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Jeremy Williams-Chalmers
Arts Correspondent
@jeremydwilliams
2:15 PM 12th December 2014
arts

Peter Gabriel @ Metro Radio Arena, Newcastle

 
Peter Gabriel
Peter Gabriel
Peter Gabriel started his Back To Front tour in 2012 as an intimate celebration of the 25th anniversary of his most commercially successful solo album, 1987's So.

Such is the popularity of Gabriel, his seminal work and his touring production that the tour is still going strong two years later. Close to the end of the fourth leg of the tour, Gabriel and his band have been enjoying a series of shows in the UK and arrive in Newcastle upon Tyne with just four shows to complete their two year long global trek.

Having transformed the Metro FM Arena into a more a intimate concert setting, Gabriel walks on stage still dressed in his outdoor coat and a calm descends throughout the excited audience.

After a brief hello, he introduces the two members of his band, Linnea Olsson and Jennie Abrahamson, who will be providing the evening's opening act.

As he departs after hugging his fellow musicians, they deliver a far too short insight into their own musical output. With just two songs each from their own collections, Olsson and Abrahamson have the audience under a spell as they deliver the spell-binding 'Snowstorm' (from Abrahamson's Geneva Geneva), mesmerizing 'Giddy Up' (from Olsson's Ah!), the moving 'What' (from Olsson's Breaking and Shaking) before closing with Abrahamson's magical 'Phoenix'.

Linnea Olsson
Linnea Olsson
After a brief interval and with the house lights still up, Gabriel arrives centre stage once again to introduce his own set. Explaining that the show will be in three parts, he opens by offering an insight into how musicians work together to create music.

Stating that the creation of music is often as magical as the finished product, he invites bassist Tony Levin and cellist Linnea Olsson on stage and sets off on his musical journey with new compositon 'Daddy Long Legs'.

With his full band (David Sancious, David Rhodes, Manu Katché and Jennie Abrahamson) joining them centre stage, the remainder of part 1 drifts by in the blink an eye.

Jennie Abrahmson
Jennie Abrahmson
Announcing part 2, a selection of his hits, the house lights are turned down and Gabriel the showman comes to life. With a series of well-choreographed lighting manoeuvres, easy to copy dance routines and general band banter, Gabriel shines as one of the finest live vocalists around.

A man who knows his craft, he is an unselfish frontman who constantly shines both the spotlight and his attention onto his extremely talented musicians.

With part 2 over all too quickly, he rewards his adoring audience with the present they had all attended tonight to receive; the delivery of So in complete, undisturbed live form. As 'Red Rain' kicks in, the audience erupts and Gabriel is clearly thrilled by the warm response.

While 'Sledgehammer' inevitably has everyone singing along, it is overcoming Kate Bush's absence by installing Jennie Abrahamson in her place on the stunning 'Don't Give Up' that reinstates the goosebumps from her earlier set.

Flawlessly delivered, many were overheard on leaving the venue stating they wished for a re-release featuring Abrahamson.

Once again, clever staging, innovative camera usage and a distinct ability to create the real emotion of his material ensure that Gabriel shines.

With the So section closing inevitably with the wonderful 'In Your Eyes', Gabriel does not shy away from an encore. Delivering a moving speech about honouring those who have stood up for their beliefs, he closes with the most powerful song he has ever released, the chanting 'Biko'.