I never dreamed a Phil Collins and Genesis tribute band would come within 25 miles of my hometown. But on October 10th, Face Value: A Tribute to Phil Collins and Genesis, a relatively new group formed out of Nashville, took the stage at the beautiful Lincoln Theatre in Marion for an electrifying two-hour performance. My only disappointment was the absence of the group’s much-celebrated horn section, an element essential to Phil Collins’s signature sound. After the show, I met with the band’s lead singer and drummer, Joey Simonton, a Charleston, West Virginia native, who explained their absence.
“I wanted to bring the horns,” Simonton said. “It just didn’t make sense financially for this market.”
It was a practical decision based on ticket sales; attendance that night numbered only around seventy. Yet, what the audience lacked in size, it made up for in passion. My wife Emily, daughter Bella, and I, lifelong fans of Collins and Genesis, were among them, cheering with the same enthusiasm as if the Lincoln were packed to the rafters. Simonton and his phenomenal band brought a 25-song setlist that balanced the horn-driven hits of Collins’s solo career with Genesis favorites that rarely get radio play. The show opened with a powerful rendition of “Something Happened on the Way to Heaven,” which immediately set the tone. To my delight, Simonton gave me a personal shout-out at the start, which made the evening all the more special. That killer opener was followed by “I Missed Again,” one of my favorite tracks from Collins’s debut album, the band’s namesake. Next came “No Reply at All,” one of the few Genesis tracks to feature horns, and then my all-time favorite Genesis anthem, “Turn It On Again.” The crowd responded enthusiastically as the band launched into “Paperlate,” another horn-laced Genesis rarity, before shifting gears into “Land of Confusion.”
“This is a heartwarming tale about nuclear destruction,” Simonton quipped at the song’s introduction, acknowledging the Grammy-winning music video featuring the satirical puppets from the British TV series Spitting Image. “The video for this song was huge on MTV when I was growing up, back when MTV actually played great music videos for six years or so.”
The band followed with “Who Said I Would,” a deep cut from No Jacket Required, then slowed things down for the haunting “Another Day in Paradise.” Before performing it, Simonton spoke passionately about his missionary work in the Philippines. He and his wife, who is from there, volunteer through Closer to the Heart Ministries, providing food, school supplies, and other essentials to children in need.
“We hope to get the band over there next year to do some missionary work for the kids,” he said. “This song reminds us how blessed we are to live in the United States and how grateful we should be for everything the Creator does for us.”
From there, the set picked up again with “Misunderstanding” from Genesis’s Duke album, followed by “Easy Lover”. Bassist Sean Harrison, a longtime friend of Simonton, joined him for the energetic duet, capturing the chemistry of Collins and Philip Bailey perfectly. Guitarist Dante Bonasera impressed throughout the night, delivering blistering solos reminiscent of Daryl Stuermer’s style. The youngest member, Justus Mitchell, just 24 years old, amazed the crowd with his command of the keyboards. I couldn’t believe someone his age even knew Phil Collins, let alone played his songs so beautifully. Behind the kit, Jon Ross, drummer and musical director, anchored the group with power and precision. Like Collins, he’s a left-handed drummer and even plays on a similar kit, giving the performance an authentic sound. Simonton, too, proved himself a worthy alter ego to Collins both as a vocalist and percussionist. He joined Ross for the legendary dual drum solo during “In the Air Tonight,” which closed the first half of the show in breathtaking fashion. But before that, the band tore through the Genesis hit “That’s All,” featuring incredible synchronized drumming. Before launching into the song, Simonton turned to me again from the stage and asked about the campaign led by Arizona fan Traci Baker, who has been petitioning to get Collins inducted into the Rock and Roll Hall of Fame as a solo artist.
“Phil Collins is one of the most powerful drummers, singers, songwriters, and producers in the history of rock and roll,” Simonton declared. “We need all of you to go online and support the ‘Get Phil Voted In’ campaign.”
The second act opened with “Hang in Long Enough,” another of my personal favorites, and the band returned with renewed energy. “Invisible Touch” and “Against All Odds” kept the crowd moving, followed by “Take Me Home,” “I Cannot Believe It’s True,” and “I Wish It Would Rain Down.” Each performance showcased the band’s remarkable musicianship and attention to detail. The Genesis hit “Throwing It All Away” led seamlessly into the band’s first chart success, “Follow You, Follow Me,” featuring a beautiful guitar and keyboard pairing from Mitchell and Bonasera.
Next came “Don’t Lose My Number” and the rarely performed “Two Hearts,” during which Simonton and Ross once again doubled up on drums. Their extended drum duet that followed was nothing short of spectacular, a blistering display of rhythm and precision that stood as the evening’s highlight. Simonton stayed on drums for the Genesis deep cut “Just a Job to Do,” another standout moment, before the band brought the show to a roaring close with “Abacab” and “Sussudio.” During the final song, Simonton left the stage to personally greet every member of the audience, a touching gesture that summed up the warmth and authenticity of the night. My sincere thanks go to Bob Watkins for our front-row seats to this unforgettable show. It was a much-needed evening out and a night I’ll always treasure. Face Value: A Tribute to Phil Collins and Genesis is a must-see for any fan of rock performance at its finest.
