2006 North America
Tour Reviews

Notwithstanding the fabulous performance, the quality of the evening was compromised, at least for me, by the barrage of political messages I had to endure. Mr. Waters is certainly entitled to his political views, and I will even yield that he has the right to an expression (singular) of them in his performance (after all, one must be true to oneself); but, not only is it impolite to go on about it, but it is downright bad form to do so when you have a captive audience.

And the Pig... It was rude and manipulative to get us cheering that particular Floyd icon, only to find out that it had the name of our President prominently displayed on its backside, with a call for his impeachment. Again, that's just bad manners.

I, for one, would have more respect for Mr. Waters' political views were they expressed in a forum appropriate to political statement, e.g. a fund raising concert, his website, etc. As it is, I have no respect for them, and in fact am somewhat embittered by my experience.

Alas, I fear this has been my first, and last, Pink Floyd concert.

The bands performance was flawless and blended music with just the right amount of visual effects. The crowd came alive during the performances of new and old favorites. Many times during the evening, concert goers provided back up vocals during such classics as Comfortably Numb and Another Brick in the Wall.

His voice was sharp and solid as I have every heard. Set two was a complete rendition of Dark Side of the Moon and kept the crowd on their feet the entire time.

This was the must see concert event of the year and with any luck will not be his last concert tour.

Went up with my sister and brother in law for this show at the Cricket Pavilion in Phx., AZ. Got there early with time to spare, check out the $35 t-shirts and $125 embossed jerseys (being thrifty, I sprung for a cool $20 coffee mug with the wavy, colorful DSTM logo). The crowd was mixed, young and old, with some people flying from far away (Kansas City!) to see this show before it heads to LA. Due to a accident on I-10, the show started 45 minutes late to allow the stragglers to filter in on this hot autumn nite.

The stage "set" appeared a bigger than life old radio, model plane, full ashtray, bottle and whiskey glass. As old jazz music started and smoke moved across the stage, I realized the "set" was actually a huge, VERY hi-def. screen with clarity beyond anything I've seen. Wow. A hand fiddled with the dial and the glass as various songs "came" from the radio until Roger arrived with fist raised under a solo spotlight, dressed in black and looking alert, healthy and together for his weathered past. Let the show begin, and the sold out crowd (10,000 +) roared with approval as the (3) video screens lit up and the band, 7-8 players and 3 outstanding vocalists, opened with "IN the Flesh". The sound was a bit rough for the first 3 songs, but as they finished with the "Set Your Controls for the Sun" from '68's Saucerful of Secrets, the sound was dialed. Roger showcased some great guitar work backlit with a authentic, spectacular 60's liquid light show. "Shine On" had a nice video tribute to Syd Barrett, may he RIP. Later came one of my all time fav's "Wish You Were Here", where Roger again showcased his accoustic skills and more classic early Floyd black and white still images were featured, which was nice to see.

Never one to shy away from strong statements, dating back to "Us and Them " from DSTM in 1973, Roger played the controversial "Leaving Beruit", an amazing story of a young Roger's short stay with a family there. The show stomper IMHO was the classic "Sheep", from "Animals", which ended the first set with killer, technical hammering guitar chords, amazing video, brilliant pyrotechnics and of course the pink PIG. Not as big as the PIG from the 1977 tour, but-none-the-less revered by the crowd, covered with political messages across his belly & flashing lazer lights. Freed from his leash toward the end of the spiraling guitar power chords, he went quickly skyward, probably just as visiting Prez. Bush started his stump speech for a fund raiser in the Valley that very night.

Holy shit, that set finale was a knockout punch-raising the hair on my neck!! Roger says, "see ya in 15 minutes", and we bolted for the refreshment line to replenish before DSTM was to be featured in it's magnificent entirety.

The opening, pulsing heartbeat of "Speak To Me" sent shivers thru my spine as we got back to our seats. Each of the songs seauged fluidly, just like the orig. LP, which (1/2 speed master) is spinning on turntable at this very moment. The original clock video on the screen, seeming dated at first during the opening sounds of "Time", fit like an old shoe as the cut progressed, mixed with updated images. The show stomper of the second set was Carol Kenyon's incredible vocal solo on "The Great Gig IN the Sky", where she took the song and simply owned it to the end. That girl can wail!, ...but before we could sit down, the classic "Money" followed and the crowd just went freaking nuts. More classic, orig. video from the 70's gigs. Us/Them, with a savage sax solo, COLOR, BRAIN DAMAGE AND ECLIPSE followed. Wow, the 2nd set went by fast. Lead guitarist Kilminster is no Gilmour, but the guy can flat-out PLAY. Very impressive and he has the licks down; the dual lead work with Snowy White was very nice.

Then came an impressive, non stop encore of classic Wall songs, killer classic and updated video with "Comfortably Numb" finishing the show. 2.5 hours of professional, innovative, creative, timeless audio/visual entertainment, minus the break. EPIC. He kicked our asses. It was obvious that Roger Waters loves to be on stage, performing his Floyd masterpieces. His voice was right on, a little aged but still very strong, and showed his sincere appreciation to the audience with a heartfelt tap on his ticker. The band, on top of their game, were tight, even when improvising and the energy was there to the end. Certainly one of the top 10 concerts in my 30+ years of hearing-loss gigs and a better understanding and appreciation of the revered "Dark Side of the Moon". Easy to see why it was on the top 100 album chart for over 11 years...

The only complaints I had were: The total lack of policing the "No Smoking" rule in the seating area. It was disgusting. And sadly, no Obscured By Clouds or Meddle tunes. Other than that it was...EPIC.
Steve Bohn
Tucson, AZ

The flights and crappy hotels were worth it for sure and I would not have missed this show for anything. Actually, Phoenix was not too far for me considering we did go all the way to Holland on June 10th to see Roger. Once I saw that show I knew I had to see it again! The show has changed a bit since Europe and that made it even better ...the song list was the same but Roger added that new video in the beginning of the show and throughout ...I definitely do not remember any of that in Holland. Others have described the radio and whiskey glass film in other reviews on your website so I won't go into it, but I will say this was the coolest thing I have ever seen at a concert... the giant hand turning the radio stations... the crowd went crazy!

This place was definitely filled to capacity. I did not see an open seat nor any unfilled place on the grass all the way to the very back. Everyone was standing the whole concert! I don't know what the person who wrote in above was talking about but what kind of idiot pays 400 dollars for tickets and then leaves at 9:30? All the musicians and singers were fantastic... especially the ladies! I did not hear one wrong note! The crowd was enthusiastic and appreciative and I did not hear any Booing at all during Leaving Beirut. I screamed so much when Roger sings about W and about the Christian Right that I lost my voice and could not cheer much during the second set, although I did applaud madly. I waited for the reaction to this song but all I heard was cheers and then when people saw Impeach Bush on the pig's ass they went wild and cheered even more!!!

It was a funny coincidence that the idiot-in-chief was in Phoenix the next morning and we passed Air Force One on our way back to the airport. Looking at the plane I thought too bad W only surrounds himself with yes-men who never criticize or tell him the truth (probably cause they would be fired like the generals who asked for more troops to go into Iraq). I wish he could have seen some of this show. I did see on the Phoenix news in the morning that there were 400 or more protesters in the street where Bush was raising money for some pro-war, gay-bashing, war-profiteering, tax-cutting (for the rich) bullshit scumbag Republican candidate - that made me feel good. I wonder if any of those people were at the concert???

I really enjoyed seeing Bush's picture next to Osama and Saddam and Reagan on the walls of the Fletcher memorial home for Tyrants and Kings during the video for that song... his point being that all these power-hungry fanatics are the same. And the video during Perfect Sense showing how war has become like a football game with fans cheering was powerful and moving. I went to see the show again primarily for the politics of it, so I could voice my support for Roger and his views, and I loved every minute. He also shows video of Bush landing on the aircraft carrier with the "mission accomplished" banner later in the show, and contrasts this with injured or dead civilians... which is really what Americans should see - but our corporate media is so right wing that we don't see coffins coming home, we don't see the real costs of this "war on terror." Over 20K soldiers permanently injured and amputated, almost 3K dead for Bush's greedy war profiteering! Who really is benefiting from all this... Halliburton and Big Dick Cheney's buddies are making money hand over fist and the people as usual suffer. Time has come to over throw the Powers That Be!

I was happy to buy the program for the show which has an excellent interview with Roger where he talks about his politics and specifically about the terrible influence religion has on the world. I hope he is right, and that one day we humans will look back on religion and say how could we have been so stupid to believe in this superstitious nonsense! By the way, ever notice how similar Bush sounds to Osama? They both believe they are doing "God's work" and believe that "God" speaks to them. How sad to have a President who some would diagnose as insane... this man has his finger on the button of mass destruction and he actually believes in all this biblical bullshit about the end of the world! Or does he? We all know they use religion to bring out their base - gay marriage and abortion issues get these people to the polls... but we also know Karl Rove and the rest of them use these people and do not care one bit about these issues! However, I do think Bush believes he speaks to God which is all the more reason he should be impeached! We don't need fanatics running our government. The list of offenses for which he could be impeached are many. Illegal wiretaps, war on false pretenses, lying about outing a CIA agent... you name it this group of scumbags need to be marched out of the White House in handcuffs!

Ok, back to the show...the sound was loud and not distorted from where we were on the lawn. The surround did not work too well back there because it did not go that far back... but that was OK. I tried to get better seats but the scalpers were charging $1700 a ticket for front row and $500 for a seat in the 300 section so that was out of the question. There should be laws against this! It makes me laugh to think of these people who paid that much and bought 4 T-shirts and then walked out because of Roger's political messages! I'm glad he has your money! I'm sure he will put it to good use making the world a better place. In the program it talks about his work against world hunger.

The highlight of the show for me was Sheep and Bring the Boys Back Home! The war footage and the canons going off were so powerful and I hope some people are inspired to action. We do really need to Bring the Boys and Girls back home from this "war" in Iraq! Dave and Snowy were in top notch form - Dave's guitar was so clear and just had that great Gilmour sound! Man did he rock! I had not realized that Andy played that swanky raw guitar on Leaving Beirut - god I love the sound of that! This song is so much better live than the studio version Roger recorded. I wish Roger would have played To Kill the Child which is an even better song. In fact, I would like to see him play those two songs and more from Amused To Death... like Watching TV, or What God Wants... that would have fit right in. Also, I would switch Mother for Nobody's Home from The Wall. He played Nobody's Home on the 87 tour... also Gunners dream would have been great - he played that in 84 with Clapton! Oh well, he has too much music and we can't hear it all. I love Pro's and Con's (it is my favorite) and anything from that would have been great as well!

I want to thank you Michael for your outstanding website and newsleter/magazine... I am glad I finally joined the fan club! Please keep up the good work! It is so neat to hear other fans reviews and thoughts and the interviews with Roger really explain a lot about his views and how they were formed. Since Roger has influenced my political views since around 1984 it is really cool to see how his views were influenced by Kafka, and his father and mother, and others. Someone wrote in on an earlier show and said that Roger lives in NY and that his dad (who was a communist/socialist) fought and died in Italy in WWII when Roger was very young... well I think that gives him the right to speak up, and I agree with many fans who say that if they had the same forum to share their views it would be their moral obligation to do so! Thank you Roger for using your music and your concerts to point out the hypocrisy and indecency of our politics here in the USA. If you change or enlighten one person (and I know there are many who will rise to action from this experience) then it is all worth it.

Sincerely and with hope for a better future,
Mitch Stillman
Albuquerque, NM

The Visual graphics of the Sun and Outer Space was a trip! This was my5th Roger Waters show (4 show's with the In The Flesh Tour). The Video screen was the greatest improvement from the previous years! "Sheep" was the highlight for me, the fast energy and the pace of that song was greatly filled. Everyone loves it when they bring out the Flying pigs.

The surround sound was very nice and noticeable, I would hate to be the people sitting right next to the right and left side of the stage, it may be over powering if you sit too close the speakers.

One cool thing about the merchandise is the signed and numbered posters for only $75.00. This is a original autographed poster by Roger Waters, I got 529/1000. They were going very fast at the end of the concert. To get a poster with Rogers real numbered autograph is a dream come true for me. The Value exceeds the price of $75.00, for sure. I recommend getting one! Fast!

To all Pink Floyd fans: I know we all want to see The Floyd get back together. But to me this is the greatest time to be a Pink Floyd fan.I was fortunate to see David Gilmour in Chicago this year and now Roger Waters in Phoenix. They both keep recording new material and keep touring! Life is great! Long live The Floyd!
Kyle
From Denver

"Someone tell Roger He needs to play Red Rocks!"

This concert is surely the greatest I have seen or will ever see, unless of course, Roger tours again and I can see him perform The Wall in it's entirety! Lets start the rumours here and now! Roger Waters 2008 The Wall tour!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!

A living legend, rock God, genious, icon messiah! In a category with EXTREMELY FEW others...i.e. Jimi Hendrix, and we still have Roger! Roger is so considerate of his audience, making eye contact with many people, including me and my wife, in the 4th row, and anyone else he could see.

Wait, now I know why you posted that "review" by DD, as a joke, I get it... ahahhahahha.... DD, go see American Idols and Manilow babe, this was a ROCK SHOW at its finest! BTW, I stood the entire time, and 3 hours seemed like 50 minutes! Must see concert if you still can! Also, (to those criticizing the politics...) who goes to a Waters concert, and then is surprised by his politics? I will tell you, a casual Floyd fan, not even familiar with the songwriters motivations and inspirations. Anyone surprised by Roger, is not a Waters fan to begin with, and US and HIM would rather you didnt go to any more of his shows...

The talent and the longevity of this band is mind boggling. The Cricket was full like I've never seen even at it's high. Roger Waters started out so strong and the whole crowd was in the vibe including myself and the two I was with. It is amazing what some beers and good old Crown and Coke will do.

So I find my self grooving, just really getting into the whole Pink Floyd thing not paying too much attention to the approximately 100 foot monitor "cool a floating pink giant pig" (I thought to myself) that is cool it has writing all over it. This is when it took a turn for the worse. On the back of the pig it had written "Impeach Bush" so I thought hey their in America let them have their views. Then at that moment I started to look closely at the 100 foot monitor flashing pictures of Bush and oil rigs. Then the 100 foot monitor showed pictures of little middle east children, "oh my" helpless middle east families with desperation on their face. Now again with the oil rig. Now more desperate middle east families, "oh my what to do" STOP STOP STOP! Am I the only one sick and tired of the Bush and America bashing? Can I not go to a paid ($40 "oh yea American" dollars!!) and just get entertained? Seriously please just play the guitar and sing that is what I paid for! When I pay to go to a political convention, yea then I want your political views! When did it become policy for Clowns to give their political views? Just tie the balloon into a poodle not an oil rig with the peace sign and I will pay you fully, until then I have no use for you!

So as I look onto the crowd of approximately 30K raising their hands as if to condone this behavior, that is when I realized they don't condone it they support it. So with a few guitar licks and beats of the drums our fate is sealed? never opening a book, newspaper, or even watching the news. Political behavior is set. How do we break this kind of behavior, or do we let it just go on with out a care? I say we need to speak up and tell these performers that no matter what (conservative or liberal) we just want to pay for the talent and not your views! You may not agree with what I say and that is ok at least you didn't have to pay for it! When I get money for the e-mail I will dance a jig in my sporty shorts!

The sound was magnificent as was the show. Roger Waters is without a peer, a once in a life time genius. Having grown up in the 70's all I ever wanted to do was see Pink Floyd, after Roger left it was such a bummer. I never attempted to see the remnant of Pink Floyd, but when my son told me Roger was touring doing Dark Side I knew it was the chance of a life time. After waiting 35 years (Floyd fan since I was 11) to see this concert, I was not disappointed. I can say that this concert met my every expectation of Roger Waters amazing talent. My 2 sons who are 17 and 20 also thought it was the best concert they have ever seen, and took all my Pink Floyd CD's.

The night of the Chicago concert the wind was blowing pretty stiff to the east. The night of the Phoenix concert there was no wind at all and the pig went straight up and out of sight. Every day driving around the Phoenix area I look for "The Pig". I know I'll never find it but it's kind of fun wondering where it went. Keep me posted if you ever here of someone finding it. You know if Roger ever tours again a replica in a smaller version would probably be a hot selling item. Just a thought.

The sound I thought was very good and the musicians were great as always. The backup singers were great. Dark Side sounded really nice. I thought I'd be tired of hearing it, having seen Roger 3 times now and Dave's Pink Floyd a couple times, but it was great to hear it from start to finish. From our vantage point, we couldn't see who was controlling the pig, but we watched it float away into the sky. I don't think it ever came back down. And just how the hell can you listen to Roger Waters and be surprised by his political views? Some commenters here complain about being surprised by his politics. A lot of the people who write in here complain about the political stuff. I didn't hear anyone booing, just cheering. And I am in agreement with him and was cheering him, too.

I can't think of any one thing that was more impressive than anything else. It was fantastic from start to finish. He could easily have kept the music going for hours and it would have been fine with me and most everyone else at the show. Maybe next time, he can do an all Animals or all Wish You Were Here set. It was a great way to spend a beautiful October Phoenix evening.

Chris Koltes

p.s. Great site, by the way. I wish I'd found it a long time ago.

You are an amazing musicianÊand the concert I was at on 10/3/2006 The Dark Side Of The Moon was AWESOME, THANK YOU!!!!! I would like to know if there are ANY plans to release that amazing performance of yours and the AWESOME band you have put together in a live recording? I saw several video camera's and I would purchase a DVD or CD of that show theÊday it was released. PLEASE think about putting out a live DVD so I could enjoy your performance again and again!!!!!

My wife and I had the time of our lives at your Az,ÊCricket Pavilion show! My brother Tracy was upset because he is as big a fan as I am and he plays the guitar and had to work that night and could not come along with us. My wife Frances, kept sending him text messages on her cell phone until she sent him one that was simply WISH YOU WERE HERE, and he sent her one back PLEASE STOP, YOUR TORTURING ME!!!!! I know he would buy a DVD also he was CRUSHED THAT HE COULD NOT BE THERE!!!!!! And I told him ALL about it, and he just shook his head. I mean he was ready to CRY when I told him of your amazing performance.

Your fans love your music and are blown away when they must miss a WORLD CLASS MUSICIAN PERFORM!!! If you did not record that performance for a DVD release, would youÊPLEASE record one for aÊDVD, RELEASE!!!!! You would sell hundreds of thousands of copy's!!!

My brother Tracy gave me his Pioneer CLD-D503 Laser Disc player because I wanted a copy of his Pink Floyd THE WALL laser disc, I had worn out my vhs copy that I was able to make back in the 80's. I was the hit of all of Tempe, Az with that copy of filmed music magnificence!ÊBefore it had ever been released, I have watched it 5 times since he gave it to me.

You have made the best most listened to music ever produced or even thought of. You are a GOD in the music world. Thank you, and please think about recording, releasing, and making your fans happy once again by allowing us toÊENJOY your talent again and again when ever we want to be blown away by your ability's to perform. THANK YOU!!!!!!!!!