I've had the Live Earth benefit going on in the background while puttering around the apartment this morning. Nothing new under the sun in re: the tidbits of self-inflicted ecodoom and envirogloom (e.g., 40 million plastic water bottles disposed daily, taking 100 years to decompose), nor the guest spots (Will Ferrell & Chris Rock PSAs, Kelly Clarkson really is as backwoods as you think), nor the features (Ed Begley rocks! There are recycled tires onstage!) nor the music (Snow Patrol was actually pretty good, Linkin Park was good for Linkin Park, Black Eyed Peas really did sing "Let's Get Retarded," a band from Antarctica performed). The one big revelation so far today was actually musical in origin.That is, I am really glad I didn't get tickets to go see the Genesis reunion tour.This is the year of Big Rock Reunions, and two of the bands that formed my earliest popular listening are part of it: Genesis and The Police. As the latter announced their plans first, and as I have a bigger portion of their catalog than Genesis' and a decently-connected online friend, they got my cash. I was regretting not making the decision (or the money) to see Genesis on their three-night Philly stand... until I watched them today during Live Earth from London.In brief, not even Peter Gabriel could save them now.Granted, I watch only three of their televised songs - "Turn It On Again," "Land of Confusion," and "Invisible Touch" - but if these are indicative of a full concert you can, in short, keep it:

All were performed in different, lower keys since advancing age seems to play havoc with the vocal cords and Phil Collins failed to escape that fate. That, plus an afternoon setting and NO stage presence to speak of made for a rather sleepy performance overall. At one point Phil was obviously flailing at the audience for call-and-response participation. Sad.

Dropping the f-bomb in the middle of "Invisible Touch" does not make that song "harder." Knowing you've burned through three marriages, Phil, it actually makes you sound bitter.

"Turn It On Again" live, for a long time, was a set-closer wrapped up with Phil Collins joining Chester Thompson on drums after he finished his vocals. This time around, it was about a minute of said duet-drumming on small kits. Maybe it was the tight benefit-show format or whatever, but damn, it felt so forced and fake.

This is not the Genesis I remember from The Mama Tour and the WMMRchives. If you want that, you might almost have to turn to the current GMC (?) commercial using the LP version of "Turn It On Again." Better yet, check out the live version of the song I've uploaded to my Multiply account, a 1983 Philadelphia recording I first remember capturing on cassette during one of those waaaay-back "'MMRchives Weekends."