Photos by Andy Argyrakis

Typically speaking, artists who’ve been active since the late 1960s frequently trot out the same old bag of tricks, but then there’s Peter Gabriel, who’s always embraced the avant-garde and generally steers away from nostalgia.

After all, he was the original make-up and costume-clad front man for Rock and Roll Hall of Famers Genesis, but outside of a sole reunion show in 1982, literally never looked back on the plentiful period.

Even at 73-years-old, he’s putting the finishing touches on the entirely new “i/o” solo album, which is in the process of being debuted before its official release at high-end arenas like the Fiserv Forum in Milwaukee.

And while many his age are pining for the past, with no less than 11 of these forthcoming and quite fantastic tracks, Gabriel is imploring audiences to pay attention, and thanks to a technologically-advanced evening utilizing the brightest aspects of the artificial intelligence age, it was impossible not to be throughly engaged throughout roughly two-and-a-half-hours.

Yet before bringing out all the bells and whistles, the headliner and longtime bassist Tony Levin, also of King Crimson fame, performed a campfire-styled version of the ballad “Washing Of The Water,” followed by the remainder of a splendid eight-piece band joining for an unplugged edition of “Growing Up.”

Gabriel’s visions of the future were more fully realized come the current, slow burning bounce of “Panopticom” and the soulful swagger of the title track, while “Digging In The Dirt” rocked out across criss-crossing screens of mood-matching animations, and eventually, “Sledgehammer” with its the cornucopia of colors nailed the spectacular front half shut.

Post-intermission, fans encountered the brilliantly designed shadow display of “Darkness,” the digital spray painting of another chilling newcomer, “Love Can Heal,” the gorgeous duet of “Don’t Give Up” alongside Ayanna Witter-Johnson, ably subbing for Kate Bush, and another “So” standout, “Big Time,” accompanied by an alluring blend of live broadcasts and computer-generated graphics.

Despite spending very little time revisiting the 1970s, Gabriel joyfully skipped his way around “Solsbury Hill” and encored with an extended sing-a-long of “In Your Eyes,” easily one of the finest alternative pop meets world beat masterpieces born in the ‘80s.

A grand finale of the human rights anthem “Biko” was unfortunately just as topical now as ever before, but as an arena’s worth of fists pumped in solidarity for social justice, it suggested those tireless efforts behind the scenes continue to as effective as the envelope-pushing songs and vibrant visuals that make this veteran visionary a true anomaly well beyond his peers.

For additional information on Peter Gabriel, visit PeterGabriel.com.

For a list of upcoming Live Nation concerts, visit LiveNation.com.

Upcoming concert highlights at the Fiserv Forum include Rod Wave (Oct. 21); The 1975 (Oct. 28); Shania Twain (Oct. 31); Tool (Nov. 1); Peso Pluma (Nov. 4); Jonas Brothers (Nov. 20); Turnpike Troubadours (Dec. 15); Trans-Siberian Orchestra (Dec. 27); TobyMac (Mar. 3) and Olivia Rodrigo (Mar. 16). For additional details, visit FiservForum.com.

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