gs@mit-eddie.UUCP (Gordon Strong) (07/29/84)
I saw Roger Waters last week at the Meadowlands in N.J. and would like to give a review. First off, it was an incredible show. Not just a concert, but a true show. The total audio/visual experience was unique. I really wish I had seen Pink Floyd when they toured 'The Wall'. My concert program shows him doing shows in just six areas (Toronto, Montreal, Hartford, Chicago, Philadelphia, and NYC). This is confusing as I saw him in East Rutherford, N.J., but I'll assume that is his New York show. I hope he tours elsewhere so those of you further west will have a chance to see him. The big news, which you probably already know, is that Eric Clapton is playing lead guitar, just as he did on the album. A brilliant guitarist, Clapton added immensely to the show. He complemented Waters nicely and had several extended solos. The whole band (9 members total) blended well, even on Pink Floyd songs. The concert was in two halves, seperated by a 20 minute break. The first half was all old Pink Floyd songs (listed below) and the second half was the entire "Pros and Cons of HitchHiking" album, performed continuously as on the album (with extended solos in places). The First Half: Set the Controls for the Heart of the Sun, from "A Saucerful of Secrets", 1968 Money, from "The Dark Side of the Moon", 1973 If, from "Atom Heart Mother", 1970 Welcome to the Machine, from "Wish You Were Here", 1975 Have a Cigar, same as above Wish You Were Here, same as above Pigs on the Wing, from "Animals", 1977 In the Flesh, from "The Wall", 1979 Nobody Home, same as above Hey You, same as above The Gunners Dream, from "The Final Cut", 1983 The Second Half: same sequence as on the album Encore: Brain Damage, from "The Dark Side of the Moon" The visual effects for the first half appeared to be videos mostly from old Pink Floyd concerts (they were round, like PF's old video screen). The second half was a great production, with a huge drop screen with a bedroom scene (the basis of the new album - it's a dream). Scenes were projected on a television and a bedroom window (on the screen). Some awesome footage. Mixed in with this was a 3-part video screen showing panoramic video sequences and cartoon-like scenes (remember the movie 'The Wall'?). I can see I'm doing a less-than-adequate job of describing the visuals. I guess "you had to be there". It was just the most exciting concert of the dozens I have seen in the last decade. See it if you have the chance. Gordon Strong decvax!genrad!mit-eddie!gs GS@MIT-XX
Lippard@his-phoenix-multics.arpa (James J. Lippard) (04/07/85)
I saw Roger Waters in concert tonight at the Veterans Memorial Coliseum
in Phoenix. He played two sets: first "some old Pink Floyd stuff",
then "The Pros and Cons of Hitchhiking" in its entirety. There were
some sound problems (loud feedback over the PA a couple of times), and
the quadraphonic sound wasn't used to its fullest. The P&C set was
really good, but the Pink Floyd stuff could have used David Gilmour.
Waters can't sing as well as Gilmour, and the guitarists weren't as
good. Waters' rendition of "Money" used quadraphonic effects well
(Gilmour's money sounds weren't as impressive, but his guitar playing
and singing were superior). Here's the complete list of Pink Floyd
songs played:
Welcome to the Machine
Set the Controls for the Heart of the Sun
Money
If
Wish You Were Here
The Gunner's Dream (really a medley of most of "The Final Cut")
Have a Cigar
Pigs on the Wing
In the Flesh?
Nobody Home
Another Brick in the Wall (parts I and II, plus "The Happiest
Days of Our Lives")
The encore was "Brain Damage" and "Eclipse".
The lights, film clips, and pyrotechnics were really good (although the
alignment of the projectors on the three screens kept having to be
adjusted).
The tour hits San Francisco, LA, Phoenix, Houston, Cleveland, Detroit,
Buffalo, Toronto, Atlanta, Boston, New York, Philadelphia, Tampa, and
Miami (but I don't know when, the tour booklet doesn't say).