Phil Collins at Infinite Energy Center 09/28/19

Photos and Words by Hillery Terenzi

My earliest memories of listening to Phil Collins goes back to 1985 at Girl Scout camp dance line doing my best movies to “Sussudio” with my mirrored sunglasses and Izod shirt, MTV only played videos and posters of the boys of the “Brat Pack” were taped to my bedroom wall. Thirty-four years later, I finally got to see the man himself and his stellar performance at the Infinite Energy Center Saturday Night.

Armed with a cane, Collins slowly made his way to a black swivel chair in the center of the stage in front of a black screen and addressed the sold out crowd saying “Getting old sucks. You know, back surgery, foot’s fucked. But hey…..I’m not dead yet!” He started out the night solo with one of his top hits “Against All Odds (Take a Look at Me Now)” . The curtain rose and his 14 piece backing band with players that have played with Collins over 40 years and his 18 year old son on drums went into “Another Day in Paradise”. From there, the Genesis drummer burned through hits like “Don’t Lose My Number”, “Throwing It All Away”, “Sussudio” and fan favorite “In the Air Tonight”.

Unfortunately because of nerve damage in his back, Collins was not able to perform on his signature Gretsch drum kit but that didn’t stop him from performing a drum trio on a Cajon with his son and percussionist Luis Conte. Despite being sixty-eight Collins performed true to form and we were glad to have him back after a 20 year absence (Collins played the Superbowl Half-time show in 2000).

Setlist:

Against All Odds (Take a Look at Me Now)

Another Day in Paradise

Hang in Long Enough

Don’t Lose My Number

Throwing It All Away – (Genesis song)

Follow You Follow Me – (Genesis song)

I Missed Again

Who Said I Would

Separate Lives – (Stephen Bishop cover)

Drum Trio

Something Happened on the Way to Heaven