Photos by Andy Argyrakis

Ever since Steve Hackett started regularly revisiting Genesis a little over a decade ago, the group’s classic period guitarist frequently performed large portions of landmark projects such as “Foxtrot,” “Selling England By The Pound,” “Wind & Wuthering” and “Seconds Out.”

However, notably absent was “The Lamb Lies Down On Broadway,” which is finally getting featured on the “Genesis Greats, Lamb Highlights & Solo” Tour following a lavish 50th anniversary box set of the original progressive rock opera and Hackett’s current interpretation, “The Lamb Stands Up Live At The Royal Albert Hall.”

NiteLite Promotions brought it all to Joliet’s Rialto Square Theatre, or “the Versailles of venues” as the impressed Rock and Roll Hall of Famer referred to it, who alongside vocalist Nad Sylvan, keyboardist Roger King, bassist Jonas Reingold, multi-instrumentalist Rob Townsend and drummer Nick D’Virgilio (Genesis’ “Calling All Stations” album), turned in two generous sets totaling almost three hours.

The first half began with no less than three technically-challenging tracks off Hackett’s latest U.K. chart-topping studio project, “The Circus And The Nightwhale,” straight into a tremendously ambitious and prolific past.

The relatively recent “The Devil’s Cathedral,” which even utilized the historic hall’s pipe organ, met the retro “A Tower Struck Down,” “Camino Royale” and “Shadow Of The Hierophant” as the 75-year-old’s unwavering virtuoso abilities were always apparent.

After an intermission, the headliner focused on several “Lamb” selections that could more or less exist outside the narrative centered around main character Rael’s surreal journey of self-discovery in the Big Apple, including the title track, “Fly On A Windshield” and “Broadway Melody Of 1974.”

Those aggressive undertones soon gave way to the trippy “Hairless Heart” and the chilling ballad “The Carpet Crawlers,” then continued to explore a multitude of arty textures throughout “The Chamber Of 32 Doors,” “Lilywhite Lilith,” “The Lamia” and “It,” though oddly and unfortunately, there was no “In The Cage” or “Back In N.Y.C.”

Hackett nonetheless brought out the entire “Supper’s Ready” suite, an epic of near-Biblical proportions, succeeded by almost as lengthy of an encore thanks to “Firth Of Fifth” and “Los Endos,” ensuring faithful got precisely what they paid for from a legend who’s still at the pinnacle of his powers.

For additional information on Steve Hackett, visit HackettSongs.com.

For a list of upcoming NiteLite Promotions concerts, visit NiteLite.com.

Upcoming shows at the Rialto Square Theatre include Elmo & Friends (Nov. 8); Clint Black (Nov. 13); “Swan Lake” (Nov. 16); A Motown Christmas (Nov. 18); Brad Williams (Nov. 20); Chris Young (Nov. 21); Theresa Caputo (Nov. 22); Home Free (Nov. 23); Cirque Musica (Nov. 26); “The Nutcracker” (Nov. 30); Jingle Mingle (Dec. 4); Engelbert Humperdinck (Dec. 5); Old Crow Medicine Show (Dec. 6); “A Charlie Brown Christmas” (Dec. 8); Merry Little Soirée (Dec. 10-11); Chris Isaak (Dec. 12); The Rat Pack Is Back! For The Holidays! (Dec. 13); Joliet American Legion Band (Dec. 14); “It’s A Wonderful Life” (Dec. 18); Dean Z: The Ultimate Elvis Christmas (Dec. 20); John Crist (Jan. 23); Vitamin String Quartet (Jan. 29); Drew Lynch (Jan. 31); Black Violin (Feb. 15); Mania: The ABBA Tribute (Feb. 21) and Masters Of Illusion (Feb. 28). For additional details, visit RialtoSquare.com.

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