Heracleum mantegazzianum

[HopeHoops]

Also known as THE GIANT HOGWEED!

This is in fact a real plant, and an undesired invasive species.

http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Giant_hogweed

Here's my favorite version of a ballad Genesis wrote about the plant. It is historically accurate. I thought it was a joke for many years, but it is not. Listen to the lyrics carefully. They did it justice.

Genesis, 1972, Berlin, live: http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=2HDDCJ9lKKI

The state of Pennsylvania even has a Giant Hogweed Hotline!

http://74.125.93.132/search?q=cache:zs4noIVx2VYJ:www.agriculture.state.pa.us/agriculture/lib/agriculture/plantindustryfiles/hogweed11-17.pdf+pennsylvania+hogweed&cd=1&hl=en&ct=clnk&gl=us

[HughBeaumont]

1. One of my favorite Genesis songs.

Hackett's guitar work in this song and on this album was ahead of it's time. Why oh dear God WHY won't these guys reunite and go out one last time and do all the 1969-74 classics? How fast would that tour sell out?

[HopeHoops]

2. Are you familiar with "The Musical Box"?

Obviously you are with the song, but how about the only tribute band granted full rights by all current and former members of the band: http://www.themusicalbox.net/

They won't be back in the states until at least sometime after December (Europe through 8 Dec and the schedule doesn't go anywhere beyond that).

I saw them four years ago on The Lamb tour. The band gave them all of the original B&W slides (1200 or so of them) and helped with costumes and equipment. Some of the older guys (I'm 46, too young to attend in 74) said it was as good or better than what they saw then. Even Gabriel said they were better. They use all vintage equipment (although I did spot a small computer monitor two years later), patch cords and everything. They not only look like the original members, they play like them. The Hackett guy uses a double-neck bass/12 string and the foot pad sub-bass pedals.

When we called for an encore, the Gabriel guy asked what we wanted them to play. Perfect "FREEBIRD!" moment. Someone yelled "SUPPER'S READY!" and everyone exploded in laughter. I'm sure it isn't the first time they heard it, but the band laughed too. They did Musical Box and Wather of the Skies instead (with the weird triangle hat).

Two years later, I took the entire family to the Selling England concert. Full costumes - wonderful show. That year they DID do Supper's Ready. Holy fucking shit.

They're in Europe until December and that means they probably won't hit the states for a few months after that. Italy has a big fan base. Keep your eyes on the schedule. They're doing Trick of the Tail this time. I'm not sure how that will work out, but I'll go see it.

We have a small theater (about the size of the Lincoln Theater) and tickets are around $35. Even in the VERY back seats of the balcony you can clearly see the band. It is incredible.