Mike Rutherford has come a long way since I sat cross-legged on the ballroom floor in Sunderland Locarno watching Peter Gabriel and the rest of Genesis unfold magical tales such as “The Musical Box”, “Return of the Giant Hogweed” and climaxing in the rather spooky, swirling tones of “The Knife”. Somewhere in the background keeping the beat was the tall slender form of Mike Rutherford. And of course he also co-wrote the material. Roll forward 52 years and I have the pleasure of being in the company of Mike Rutherford once again, this time as front man and leader of Mike And The Mechanics, a band I have never, to my shame, witnessed before. At my time of life, I have decided to try and see as many people as possible including bands I have foolishly passed on previously.
The announcement on the Sage website told me: “Mike & The Mechanics who have sold over ten million records worldwide – announce their ‘Refueled! 2023 Tour – all the hits and a drop of Genesis.” Now the mention of a drop of Genesis intrigued me and further enticed me to attend the show.
The website went on to introduce the band: “Mike + The Mechanics are Genesis founding member Mike Rutherford (Guitar) – one of the UK’s most prolific R&B singer, Andrew Roachford – Lead and backing vocals – (whose previous hits include Cuddly Tour and Family Man) and Canadian-born singer, Tim Howar – lead and backing vocals – who formed and toured with his band Vantramp, with the likes of Rod Stewart and Paulo Nutini. Tim shares vocal duties with Roachford and they both add a new soulful dimension to the band’s already established sound.” In fact the band also included, in another drop of Genesis, Phil Collins’ son Nic Collins on drums.
Finally, I was promised: “The ‘Refueled!’ Tour in 2023, will include tracks from their critically acclaimed latest album ‘Out of the Blue’ plus some Genesis. Their ninth album features re-workings of some of the band’s best loved tracks, including ‘The Living Years’ and the unforgettable ‘Over My Shoulder’, along with three brand new songs: ‘Out Of The Blue’, ‘One Way’, ‘What Would You Do’.”
The show is in two parts with a short interval. Set 1 consists of some new Mechanics material along with some more familiar. Also a hint of Genesis creeps in in the form of “Jesus He Knows Me”. The closing song is “Silent Running”. A great opening set.
Set 2 starts off with some acoustic versions of familiar songs including the Genesis hit “Invisible Touch”. We move forward and back into an electric set with more Genesis in the form of “Follow You, Follow Me” and “I Can’t Dance”. Great versions of great songs.The band is excellent with exceptionally strong vocals from the duo of Tim Howart and Andrew Roachford.
Roachford gets to sing his massive hit “Cuddly Toy” and then we move forward and towards the end with the wonderful, moving epic that is “The Living Years”, “All I Need Is a Miracle” and closer “Over My Shoulder”. The band return to a standing ovation and play a much deserved encore: “Word of Mouth”.
Throughout the evening’s proceedings the mighty Mike Rutherford stands quietly leading his band forwards through a wide-ranging set of classic songs that he has written with colleagues over the years. Now wouldn’t it be great if they had finished with “The Knife”. I can but dream
Setlist:
Set 1 Get Up; A Beggar on a Beach of Gold; Another Cup of Coffee; Are You Ready; Try to Save Me; Jesus He Knows Me; Let Me Fly; The Best Is Yet to Come; Silent Running;
Set 2 Wonder; Invisible Touch; Don’t Know What Came Over Me; Everybody Gets a Second Chance; Follow You Follow Me; I Can’t Dance; Cuddly Toy; The Living Years; All I Need Is a Miracle; Over My Shoulder.
Encore: Word of Mouth
Vintagerock's Weblog. 
Posted by TerriersFan on April 26, 2023 at 5:35 pm
Sounds great, Peter – good write-up.
I have tickets for the gig at Nottingham Royal Concert Hall on the 8th and was looking at the Sage setlist only last night; I was really impressed with the number of hits in there.
I last saw Rutherford when Genesis toured ‘The Lamb…’ back in ’75, 48 years ago! 😲
BTW – it’s Nic Collins, not Simon. 😉
Roger 👍
Posted by TerriersFan on April 27, 2023 at 8:37 am
Good review, Peter.
That’s some setlist!!
(BTW It’s NIC Collins, not Simon 😉)
The last time that I saw Rutherford was at Newcastle City Hall back in April ’75 when Genesis toured “The Lamb…” – what a night that was!
Like you, I have tickets for this tour; I’ll catch him at Nottingham Royal Concert Hall on the 8th and am very much looking forward to it.
Roger 👍
Posted by vintagerock on April 27, 2023 at 11:05 am
Hi Roger glad you enjoyed my review. Thank you for the correction; I will edit my blog accordingly. You will enjoy the show I am sure happy days Peter
Posted by TrevorSAnderson on July 25, 2024 at 9:39 pm
I love Genesis Peter, maybe my fav band of all time, and its a lifetime regret that I never got the chance to see them with Gabriel (I was sadly only 10 in 1975!), but I saw them a few times in the 80’s and 90’s when they were different but still great juggernaut led by Mr Collins – and then on the reunion tour in the 00’s in Manchester. I didn’t see them the last time out, I disagreed they should be doing it, which sounds pompous but I mean it sincerely, Phil clearly isn’t well and barely can sing. Anyway, I digress… M+TheM must be one of the greatest side projects ever, really terrific songs, and the great singing of the late Mr Young and the always brilliant and underrated Mr Carrick. I saw them at the City Hall in 1999 with both of them in the band and it was a great evening. I believe the Living Years to be one of the greatest songs ever written and apparently none other than Burt Bacharach also thought so – praise indeed! As someone who had a difficult relationship with my dad, being so different, it always makes me cry, and wish we’d had the talk we should’ve had, but the moment passes and all you have is all the time in the world to think about you should’ve done and said. They’ve other great tunes but TLY is profound, I think its massive popularity speaks to the regret in maybe all of us.
Posted by vintagerock on July 26, 2024 at 1:16 pm
Yes I agree Trevor Mike and the Mechanics are excellent. I wish I had taken the time to see them on earlier tours
Happy days Peter