title Genesis in Concert, and Suomenlinna, Helsinki, Finland - 11th June 2007 intro Nosher's "favourite band in the world ever" went on hiatus some time in 1994, after 25 years, nearly 20 albums and 150 million sales. So, it was reasonable to expect that the three times Nosher has seen them previously would be the last. However, much excitement occured when it was heard that they were reforming for a greatest hits tour - their first time on the road for 15 years. Originally, Nosher had tickets for Twickenham, but - as Isobel had been a student there for a couple of terms, and Nosher hadn't been for a while - it was decided to do the Helsinki leg, which coincidentally also happened to be the very first gig of the reunion. There was maybe some trepidation that they might not have "it" anymore, but this was blown away from the opening phrase of "Behind the Lines" right through to the explosive finale. Nobody does stadium gigs like Genesis: the lights, despite the late Helsinki twilight until 11.30pm, the excellent sound quality, the spectacle and the epic scale of the music. It was also a real joy to hear so much more older stuff than on previous occasions - Firth of Fifth, Carpet Crawlers, I Know What I Like, Ripples, Los Endos and, proving to be something of an emotional moment, the whole "Cage" medley followed by Afterglow, as well as some great tracks from the later stuff like Home By The Sea and Mama. The next day, we wander around Helsinki, where Isobel meets up with a student friend at the College of Design. Finally, with a few hours to spare before the return trip, we get the ferry out to the island fortress of Suomenlinna. dscf0016 Helsinki's Olympic Stadium starts to fill up dscf0018 We're at the gig early, so get close to the stage dscf0019 Sitting on the athletics track dscf0020 Isobel with a band teeshirt on dscf0040 Genesis open up with "Behind the Lines" dscf0097 Trademark lines of varilights dscf0107 There's a nice moment with some old footage dscf0121 The crowd up in the stands dscf0136 Chester and Phil do their drum duet dscf0139 The stage fills with dry ice dscf0150 The crowd gets to see itself dscf0160 A nice lighting moment dscf0165 Pyrotechnics go off dscf0168 Smoke fills the stadium dscf0170 The encore kicks off dscf0180 A whole wall of dancing characters dscf0193 After the gig dscf0198 A derelict building is demolished dscf0201 Derelict building near the gig imgp5872 A church behind the Scandic Marski hotel imgp5874 Tramlines near Esplanadi imgp5877 Curious statues on Pohjoisesplanadi imgp5879 Grand Helsinki buildings imgp5882 Isobel looks at fabric in the Marimekko shop imgp5885 Marimekko has a nice collection of glass imgp5893 A seal statue squirts water imgp5895 Down near the open-air market imgp5899 Flowers for sale imgp5901 A dude plays accordion near the harbour imgp5902 A woman with hats imgp5906 Fur hats for sale imgp5910 A statue somewhere imgp5911 A collection of colourful scaffolding boards imgp5915 A dramatic shot of the Lutheran cathedral imgp5920 Isobel on the cathedral steps imgp5925 A view of the square imgp5929 Impressive church organ imgp5932 A grand golden chandelier imgp5934 Ouside, a bloke talks to the pigeons imgp5946 A tram heads up the line imgp5947 Isobel crosses the cobbled street imgp5949 At the Esplanadi Café imgp5950 We have a beer and some massive pastries imgp5968 Café life imgp5971 The Arabia factory imgp5973 Isobel meets up with old friend Paula imgp5976 An Ikea-esque building near the College of Design imgp5977 In the corridors of the College of Design imgp5979 Empty café tables imgp5981 A stubbed out cigarette imgp5987 A small local shop imgp5991 People are out for Helsinki Day imgp5994 National dress on Helsinki Day imgp5997 The crowd watch a band performance imgp5999 A floating fish market imgp6004 More market action imgp6011 We head out to Suomenlinna imgp6015 A view through a tunnel imgp6017 Plant-covered building imgp6020 A view of the island fortress of Suomenlinna imgp6022 Yellow building and yellow flowers imgp6032 Inside a Finnish U-Boat imgp6042 The Finnish U-Boat imgp6046 A nice old boat by a jetty imgp6051 Some sort of making occurs imgp6056 Another brick in the wall imgp6060 Isobel feeds the ducks imgp6069 One of the ducks gets really keen imgp6081 A curious cave/cellar imgp6085 Isobel waits in a blue tunnel imgp6086 A gently-crumbling building imgp6096 Helsinki waterfront from the ferry imgp6099 The waterfront imgp6104 A trailer is hauled around the market imgp6106 Balloons on Esplanadi for Helsinki Day imgp6107 A brass band plays