Genesis HD Cinema Show

Beamed across Europe in glorious high definition and supreme 5.1 audio last night were 'we won't go quietly' seventies super group Genesis.

Cinemas in the UK, Sweden, France and Spain took the satellite feed from the second night concert from Düsseldorf, Germany. The venue picked maybe because 'Germany Love Genesis' as one sign pointed out and maybe because the last such 'cine-cast' was also from Germany with Robbie Williams and they did a pretty good job.

Initial impressions of the evening in a Cambridge VUE cinema...

BAD:
The band were ropey in parts and took a while to warm up, one of the tech cranes was permanently out of focus, the director chose some very strange angles (behind a below Tony Banks to get his feverish fingers), amplifier overload in Cambridge so we had frequent cut-offs, no steadicam on-stage which would have been a good idea, no interaction with the cinema audience so it didn't make the most of the 'live' aspect. Felt like a second hand experience - no surprise there you're in a different country!

GOOD:
Filled in the screen with pretty good HD; gave you a great view of proceedings (just like a concert DVD would though) ; sound mix was fantastic and reproduction was great except for the overloads; ears weren't buzzing post concert; played some of the old stuff but needed more rehearsal time.

CONCLUSION:
For £15 (about €23; $30) you got to share a large 'living room' with the best AV system money could buy and a bunch of strangers with a group who gave all they had to give. You wouldn't want to pay more than that without keeping a copy for your DVD shelves.