard) and Josh Shpak (Trumpet, French horn, keys, vocals)

The new songs blended in so well with his older material that the audience was transfixed, and you didn’t see an exodus to the bar or bathrooms on those unfamiliar songs. Gabriel’s voice was pitch perfect and on point throughout the show that was split into two halves. Each half of the show ending with a huge hit that had the crowd on their feet, dancing and participating (not to mention Gabriel dancing his way across the stage); those being Sledgehammer, and Solsbury Hill. The 20 song set ended with two added encores; In Your Eyes and the powerful Biko.

Everything about the show was polished, from the lighting to the sound, and of course the amazing musicianship. If you get a chance to catch Peter Gabriel on this tour, take it. I, for one am glad that I did. Be sure to pick up a copy of i/o when it is released, if this tour is any indication, it is a worthy addition to your music library.

Keep on rockin’

Set List

Categorised in: Classic Rock Intern

This post was written by Blackburn Media