In The Flesh 2002
Tour Reviews

I have just returned from the two most magical nights I have ever experienced. I travelled to Sydney from Canberra (about 300kms) to live and breathe two nights of sheer musical excellence.

The band was just fantastic. The opening onslaught of In The Flesh through the massive speaker banks exploded into my consciousness, sending shivers down my spine, I literally had to pinch myself to makes sure it was real. The second night the sensation was heightened as Roger screamed the intro to In The Flesh a

nd the band lit up the stage with passion. The Happiest and Another Brick 2 were perfectly blended together (as on the album) to again assault your senses and bring back emotions and feelings from my teen years listening to The Wall over and over again. Mother was just fantastic, acoustically perfect and an ideal way to end the first part of the show.

Get Your Filthy Hands Off My Desert and Southampton Dock, (for Final Cut fans) which I am one, were incredible. The quad 3d sound system kicked in with the launch of the missile at the start of Get Your Filthy Hands Off My Desert. Southampton Dock is a wonderful song, again highlighting the superb lyrical skills of Roger

The image (Battersy Park Power Station) behind the stage then heralded the start of the Animals part of the concert, something I have been longing to see for many years. It was a pity Floyd in 88 did nothing from Animals, a strong album capturing the wonderful mix of Rogers lyrics and Daves guitar work.

Dogs was the highlight, the sound system was so incredible it is so hard to describe. The middle section with those ethereal chords just spinning around and around, changing direction above our heads, the dogs barking from every corner of the theatre, the eerie green lights, the totally awe struck audience, mesmerised by the experience, an experience only deliverable by Roger and Co.

Set the Controls... was also a delight to witness. Again those chords, those guitars, the music; words are so limiting sometimes for human experiences and emotion.

Then the finale of part one of the show, Wish you Were Here in its entirety (except Have a Cigar, a Roy Harper sung song, or just not right for the show..). Images of Syd, Lava Lamps and everything Roger and Floyd from the sixties and seventies, 30 minutes of pure musical genius. The audience between Machine and Wish You Were Here was just spell bound, totally silent, totally in wonder of the last strains of Machine leading into the confusion before Wish You Were Here, then exultation as WYWH started with the perfect guitar intro pure magical musical theatre.

Then Shine On, for Syd, the mirror flower climax, showering us in sparkles of light and slowly easing us down from the pinnacle of 90 minutes of musical excellence.

Then a break, time to catch my breath, it seemed that the show had only be going for ten minutes, how such a fantastic experience robs us of time, the second night, I lived and breathed every word to make it last, but alas it moved as quick.

Time to check out the merchandise, hats, pins, key rings, shirts. Who cares what the price was, this is a once off, I needed to take something home to prove I was there.

20 minutes or so later the heart beat off Dark Side heralded Part 2 of this experience. It took me back 25 years. Breathe, Time (Graham just did a fantastic job with the drums) and Money, played quicker but still a classic and a perfect start to part 2 of the show. Both Time and Money are timeless songs, I am sure generations hence will be listening to them.

Then the sound of a truck engine, Hello... Do you want a cup of Coffee? Fantastic Pros and Cons of HitchHiking gets a run.. Every Strangers Eyes, the stand out song from Pros and Cons... is a wondrous piece, Andys guitar is a dream to listen to and Every Stranger's Eyes is the perfect song. Sugn wih eelgin by Roger, total emotion in this sung, it must mean so much to him, I know it does to me.

By this time some of the audience are saying, huh what is this, others are getting ready to settle in for a 25 minute burst of Amused To Death. This was the only downer, people going to a PF show, or what they thought would be a PF show. Come on folks, this is Roger Waters... The stand out part of the show for me is the set of Amused To Death.

This is real true blue Roger at his best, it is this bands music, five tracks that will stay with me a lifetime. The words are so powerful, the perfectly blended music, the backing tapes, Rogers antics on stage, the totally enveloping screams of it all makes perfect sense penetrates everyone in the theatre, it sounded like there were 100,000 people there screaming, instead of the 6000 or so at the second show. Then finally the story of Bill Hubbard and Amused To Death fades to an audience spell bound in sections, while others are saying lets go out and get this album. Amused To Death is an album of sheer lyrical brilliance so many people are missing out on Roger at his best.

Then as the show must surely come to a climax we are treated to stand out songs from Dark Side again, Brain Damage and Eclipse. The images again are so fitting, the band perfectly interpreting this rock album of such proportions it is hard to imagine.

Then the introductions of the band, the fear within me that this show must end and end soon. Roger looked so happy, so pleased with everything and the band looked the same, having a good time, playing timeless, meaningful music.

Then Comfortably Numb erupts and the audience goes wild, knowing that this is surely it. This classic of all classics, Floyd fans the world over have watched and listened to Dave perform this song on countless occasions, on world tour after world tour, at Knebworth etc etc, but to see Roger perform it, his part, was the icing on the cake for me, it was a magical moment.

The solo at the end was great and I dont think anyone will interpret it the way Dave does, but Snowy and Chester did a great job, duelling together on the wall so to speak, a fantastic end to the perfect show.

Immediately a standing ovation, screams of more and more and the band left the stage, the magic must surely end soon, but 30 seconds later they are back what will it be Flickering Flame or Each Small Candle.

Roger briefly introduces a new song. A song about love and freedom - Flickering Flame. Everyone is treated to this masterful 6 or so minutes of poetry in the making. Magical lyrics, a perfect mix of acoustic guitar with strains of painful lead, backing singers, the song will grow on all Roger fans I think, and I look forward to the day I can hear this version, or a properly put down studio version. The demo version on Flickering Flame is fantastic, it has a rawness that is special, but seeing it live gave me goose bumps and rounded off the perfect night.

I left, spell bound by a musical experience that has been a stand out for me, Floyd in 88 was an sensory phenomenon, Waters in 2002 was that and more, lyrically superior, musically perfect, visually stunning without diminishing the importance of the music, or the history and respect of others involved in its development.

To anyone yet to see this show, I promise you a truly almost spiritual experience, live the night, the show will stay with you a lifetime.
Michael Linke

From: Hesham Attalla
An Evening With Roger Waters
Sydney Entertainment Center Saturday April 6th 2002

The Song Set List

Set 1
1. In The Flesh part 2
   
2. The Happiest Days Of Our Lives
   
3. Another Brick In The Wall (Part 2)
   
4. Mother
   
5. Get Your Filthy Hands Off My Desert
   
6. Southampton Dock
   
7. Pigs On The Wing Part 1
   
8. Dogs
   
9. Set The Controls For The Heart Of The Sun
   
10. Shine On You Crazy Diamond (Parts 1-5)
    
11. Welcome To The Machine
    
12. Wish You Were Here
    
13. Shine On You Crazy Diamond (Parts 6-9)
    

    BREAK
    Set 2
    

14. Breathe (In The Air)
    
15. Time
    
16. Money
    
17. The Pros And Cons Of Hitch Hiking Part 11 (aka 5:06 A.m - Every Stranger's Eyes)
    
18. Perfect Sense (Part I)
    
19. Perfect Sense (Part II)
    
20. The Bravery Of Being Out Of Range
    
21. It's A Miracle
    
22. Amused To Death
    
23. Brain Damage
    
24. Eclipse
    
25. Comfortably Numb
    

    Encore
    

26. Flickering Flame
    

Roger Waters In The Flesh 2002 world tour played three concerts in Australia, among which two for Sydney, and one for Melbourne. The promoting campaign in the papers, and TV highlighted only song titles from The Dark Side Of The Moon, and The Wall. This is the first tour for Roger in Australia since August 1971, at which Pink Floyd played one date for each of Sydney, and Melbourne.

The following is a review of the second Sydney concert on Saturday April 6th 2002. My impressions, and observations were written down throughout the three hours long concert. They reflect the very feelings, and thoughts that took place while witnessing a show played by one of the most innovative, and conceptual composers of our times.

The overall sound was excellent. Vocals, and Instruments were all well defined. A feeling of the three dimensional sound was imminent as sound engineers used centre hanging speakers to distribute the Keyboards sound and Vocals. This also created a rich texture of melody around all other solos, and sound effects. Now let's go through the concert itself.

In the flesh comes at the top of the song list, and the perfect start of a powerful rock act to follow. Mother - with its crystal clear acoustics - had an enormous impact. I believe we then started to feel the magic of Rogers voice and lyrics.

On Dogs, Roger played his bass, with Andy Fairweatherlow on acoustic guitar. The two moving together to the rhythm. It was interesting also to see both Snowy White, and Chester Karmen doing the guitar solo riffs together note for note at the same time, so that the notes came out very bold. This is a complex song, it will be remembered as a highlight of this night. The Keyboards notes were just perfect. Beautiful job from Harry Waters, and Andy Wallace. While the keyboards solos were going on together with percussion, the four guitar players took off their guitars and sat around a green table, played cards and had a drink. So did the three vocalists. Soon guitars were put back on for a strong strumming and the second part of the song. Perfect.

Syd Barrett photos, and also early photos of the Pink Floyd were showing on the back screen. They were carefully selected for Set Controls For The Heart Of The Sun. Roger played his acoustic guitar, it all came out as the original in the LP A Saucerfull Of Secrets of the Nice Pair Double Album. Amazing how even that tone from the Synths of Harry Waters.

As Roger finished the words of "Set the Controls For the Heart of the Sun", the first synths notes of Shine On You Crazy Diamond began. "Remember when you were young..." pulled us back nearly three decades to wonder how the years have gone by! I was carried away with the lyrics. The original notes played on guitar were coloured here by the bands current players. However, this song will allways be compared note for note with Mr Gilmour's original stamp.

A very low frequency sound of machines brought us to the start - (of a slightly different vocal arrangement) - of Welcome To The Machine. Roger played the acoustic guitar, and sang the remarkable vocal dialogue between him and the other vocalists. The song then segue'd to Wish You Were Here. Chester Camen started the 1st notes on his electric guitar, Snowy white answered here with his accoustic guitar.

A bright silver shiny diamond started to raise up in the rear side of the stage During Shine On Your Crazy Diamond parts 6-9. This concluded the first set of the show.

With his full left hand covering on his bass, Palm muting - Roger calmly started hitting the watch ticking notes in Time. Ahs and Ohs were heard loudly from the audience, when we saw the very nostalgic light prism on the black cover of The Dark Side Of The Moon LP projected on the background screen. Again the same studio perfection was repeated on Money as a graphic of the record being played on the turntable was projected. How can we forget the sound track of our lives! Andy Featherlow burst out with an electric solo here, before the final solo done by Chester. The saxphone solo by Norbert Stachel was also a thrill. Norbert played it with great authority. And the sound of his horn drifted away as he walked off the stage.

Every Strangers Eyes started a different section in the concert, with the most splendid vocal arrangement and the most meaningfull lyrics that we would ever come across. Then we heard Perfect Sense, which is a magical Rock Theater Act with great emotional vocals from Roger and the three girls. and then another masterpiece from his 1992 album, It's a Miracle was played.

At this point we realized the full extend of Mr. Roger Waters genius, musicianship, and composing talent. Watching the deep expressions on Roger's face was unforgettable. Simply put, he deeply feels his work. A picture of war victims names on a plaque was shown while he ended Amused To Death with Bill Hubbard ending his story.

The audience enjoyed a sing along with the band for the Brain Damage, and Eclipse where the Moon virtually eclipsed the sun on the big screen. Comfortably Numb gave us a little taste of the original The Wall act. Roger singing, while walking from one side of the stage to another. We all sang with him to this great classic. The final guitar solo was done by Snowy, and Chester on top a small WALL at the back of the stage. On the other side The Harry Waters, the keyboard player also took up an acoustic guitar to add up anther layer of chords. This was an classic epic. I wonder if it would have been the same had it been otherwise produced during The Wall sessions.

Roger Waters mentioned the long journey he is currently doing to Sydney, thanked people for coming. He then presented the last song of the evening, he called it a song for love and freedom. Flickering Flame is a new song from an upcoming album. It ends up the show with the words We Shall Be Free on a clear optimistic open C chord.

An Evening with Roger Waters is a serious music experience. Throughout the concert I was moved by Waters full concentration and perfection. Rogers excellantly kept the thousands rapt with attention and admiration, who were also well behaved and applauded only at the end of each song. There was an enormous sense of respect for his very intelligent work. This is what Roger Waters has always wanted and which he has certainly achieved.
Hesham Attalla

I thought his solo stuff was the highlight, especially the songs from Amused To Death..... and the version of 'Time' was unbelievable. It's also funny that Waters and the band sound closer to the studio Pink Floyd than what Floyd do themselves!....

I presume the difference with Gilmour/Mason/Wright could be attributed to the sound progression after The Final Cut, but anyway I took four friends to the gig with me, and now they all love Roger Waters.... my girlfriend said 'Perfect Sense' is the best.... she also reckons Waters looks like Richard Gere ?!? hahahaa

But anyway whoever reads this will obviously know all of this already (except Gere part lol) so I just thought I would write anyway.
cheers
dave

In the morning, went for a walk around town and whilst wandering came across Rogers hotel and decided to walk into the lobby - just to see what was going on. ÊThere was Rog and India just waiting for the bus to the show. I went up to shake Rogers hand but he said "sorry don't do that". ÊHow odd! ÊBut hey maybe he didn't want to damage his hand ;-) .ÊHe signed the previous nights tickets that I had still on me and then went for his bus. ÊFunniest thing was India saying "Come on pappy" to him - how cute - YUCK YUCK YUCK ;-)

Got to the venue a bit early today as someone had said that last night they just walked into the rehearsal - doors not locked!! ÊAnd guess what - same tonight. ÊSo went in and listened to the band perform 30 minutes of Shine On part 2. ÊThe best bits for me was Rog trying to get them to sort out the sound and also telling Harry off for getting his intro to Shine On wrong (LOL).

Showtime - and they took the stage the customary 15 minutes after the time printed on the ticket. ÊBetter show tonight and the sound wasn't as loud but it was still far too loud. ÊNo headache tonight. ;-)

The beginning of the show has fireworks going off 4 times as ITF starts, and with my seats very close to the front I could feel the heat of the explosions - very effective part of the show though.

Same setlist as previous, but during one of Andy Fairweather-Low bits Rog went up to Andy Fairweather-Low's control section and turned his guitar off!!! ;-) ÊGuess he was going on far too long? ÊThe slides were slightly different tonight but following the same pattern. ÊFlickering Flame was the encore again - about time Each Small Candle had another airing. Andy Fairweather-Low Great show but too loud - oh well Melbourne on Monday ;-)
john elliott (jce)