Peter Gabriel - San Jacinto - First Time Listen

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[@johnmavroudis2054]

This is yet ANOTHER song from Peter Gabriel that NEVER fails to move me. He's a pure artist. Vision. Lyrics. Music. The entire package. You get it, Ryan. It's great to see you reliving the experience I went through and you're currently going through. I was lucky to see him back in the day more than a few times. Each time was something special. ...and yes. "Lay Your Hands on Me" Live in Athens is the video to watch. I experienced that same song in Los Angeles at the Greek Theater and it was one of the musical highlights of my life. Cheers!

[@maraboo72]

Watching him perform this song in 1983 is still one of the most impressive things I have ever seen. He was kneeling on the stage covered in blue spotlight with rays of laser in brighter blue raining on him what caused the optical illusion that he was permanently ascending. But before having seen this I liked the song very much because of the tricky intro and the overall atmosphere. If you like this combination of music and performance you may probably also like Laurie Anderson who is imho on just the artistic level as Peter Gabriel. There is a great video on yt of "Home Of The Brave". Both of them worked together for a short time and released the same song in different versions: "Excellent Birds". Both of them were among the first musicians to use the "Synclavier". And both of them are "No Rules (insert the name)". Maybe one difference between them is their approach to what they are doing. He designs the music and then puts it on stage. She is more the performance artist who finds the music to her stage action. It doesn't matter: The results are equal.

[@BackLooking]

I iove this performance. I love the sound of Chapman Stick (the bass line) played by Tony Levin here and the atmosphere is incredible. The whole concert is beautiful. From start to finish. Great positive energy, a lot of emotion in the performances, great musicians and very nice creative stage ideas throughout. Peter is in top form here.

[@franckb8279]

Masterpiece song! Lay your hands on me, the Athens 87 version, it wasn't played on Secret world tour 1994 ;-)

[@franckgrandis4354]

Hi Ryan, This song is based on a true story... a person that Peter met during an American tour in 1978 or 80 .. this person was introduced to an Apache ritual when he was young... climbed to the top of the mountain with medecin man. He had a bag with something moving in it ... a rattlesnake. the man brought the snake close to the young man's arm until it bit it. the young man was left in his visions for 15 days ... the moral, if he escaped, he was a brave man, otherwise he would die !! Nice song... and incredible 1993's visual live...

[@stephanevilleneuve9450]

My fav song of all time. Make my soul levitate. Again, fantastic production for this great artist. Saw that tour in Quebec city in 1993. Conceived by Canadian artist Robert Lepage and PG, from the third row of the circular stage, it’s my favourite live performance of all time.

[@OronOfMontreal]

You chose an Excellent live version for "San Jacinto". It ends so freakily. For "Lay Your Hands on Me", I recommend the "Athens 1987" show. That's also your best bet for "No Self Control" and "Mercy Street", which he performed consecutively on that tour. You will be amazed at how such a minimalist light show can be so powerful, exciting and emotional.

[@MattLathrum]

Chills when the guitar and bass comes in at "I hold the light." Love this song! San huh-SIN-toe. You're right, his creativity and dramatic flair drives his live show and adds to the music. Also, Peter really wanted that deep, gravely sound to his voice when he was younger and he eventually got it. Lay Your Hands On Me, Athens '87 - this is the one: kzbin.info/www/bejne/gIOmd36leNhspM0

[@dalisman]

It’s actually “I hold the line”

[@lewismaddox4132]

Everything he does he does fully. Few artists can match his dedication to the craft. He did that whole soundtrack for "Last Temptation" strictly with instruments used two millennia ago. He's a brit giving Americans a lesson on the Native American situation, and tells it in a way that brings a simultaneous swelling of the heart and crushing heartache. Such a magnificent song. Breathtaking!

[@natewilliams1062]

I saw Secret World Live near Chicago back in the very early 90s. I was 15 and a huge Gabriel fan. My friend was 17 and drove. Right in to another car's rear end just as we were exiting to get to the old Rosemont Horizon. Front end crushed. Still driveable. We wasted no time, as the driver we hit was also going to the show. No anger. No regrets. Just a shared excitement and a sense of gratitude. Not only for Gabriel's show but for the fact that we knew we'd work it out later. Best show I've ever seen.

[@mariamotionwork]

It’s so interesting watching your journey into discovering Gabriel. I have older brothers who were very into old genesis and early Gabriel and to me this music is a big part of my childhood, always playing as a backdrop. Even as a child I kind of knew how special he was.

[@uckbee]

Ryan, this song resulted for Peter from a side trip Genesis took to Palm Springs and the Coachella Valley while playing L. A. on an early US tour, one of the prime features of such a trip being the towering and ubiquitous presence of Mt. San Jacinto (pronounced "hah seen toe"), which towers over the town at its desert floor base from 10,834 ft.

[@markjohnson4217]

Peter Gabriel has a way of reaching every single person in the audience, but touching them deeply. When I saw him perform in 86, I really felt this and I thought it was strange because these are huge stadium audiences, usually 10,000 people strong, But he seems to reach everyone intimately.

[@craigchalloner153]

Phil is a talented musician. Peter is a talented artist...in every sense of the word. His music paints in colours and engages the emotions.

[@Sir_Blobfish]

Ryan... I was going to come here and suggest you watch all of Secret World Live and/or Growing Up Live. Peter is one of a kind in all that he does. His live theatrics didn’t seize after he left Genesis. They became more elaborate. Growing Up live was so amazing to see. Every song was a unique spectacle. You won’t regret reacting to either show.

[@peetee303]

Hi Ryan, thanks for doing this live version, saw this tour when it done it's rounds on a few occasions the whole show blew me away, this song in particular is one my favourites and it's based on a true story told to Gabriel by an appache he once met. Another awesome version is the New Blood Orchestra live in London it is just so so majestic well worth a viewing. Thanks for all this Gabriel, Genesis binging I am really enjoying the ride with you, cheers dude, can't wait for the next one.

[@Kimobubby]

❤️❤️🙏🙏🤟🤟🤟

[@swirll360]

As I've said in the past if at all possible going forward use the "Secret World" tour video. For me and many Gabriel fans, this concert exemplifies Peter at the pinnacle of his critical and commercial success and his most creative. And Ryan you are so right to mention that this was 27 years ago before much of the technical equipment touring artists use today. There is a song called "Digging In The Dirt" (a great song by the way with really introspective lyrics we can all relate to, also watch the video to the song it's moving and a little uncomfortable to watch but that's the purpose) where he does something that doesn't seem all that innovative now but was at the time. I remember being there and seeing it and thought it was the coolest thing ever and so perfect for the song. Lastly, I'll say that this is the point in his career where the music world is catching up to him. After this album, he released his most commercially successful album "So". In my view, and many others it's Peters's most accessible album but that's because the music world caught up to him musically and visually (videos). The brilliant videos that supported this album I credit for the much of the commercial success of 'So" To me his next album "Us" is just as good if not better than "So" but videos at this point lost much of their impact. In 1992 MTV had been around for 10 years and moved on to reality shows (The Real World premiered May '92) etc. but he had captured an audience that now had discovered his past music and embraced much of it and the rest we all know. Keep up the GREAT work!

[@OronOfMontreal]

In other tours, at the end of "San Jacinto" Peter would stand on a small platform with a strong spotlight within, pointing upward. As he sang "Hold the line" he held out his palm, perhaps holding a small mirror, and he reflected the light from his feet like a laser toward the audience. In one go, Peter grounded himself to the Earth, which was fitting for a song about a Native American religious ritual, And he was connecting to his audience and bringing us into the ritual with this light of Life. He slowly swung his arm around to aim that beam at as many of us as he could.

[@TheCorrectAnswer56]

He did this when I saw him in 2016. Also something really cool he did was several spotlights all came to a point at his outstretched fist and when he sang "letting go of life" all the lights would scatter as he opened his palm. Kind of like he does in this video but it was very pronounced when I saw it in person. So cool.

[@OronOfMontreal]

@@TheCorrectAnswer56 Amazing!

[@TheCorrectAnswer56]

Definitely check out the New Blood orchestra version of this song from that 2011 concert as well. It is very powerful and emotional.

[@OronOfMontreal]

I recommend that you watch the entire "Secret World" concert with your wife. Light a few candles of a scent that she enjoys, prepare a bottle of her favourite wine and some small exotic snacks. Because by 1993 Gabriel was touring many, many songs about women's power, about communication between the genders and so on. In fact, the square stage represents the masculine in humanity, while the round stage is the feminine in us. They are joined by the infinite universal river. The show was staged by Québecois actor-director Robert Lepage. He spent ten years as the Artistic Director of the National Theatre of Canada, in Ottawa, staging well-reviewed Avant Garde plays, among others. Lepage also had a strong role in the movie "Jésus de Montréal".

[@Paddyjack]

I remember "shaking the tree" in that show, it was awesome

[@OronOfMontreal]

@@Paddyjack Salut, Eric! The way they used that tree from one song to another to another was brilliant.

[@therealtwiggyleaf]

Thanks for the review. The incredible journey continues. Glad to hear you will be doing "Lay Your Hands on Me". I really do suggest the Athens 87 Live Version. 😎

[@jimr4354]

Yes Gabriel was underrated. As with so much non commercial material not being mainstream,the music didn’t get the recognition it deserved. Phil on the other hand did have that commercial and emotional feel to his music. Petter is a real story teller. One of the ways of creating a good/strong piece is structure. Peter used momentum. (Genesis in Mama). Starts slow,subtle then it builds with guitar,keyboards and guitar (mainly chords) then in this song comes to a subtle but striking final vocal. It’s special stuff especially with his strong raspy vocal. The levels and strength to make the lyrical content. That’s where the emotional impact your feeling comes up n. It’s strong,it’s passionate,it’s meaningful. He is the real creative artist. The English had that special quality to their musical art.

[@ronjm945]

I had also seen Peter on this tour, phenomenal audio visual experience..

[@michaeljudge9037]

His live album from 1983 called PLAYS LIVE contains great versions of songs from this album.

[@leeford9307]

Its strange as Peter always wanted to give a 'performance' and not just sing songs from an album, and this is one of the reasons he left Genesis as the rest of the band weren't too keen on that. So he left and in my opinion became the best solo live performer out there today. Just wish he would announce a new tour soon.

[@flatironman2330]

Gabriel music takes you places you live the music. This song is about the Cherokee Indian's passage and voyage to manhood. It's so epic.

[@piershollott339]

Those drones on the guitars at "I hold the line"... and that bass line that never does quite what you expect. This always reminds me of "Milgram's 37 (We Do What We're Told)", from So, which bears a lot of the same elements. This is also one of the more moving pieces of recycled music on the Birdy soundtrack, which is another things again - a film soundtrack spliced together from the backing tracks from Melt and Security. Security does sound dated in places, but then it got reimagined in Birdy and Plays Live. His core band - Fripp/Levin/Marotta/Fast/Rhodes - is simply incredible, especially with the addition of Manu Katche.

[@BrianR.]

From the same concert, In Your Eyes is a spiritual experience to watch, as is Shaking The Tree. Your thought of doing the whole concert is a good one! Saw this Tour in Montreal back in the day, best concert I've seen other than Pink Floyd Pulse.

[@Richard_Jones]

Not to devalue your experience but when Peter left Genesis it was widely believed that he'd go onto great things and that they would sink into obscurity without him. It is a credit to all of them (Gabriel and the rest) that they all found some balance between mainstream success and artistic integrity. You might argue that Phil eventually 'sold out' but by then he'd 'put the years in' and deserved whatever success he could get.

[@robertwells3867]

Superb Ryan Always look forward to each vid you drop. Never concern yourself with the way you approach these things . Easily my favourite go to Your approach works perfectly And the live and studio approach is excellent.

[@Kimobubby]

Cheers ty ❤️❤️🤟🤟🙏🙏

[@dex_drk833]

The way he sings it live, better than thestudio version, it’s just insane

[@VerMaarte]

Live the bass player is Tony Levin (from King Crimson) on Chapman stick ...

[@Richard_Jones]

You're right on the money with Shock The Monkey. It was clearly the record company's hope for a hit single.

[@swirll360]

PS: this concert is from the "US" tour. The title of the tour/dvd is named for the last song on that album and it's a just great song (I seem to use great a lot lol) among so damn many. Also, you're going to wonder who the female singer is on stage with him. Her name is Paula Cole she was an unknown singer attending the Berklee College of Music at the time. Later after touring with PG she was signed to a record deal and in 1997 she had 2 hit singles, first was "I Don't Want To Wait" (the theme to Dawsons Creek). and the other is "Where Have All The Cowboys Gone" If you heard them now you'd probably either know them well or they will be familiar. She has a great voice but never had any more hit singles after that.

[@johnnosiennek7066]

I saw this show in Earls Court London on crutches with a busted knee but that wasn;t going to stop me

[@ontherun9510]

Ryan, for this show, he was working with Robert Lepage (from Quebec) as a ''Metteur en Scène''. Don't miss Lay Yours from 1987 or before...not 1993 or later. Enjoy!

[@gog583]

It's funny that you mentioned getting like a spiritual feeling about his music. I read an article a long time ago that he was thanked by some pastor because he used "Salisbury Hill" as the music in some of his services. (???) And on the flip side of that, in the early days (still post Genesis), he was being condemned for being the Anti-Christ by others. Go figure. It takes all kinds I guess. lol

[@hulaGUNZ]

Thanks for reminding me how much I loved listening to this album when I was much younger.

[@MiguelLopez-is9te]

🧡 This was so good. Sometimes, when I listen to bands & solo artists, I can hear hints of other musicians. Not so with Peter. Homeboy is so original & genuine.

[@Kimobubby]

Well Said

[@micamaimoun]

Thank you, Gabriel is one of my favorite artist composer, this song gets you in your guts ! Listen to Mercy street, mother of violence too.... please

[@Kimobubby]

I’ve reacted to mother of violence

[@micamaimoun]

@@Kimobubby oh sorry I m going to se that

[@arielquarante]

There is no "Lay your hands on me" played during the officials show from the Secret world tour. The only Must Seen version is from the Athens show (1987 i think). Just my opinion. In fact, I am pretty sure there is no other video version of that song.

[@sydhamelin1265]

I missed his Secret World Live tour, but caught him a couple times after. He does seem like an underdog; he took the lion's share of creativity and experimentation, and that's just not as marketable. Their first producer, a guy by the name of Jonathan King, said that Peter Gabriel should write music that's more commercial and less artistic, and that seems to be a consensus among casual or non fans. His fans though, love his experimental side, and are happy to keep supporting him through the years. But his live shows have dwindled in attendance as his music isn't as broadly accessible. Anyways, I enjoyed this reaction video, thanks.

[@Kimobubby]

❤️🤟🙏🙏🤟

[@direnova6284]

This is one of my favourites of Peters. The whole show is amazing, one of the best gigs I ever went to, I went twice to this.

[@EdwardGregoryNYC]

Peter made the choice to follow his vision rather than ride pop success. That's what's to love about Gabriel. Collins is an amazing performer, but I'd much rather be at a Gabriel concert. His stage shows - solo - always have a powerful vision.

[@robertmorrow2935]

Great stuff Ryan, watch the orchestra version of this song, live in London 👌

[@leeford9307]

Genesis are the best band live act I have ever seen and Peter Gabriel is the best solo live act I have ever seen. If you like the stage set up there then cannot wait until you see the Genesis live DVD 'When in Rome' and peter's live DVD of 'Growing Up'

[@marcoantoniogonzalez7601]

soy afortunado de de vivir cerca de las montañas de san jacinto inspiracion de PG., palm spring california. Unos de mis idolos Peter Gabriel

[@telegraph2581]

Hard one to really get into the first time you hear it as you don’t know where it’s going. Probably my favourite gabriel song now but i remember it didn’t immediately grab me until it suddenly broke the first time

[@jeffrichard9338]

Gabriel has always brought a certain Intensity to his music. He does his own thing, with no apologies.

[@wagnerribeirodesantana1651]

Live always better! ❤️🎶🎧

[@jonnykhatru]

Peter would agree with you that his past in Genesis cast a shadow, that's why he never wanted a reunion. He has said that he spent many years trying to get away from being Ex-Genesis.

[@Vince-lq3ve]

As Genesis spent many years trying to get away from being ex-Gabriel. The result was twice the output, two unique genres of music, never crossing paths, nor bickering or competing (unlike some of the fans). just top notch song creators and entertainers.

[@rodneygriffin7666]

Legend.

[@blitztim6416]

Having lived in a city named San Jacinto, I got a kick out of your struggle with the pronunciation. lol. But you hear they way he pronounces it. Saw him on his first three solo tours. Great song and performance.

[@matsjakobsson1376]

Some seam not to know. San Jacinto is a town in THE US.

[@jonnykhatru]

Amazing song and live version spectacular as always, although a bit slow, I prefer the faster tempo of the studio version.

[@markjohnson4217]

Genesis in the 80s were intentionally going for an accessible sound, and yes, I felt that it was really indistinguishable from Phil's solo work . (Invisible Touch, That's All, Tonight tonight, etc.) The fact is, those three guys wanted to make money at that point in their career. So they got a nice retirement, that's nice. But Peter, even when he was doing pop songs, had something deeper going on. SO was a fantastic album even with the commercial appeal of Sledghammer, Don't Give Up, and In Your Eyes.That album felt soulful and real. To me Genesis ended after Steve Hackett's departure in 1978.

[@MichaelSmith-su9cq]

I don’t really know how this works but you need to do Mercy Street.

[@stevenm.6886]

Hey pick a version of Here comes the Flood. Truly beautiful

[@danielmcbriel1192]

San Jacinto, Mercy Street and In your Eyes are songs that never spoke to me as a studio version. It wasn't until I saw them live that I took them to my heart.

[@paulmcgarr6557]

I'm sure you enjoyed this concert.

[@ontherun9510]

Lay your hands on me from Athens 1987

[@matsjakobsson1376]

Album inspired by rhytms from native Americans and Africa.

[@shyshift]

San Hasintoe is how you pronounce it.

[@dav264]

I hate to tell you Ryan, but he dubs the vocals in on a few on his live concert films and this is one of them. Breaks my heart!

[@Kimobubby]

Ugh

[@johnmavroudis2054]

@@Kimobubby He doesn't lip sync... For a film, he cleans up the messy bits... which is NOT the same thing as dubbing the whole thing. He's a perfectionist in studio... I think he learned from his experiences with Genesis wearing costumes and having the vocals muffled. For something that will be put out forever, he (and others) clean up some stuff... and there are occasional overdubs... but it's not a nefarious as the Dav will have you believe. I've seen the guy live MANY times... there were zero overdubs on those shows and he was spot on and amazing.

[@Kimobubby]

@@johnmavroudis2054 ok. Ty !!

[@peetee303]

@@johnmavroudis2054 yes your right no overdubs live or lip syncing going on here just a few minimal dubs on some of the songs, I read in an interview once with Gabriel and he stated that live if there are a few bits that sound rough on the vocals they are lost in that moment but when repeated listening on a recorded live show he likes to smooth some of the rough, as you say he is a perfectionist and to get things in perspective it's not as tho you go to a Gabriel show saying "oh he's not as good as he is on film" in fact its the opposite no recorded show no matter how good compares to seeing the guy live, have also seen Gabriel live many many times and have never come away disappointed he is a consummate performer.

[@TheCorrectAnswer56]

@@peetee303 Agreed. He is widely regarded as a must see live act. He might overdub for some of these officially released concert films because he is a perfectionist, but he certainly doesn't need to. I have also seen him live a number of times and his voice is incredible, the music comes to life, and his performances are not to be missed.

[@55montypython]

San has entoo

[@danielmcbriel1192]

You are wrong. I don't know why, but you are wrong.

[@Kimobubby]

Sure. What part? Though I’m not sure how one’s feeling are wrong. Care to elaborate?

[@danielmcbriel1192]

@@Kimobubby You said, "Tell me I'm wrong." So I said you are wrong. Just kidding. I'm sorry. 😜

[@Kimobubby]

@@danielmcbriel1192 all good. Lol. I never remember what I say