The Musical Box isn’t just a tribute band—they’re the gold standard. Officially endorsed by Genesis and occasionally joined onstage by Steve Hackett himself, their goal goes far beyond covering songs. They aim to recreate the experience of early-’70s Genesis with obsessive detail: period-correct instruments, costumes, and theatrical staging.
This time, they set their sights on something especially ambitious: a full recreation of Genesis’ legendary Bataclan concert from January 10, 1973—performed in the very same venue. Famously filmed for television, the original show offered a blueprint that The Musical Box followed with almost eerie precision.
Technically, the performance is flawless. Every note, transition, and nuance is nailed. The band’s musicianship is exceptional, and the dedication to capturing Peter Gabriel’s theatrical stage persona—including voice, gestures, and costumes—is uncanny. Hearing songs like "Watcher of the Skies" and "The Musical Box" played so faithfully is a rare treat.
But at times, the attention to detail veers into overkill. Cameramen in vintage outfits mimic the original camera placements. Roadies, in period attire, enter to “fix” instruments at the exact same cues from the film. It’s undeniably impressive—but sometimes feels more like historical reenactment than a rock concert. The reverence becomes so exacting that it strips away some of the magical authenticity that made early Genesis so thrilling.
The illusion is further stretched by one inescapable truth: the original Genesis were young men in their early twenties. The Musical Box, while extraordinary performers, are clearly not.
After the Bataclan set, the band returned with selections from the 1973 tour, again complete with era-specific banter and staging.
Personally, I’d lean toward Steve Hackett’s Genesis Revisited shows, which feel more organic—authentic not by imitation, but by virtue of featuring one of the original creators. Yet there’s something undeniably magical about what The Musical Box achieves. For those who saw Genesis in their prime, it’s a stunning facsimile. And for those of us who never had the chance, it’s the closest we’ll ever get to time-traveling back to 1973.
