Roger Waters Live! 2002

Bride of a Bull · #1 06-26-2002, 09:08 PM

Roger Waters Live!

James1After909 beat me to the post with the BIG news of Nick’s appearance tonight and I was going to consider whether or not to reveal that juicy titbit, but…the cat is out of the bag now.

What can I say further than to add to what fixxlevy, Driven and others have already said of Roger’s IN THE FLESH World Tour? This very site probably has more than enough detail, but I can at least put my own personal stamp on events.

After prepping the Hog on a gloriously mild clear evening we’re off, Jay and I, on (literally, at many turns) a death defying ride up the A406 to Wembley Arena, making for the "IKEA exit.”

Thank heaven for the Harley or we’d still be stuck in tailback traffic; our Roger IS a popular one. Thirty minutes later, it’s WEMBLEY with 20 minutes to go; bike safely parked and lids checked; P.A. advising show start time and against unofficial merchandisers and ticket touts with their nasty, inferior products.

Time to go…bags this side, without bags that side - GB£8.00 for programme or pink Pig logo cap, £18 for T-shirt, anyway get drinks, take seat. I’m all a-tremble at the prospect.

It says 8PM prompt on the ticket but Roger takes the stage at about 10 past. Huge screen behind the stage, and two smaller up high and either side; it’s a big barn. We weren’t too far back, but in the stalls facing the stage and at the very front of our section, so excellent views…discounting the amazing numbers of passers by.

Down go the lights, up goes the noise of crowd and performers and they begin with In The Flesh, pt.2, and Roger appears on a raised wall before a projected “in progress” wall doing his surrogate band number – his spotlight pinpointing of audience “riff raff” is much less acute than I remember for The Wall Live ’81. Sounds fabulous, as one would expect and looks good. Our previous reviewers weren’t lying about the senses assaulting sights and sounds.
Apologies for any errors, but here's the rest of the first set:

Another Brick in the Wall, pt.2, Mother, Pigs on the Wing, pt.1,
Dogs – where we get another taste of Roger’s showmanship when, during his son’s long keyboard middle part, Roger, Chester, Snowy and Andy sit playing cards at the table-and-chairs-with-standard-lamp setting up-stage, a la Cassius Marcellus Coolidge’s “A Friend In Need” (portrait of DOGS at a card table - see attachment)

Priceless. BTW, though crowd control Stewards were diligent about no-smoking in the auditorium, there was still some seriously nice stuff being toked.

Roger tells us it’s good to be back home and that it’s finally good to play London, and mentions his Glastonbury appearance to come. Then he introduces a good friend he wants to bring on who’s just back there <points stage left>...:
Nick Mason!!!

The barn erupts (déjà vu?) into the loudest roars and clapping I’d ever heard there, and out comes Nick, embracing Roger and takes to the drum kit. WOW! :o

Set The Controls for the Heart of the Sun

WOW! I can’t stop saying, WOW! With more hugs for Roger amid standing, stamping ovation, we bid a forlorn farewell to Nick for the evening.

SOYCD, pts.1-5, Welcome to the Machine, WYWH, and the finale of SOYCD, pts.6-9

I think it’s time for an interval, don’t you?

We’ll be right back after this…

END OF PART ONE

cho.manno · #2 06-26-2002, 09:24 PM

And why wouldn't you tell us about Nick's appearance, Byron?

Bride of a Bull · #3 06-26-2002, 09:27 PM

PART TWO

Is that a HEARTbeat? Oh my…

Speak To Me, all of Breathe leading on to Graham Broad’s spine-tingling drum solo intro to Time.
Superb!

Money - with first solo by Chester Kamen, second by Snowy White, though the camera was still showing Kamen. Curious that. Then an added bonus of Andy Fairweather Low nearly making one’s ears bleed with a third heavily distorted very VERY loud solo.
There’s really only one thing to say about that bit in particular: IT ROCKED!

Brain Damage/Eclipse, Get Your Filthy Hands Off My Desert, Southampton Dock, 5:06 AM - Every Stranger’s Eyes,

Forgive any of the following errors, but I only managed two of my first ever hearings of AMUSED TO DEATH in the afternoon before the show, so this is still unfamiliar territory…

Perfect Sense, pts.1&2, The Bravery of Being Out of Range – scathingly good – It’s a Miracle and Amused to Death.

Roger introduced the players, after a prolonged applause, and went into Comfortably Numb.

Snowy and Chester climbed the wall at the rear of the stage and indulged in “duelling solos” with a golden sunset projected behind them. Fab!

“They think it’s all over"...
…after the shortest break following raucous and appreciative cheering, the players returned and Roger thanked everyone again, and said they would do one last song, a new one called A Flickering Flame. Lovely.
…"it is now."

The consummate showman, though dodgy Rex Harrison "singing" notwithstanding, Roger made me quiver, shiver with that aptly pacifist Waters caress.

I’m still smiling, I’m still beaming.

THE END

Fanatical Floydian,
Byron

Shane G. · #4 06-26-2002, 09:31 PM

That's awesome!

Bride of a Bull · #5 06-26-2002, 09:32 PM

cho manno,

So as not to spoil the sheer surprise - assuming Nick appears again - for others who are attending tomorrow's show.
Aren't I good?

Driven · #6 06-27-2002, 12:29 AM

Dammit Byron. Now you've seen ALL members of Pink Floyd within 6 months.

I'm one distraught little chappy having read you're review.

fixxlevy · #7 06-27-2002, 01:45 AM

Roger (and his surrogate band) do absolutely kick live ass, I gotta admit. The gig in Sydney was probably one of the best I've ever seen and, yes, when that pulsing red light at the beginning of Pt2 kicked in, I found it particularly hard to contain myself. Just glad that I'd worn my more 'roomy' trousers, frankly.

Nice one Byron.

Take it easy, y'all,

Mark

Organ Grinder · #8 06-27-2002, 04:41 AM

Does anyone else get this warm, fuzzy feeling inside when they read marks posts?

Bride of a Bull · #9 06-27-2002, 05:37 AM

Quote:

Originally posted by Driven
Dammit Byron. Now you've seen ALL members of Pink Floyd within 6 months.

I'm one distraught little chappy having read you're review.

Desculpa, I'm sorry, Pete.

Really you should be getting "warm, fuzzy feelings" from recollecting YOUR time seeing Roger this year, which probably also gave you a warm fuzz feeling as well.

Organ Grinder · #10 06-27-2002, 06:25 AM

Sorry dad, I didn't see Roger this year since he's not doing an American tour. I was still in the army, therefore I missed it, when he did tour the states.

Bride of a Bull · #11 06-27-2002, 07:38 AM

Well, that's too bad, my boy, my boy, but I was actually directing my "warm fuzzy" comments toward Driven.

Neh'mind.

Bride of a Bull · #12 06-27-2002, 01:26 PM

"In the old days, pre Dark Side of the Moon, Pink Floyd played to audiences which by virtue of their size were allowed an intimacy of connection that was magical.

However, success overtook us and by 1977 we were playing in football stadiums. The magic crushed beneath the weight of numbers, we were becoming addicted to the trappings of popularity.

I found myself increasingly alienated in that atmosphere of avarice and ego until one night in the Olympic Stadium, Montreal, the boil of my frustrations burst. Some crazed teenage fan was clawing his way up the storm netting that separated us from the human cattle pen in front of the stage screaming his devotion to the 'Demi-Gods' beyond his reach.

Incensed by his misunderstanding and my own connivance I spat my fustration in his face. Later that night, back at the hotel, shocked by my behaviour I was faced with a choice. To deny my addiction and embrace that 'Comfortably Numb' but 'Magic-Less' existence or accept the burden of insight , take the road less travelled and embark on the often painful journey to discover who I was and where I fit.

The Wall was the picture I drew for myself to help me make that choice."

- Roger Waters, 1995

(Taken from the scrolling pink text throughtout the ITF tour programme.)

stratman · #13 06-27-2002, 01:50 PM

Thanks for the review, Byron. Masterfully told.

It sounds pretty much like the format on the ITF-L DVD. Thanks for the insight on the card-playing during Dogs. I had not made that connection to the "A Friend In Need" picture.
Also, Chester Kamen is a change from the earlier lineup.

I'm envious as hell.

Bride of a Bull · #14 06-27-2002, 03:02 PM

Thank YOU for your kind words, stratters.

And I would be dishonest if I said the link to "A Friend In Need" was my idea. Jay, my ITF companion, said the tableau reminded him of Donald Roller Wilson's strange paintings of animals. Using Google I discovered Roller Wilson, though very strange a painter indeed, was not the painter in question.

Further Google searching threw up CM (weird names) Coolidge's famous painting.

It made me howl with laughter watching them playing at playing cards while poor Harry noodled his fingers off. He did a very good job of being Rick.

Bride of a Bull · #15 06-27-2002, 07:31 PM

God! :o

I started the day on a Roger Waters high, and got dragged down by inveterate God-botherers. If I didn't know better I'd say A Talking Head has made a subtle return in the person of Lucifer's AM Radio.

Now, where is What god Wants on my HDD?

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