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Peter Gabriel - Back to Front

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The title of this film is a reference to the fact that Gabriel performs the music from his breakthrough album So in its entirety and in order here. But the So material only accounts for about half of the concert and Gabriel begins the evening's entertainment with a brief spoken introduction, likening the show's three distinct segments to that of a meal's starter, entree and dessert.

The show starts with an acoustic rendition of unfinished song "Daddy Long Legs" with Gabriel playing piano accompanied only by longtime sideman Tony Levin on bass. The song and the following three, including a stripped-down but forceful take on "Shock the Monkey" with David Sancious on guitar, are played with the house lights up.

The lights go out as the electric portion of the show begins with a half dozen tunes including "Digging in the Dirt," the trippy prog of "The Family and the Fishing Net" and fan favorite "Solsbury Hill."

Then the So album is performed; a striking video graphic of a crimson downpour accompanies opener "Red Rain," smash hit "Sledgehammer" comes after Gabriel teases the crowd a bit with an intro that belies what song is about to be played and singer Jennie Abrahamson takes center stage with Peter to handle the female vocal part on "Don't Give Up," a task originally performed by Kate Bush.

Gabriel's backing band here is essentially the same band he recorded and originally toured So with and while some arrangements are updated slightly, none strays too far from the original and the band plays flawlessly. An encore of "The Tower That Ate People" and the poignant "Biko" closes the show.

Get the standard edition Blu-Ray here and the deluxe limited edition Blu-Ray here. You can find the standard DVD version here

Peter Gabriel - Back to Front
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