The Ins and Outs of Peter Gabriel in Ottawa

The iconic Peter Gabriel played a show in Ottawa last night, his first visit to the capital in more than 35 years. He did not disappoint.

Unless you’ve been living under a rock, or are under a certain age and missed out on the really good stuff, Peter Gabriel needs no introduction. The co-founder and former lead singer of Genesis embarked on a successful solo career after leaving the band in 1975. This includes 11 studio albums, several film soundtracks, Grammy awards and two inductions into the Rock & Roll Hall of Fame. In addition to the well-deserved accolades regarding his musical talent, he’s also the guy who inspired Bowie to dress up by wearing flamboyant costumes and makeup on stage back in the day. Yeah, that guy.

He brought his i/o Tour to the Canadian Tire Centre on Saturday night much to the joy of loyal fans who had not seen him in the capital city for decades. Walking through the backstage halls of the Canadian Tire Centre, I couldn’t help but notice the dozens and dozens of empty crates lining the walls. Each were neatly labeled, including a whole crate dedicated to “Top Hats”. This tour promised to include more elaborate staging than what KISS or the Backstreet Boys had packed when they came to town. Gabriel is well-known for having a penchant for the theatrical and sure enough the set design for this tour is an absolute masterpiece of technology and artistry. Surprisingly, we were told that we would be able to take photos from the pit, up close and personal. Gabriel and his management team bucked the trend of having photographers stand a football field away at the soundboard where every photo looks like the next. At 73, this was a bit surprising, but a very welcomed surprise. They obviously have a soft spot in their hearts for aesthetics as would soon be confirmed.

As the lights dimmed, Gabriel slowly sauntered onto the stage and cheers went on for what seemed like forever. The response he got felt like an instinctive and just reaction to having a true living legend before them. As it quieted, he remarked that he was appearing before them as an avatar, but he didn’t lose the weight and the years as ABBA did. Minus the hair and yes, with a few more years under his belt, he continues to be at the top of his game when it comes to performing. He still hits the high notes as though no time has passed.

With the assistance of his stage crew, who were all dressed in orange prison jumpsuits, he made his way to centre stage as his band piled in around him in a semi-circle. Gabriel lit a “campfire” and the giant screen above him transformed into the moon, creating an intimate setting despite the giant scale of the venue, as they delivered two beautiful acoustic tracks Washing of the Water and Growing Up.