Review and pictures of the David Gilmour concert at Meltdown 2001

[The Piper]

Meltdown 2001 Review

by Charlotte Pringle

Dave Gilmour walked onto the stage in a saggy t-shirt and jeans, all alone. No fancy lights, no lasers, no big build-up. It was a small venue (about 2,600 seats) and I was about 3 metres away from him!!!! In a couple of steps I could have touched him. Nothing in front of the stage and I was on the front row... He just picked up an acoustic guitar and started tinkling around on it, almost like he was unaware of the audience. Occasionally there'd be a familiar phrase from various different songs, but then... the first bit of Shine On. It felt like he was teasing us, here a familiar bit, then something different, but eventually it was definitely Shine On. He managed to get that spine tingling emotion into it, even alone on an acoustic guitar. After a couple of verses Dick Parry joined him on stage for the sax solo. I don't know if it was because I was hearing the other instruments in my mind, but to me it was amazing how much of the original version they managed to capture between them with just 2 instruments. Dave's voice was a bit rough, he said he had a sore throat, but even so he was wonderful. I love that version of Shine On.

Next was Terrapin by Syd Barrett. Introduced as "That (Shine On) was about our old friend Sydney, who really did have a light in his eye, and a spring in his step. This one's by him". I didn't know that enough to recognise it, I'd probably only ever heard it once before, but it was unmistakably Syd's style.

After that he was joined by the other musicians and the backing singers for the rest of the concert. Then came Fat Old Sun. (WOW!!) I was wondering about the solo - not really translatable to acoustic guitar! - but he just ended it differently avoiding the solo.

Coming Back To Life was next ("That was a song dedicated to my lovely wife, Polly"), then quite a long pause as Dave had a drink and checked the tuning of one of the guitars! One note from a bell and of course everyone knew what was to follow(High Hopes). The cello really stood out on this one and sounded so right. I loved the way he used the backing singers - more as instruments rather than just a pleasant background harmony. I think it worked really well, especially on High Hopes, which was probably the best version I've heard. As he unhurriedly swapped guitars for the slide, the vocals built up and up to a climax. Some of that comes across in the recordings, but at the time it was just incredible, surrounded by the sound, in the dark with the atmosphere of a couple of thousand people hanging on every note...

Then Dave told a little story of what happened to him last time he played RFH, and described the next song as "this one's tough!". Je Crois Entendre Encore from Bizet's Opera The Pearl Fishers - sung in French! I must admit that I never thought I'd hear Dave Gilmour singing opera, but it was absolutely beautiful. Next up was 'Smile' - a new song. Very unlike anything on any of his/Floyd's albums. At the time I thought "nice". Nothing mind-blowing, just nice. Listening to the recordings since, it's grown on me. To me it has a gently sad mood, vaguely reminiscent of Obscured By Clouds.

This is where the infamous "who gives a ****" comment was made. I've seen several people get upset about that, saying that he obviously couldn't care less about the fans, but it wasn't said nastily. The poor guy must be so sick of hearing that question - "When's the next Floyd album?". He was there, on stage, playing for us - playing some real treats, including a totally new song, and STILL people ask about Floyd. I think that in his place my reaction would have been similar.

WYWH was next, with a wonderful short cello solo and Dave singing along with the guitar like on other live versions - but certainly different! Again, one of my favourite versions of this song.

Then the piano started and a voice from somewhere said "hello.." to thunderous applause. The spotlight swung to the side door where Robert Wyatt was sitting singing Roger's part of Comfortably numb. Inevitable explosive applause when Dave started singing. The cello worked well on this one too, as Dave leisurely changed guitars for the solo. Both solos were short but sweet compared with what we're used to. I don't think that this one comes across well on the recordings, but at the time the second solo brought a lump to my throat and a tear to my eye - as ever!

This was followed by Richard Thompson's 'The Dimming of the Day'. Another beautiful song. I heard the original later and I must say that Dave's version blows the socks off it. When he finished someone shouted "Bring on Roger Waters" to which he replied, "Hey what can we do? If you want him, you can have him! - sorry Mate".

Then there was the sound of wind... the familiar double bass notes... The thing was that no-one was quite sure for a couple of seconds if it was One Of The Days or Shine On!

For the encore: band intro, A Great Day For Freedom and then Hushaby Mountain at the end had me crying. He just stood there and sang this beautiful lullaby. He sang so tenderly, so lovingly, then just almost whispered "goodnight" and walked offstage. AAAARRRRRRRGGGGGGHHHHHHH!!!!!! The audience all but exploded at that point and wouldn't stop until the roadies came on stage (to much 'boo-ing') and the lights came up.

It was wonderful to hear such different versions of the songs, really refreshing. The evening had a laid back and relaxed feel which made it seem very intimate and personal. I definitely rate that night up there with the Delicate Sound concert I saw. A different experience, and one of the best concerts I have ever seen. He definitely hasn't lost his touch. The gig couldn't really have been any more low tech, but it proved beyond any shadow of a doubt that it's the music and musicians that make Floyd concerts the incredible experience that they are - not the lasers. Obviously the 'typical' huge Floyd show is an experience not to be missed if at all possible, but that isn't what makes them great. Here's hoping for many more nights like that one.

These are some pictures Charlotte took (thanks for featuring them on our page!):