8 April Melbourne Australia - Rod Laver Arena
If you come across any material relating to the 2002 tour, please send it to me for publication. Naturally, you will be given full acknowledgment. I need photos from each gig, set lists, reviews, ticket stubs, MP3's and anything else you can think of! Please send all material to col@pinkfloydz.com Video! Melbourne rehearsal pictures and video can be found at Back Stage With Roger Waters Large Pictures Thanks To Me! Smaller pics thanks to Paul Trotman
Set the controls was very strong and has aged
very well. The songs from Wish you were here got
considerable crowd response but I am afraid I am in
the camp of "Gilmour or nothing" and these songs in
particular showed the considerable talent gap. Poor
old Snowy White despite looking like he didn't want
to be there had the further embarrassment of having
his amp mike pack it in and we spent Shine On part
two and three with him picking away in silence. I
don't think we missed much. Shine On parts 6-9
surprised me a bit with Chester doing some neat
slide and a melodic close in part nine closed a
reasonably strong first half. We slipped into 1974
as the ancient mirrored reflector sparkled. I am
not sure if there is a dry sense of humour in
Waters to bring out such an old prop. The second set openers were spoiled by audience
members walking in front of me returning with their
chips and coke (why spend $132 and miss a single
minute of the show?). The highlight of the night
for me was Every strangers eyes which I have always
felt to be Waters' strongest piece post 1983. It
was superb with Andy Fairweather Low really adding
some emotion in his playing. It was fascinating to
see Rogers post Floyd material being played and I
thoroughly enjoyed the Amused to death songs played
with considerable energy and power. Brain Damage
and Eclipse I thought would have been a nice way to
end the main set because they are natural closers
and leave with you with a dramatic high but
unfortunately Comfortably numb was added and after
seeing Pink Floyd many times Snowy White and
Chester between them could not do what Gilmour can
do on a bad night. With the two of them tip toeing
on a low wall I really thought I was looking at a
cover band trying hard but needing more
practice. Having listened to an MP3 of flickering and not
being that impressed I was hoping for each small
candle. We got flickering flame but I was very
impressed and it closed the night on a gentle up
uplifting note. Having spent 25 years following Pink Floyd I
spent half the night feeling awed by the fact that
I was in the same room with Roger Waters and felt
somewhat melancholy at the end knowing it was
probably the last chance to see the man. A
memorable evening that will stay with me and remain
to savour for a very long time. |
Feeling
somewhat apprehensive that I was about to see an
expensive Pink Floyd cover band I was greatly
disappointed by the opening four songs (from my
favourite album no less). They lacked any
enthusiasm and passion, very much going through the
motions. The crowd and the general vibe picked up
during Southampton Dock and on into Dogs. It was
almost as if Dogs allowed the band to stretch out
and cut loose. Chester Kamen while playing with a
fair amount of distortion really carried the song
and gave it the right amount of power and
aggression. The show I felt really started there
and proceeded at a much higher energy level.
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(Above) Pic thanks to Jay Ebejer
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I first learnt of Roger's tour back in October last year. Given that the Australian promoters were painfully languid, it wasn't until February that I secured tickets that were certainly worth the wait - positioned centrally to the stage and only six rows back. At approx. 7:40 PM the lights went down and shadows appeared on the stage. The last one to appear was unmistakably that of Mr. Roger Waters. I began to burst with excitement. Then, at the call of "eins, zwei, drei, der vierte...." it all began. The almost capacity crowd were then treated to close to three hours of musical, lyrical and theatrical magic that only this man, Roger Waters, can produce. I must pay a few tributes. Firstly, I'm a huge rap for
Chester Kamen, as I thought his performance was a stellar
one. Particularly his guitar solos during "Dogs", which were
the closest sounding to those from Dave Gilmour I've ever
heard. His guitar work on "Shine On Parts 6-9" also rates
highly. Another highlight was PP Arnold's vocals in Perfect Sense Part 1. For me, she certainly lived up to the expectations she set on "Amused to Death" and "In The Flesh" and undoubtedly deserved every accolade the Melbourne crowd thrust her way, of which after her solo I must have been the loudest. Then when it was time for "It's A Miracle" and "Amused To Death", Roger and the band at this point triggered my emotional switch. The songs in themselves possess very soul-stirring qualities, but when an amazingly talented band, who are lead by the world's premier singer/songwriter and backed by some very moving video footage and tape effects, the feelings I experienced were overwhelming. My entire body was tingling and there was even a tear or two.
Two other worthy mentions must go to Graham Broad's fantastic work on the drums (particularly the intro to "Time") and Harry Waters inspirational keyboard and synthesiser movements, with "Shine On" being his trump card - I don't know about his Bob Marley hair-do though. I only have two thumbs down. To the roadie responsible for the volume control on Snowy's guitar amp. It took him from the guitar solo on "Set The Controls" until after the first solo of "Shine On" to turn it up, until which time Snowy was plucking away, with nothing coming out. Wake Up Boys!!!! My second is to the idiot who decided to get out his little red laser light after "Comfortably Numb". Maybe this is the same crazed fan Roger spat on in 1977 in Montreal. I'm sure if Roger had seen it (which thankfully I don't think he did) he wouldn't have hesitated in "clouting that little ingrate into shape".  However, all in all, "Roger Waters In The Flesh 2002" was an experience I shall savour for many years. To anyone in two minds as to whether or not to attend one of Roger's shows, should you decide to, I guarantee more than satisfaction. To those waiting with baited breath and tickets in hand - rapture awaits you. Finally to Roger himself, my admiration and thanks. For both touring, and for making Melbourne, Australia one of your stops. But, in your words "it was a long long way - but well worth it" THANK YOU!! |
On
Monday night I attended "The Greatest Show On Earth" "and
then it was over" all too quickly I'm afraid.
I
also thoroughly enjoyed Chester's and Snowy's guitar duo
which closed "Comfortably Numb" and also the set. Roger's
new song "Flickering Flame" was played as the encore. If it
was any indication of the quality of material we fans have
to look forward to, this rock legend will continue spoiling
us with many a masterpiece yet.
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(Above) Back Stage Pass
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Sydney Morning Herald 8 Apr 2002 Beat Magazine With thanks to Chris Burrows |
(Above) This shot was taken by Andrew Herborn.
That's me on the left taking my
seat and standing on
the right is Mark Jensen
Roger finds his wall. These beauties were spotted
by Sue Jones under a railway bridge in Jolimont Pde East
Melbourne
(Above) From Melbourne Herald-Sun Sunday 17th Feb 2002
Thanks to Mike Burrows
(Above) With thanks to Mike
Burrows
Escape Frames
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