2006 North America
Tour Reviews

The sound was very good, though not the best I've ever heard. The most astonishing moment was during the "On the Run" sequence with inserted train and vehicle movement thundering across the projection screen - then bullet holes puncturing the image at a blistering volume. Fantastic! Also "Sheep" was brilliant - my favourite Floyd album anyway, and here delivered with some gusto. Roger was definately personable, and it was fantastic to see his anger unabated, and his songs more-than-relevant in these times of war and moral confusion.

Oh, I hated the prancing guitarist - the new guy on the left - he knew the notes, but I found his touch and style to be inadequate. A very poor subsitute for Gilmour. I kept wanting Snowy to blow him off the stage.

Visuals were a bit iffy.. very good in some places, but a bit naff in others. For example, Roger has stated in many interviews he hates the "space rock" tag the Floyd always get lumped with.. yet half the visuals during the show were space shots.. Hubble universe .. etc etc. Strange, Rog.

Anyway, great night - the guy still has it, which is more than I can say for Dave "I have nothing to say" Gilmour and that new duff album of his.

Although I've known for many years of the strong political views of Roger Waters, I have to say that I was in shock when I herd him perform Leaving Beirut and seeing the spray painted messages on the pig. I couldn't believe that this concert had turned into an anti-American rally, led by THE life long musical idol of mine. I had paid over a thousand dollars to listen to a foreigner bash the President of the United States on American soil; as I said before, I was heartbroken.

This is the same thing that the Dixie Chicks had done and I've not listened to another one of their songs since. Roger's experience in Beirut was in 1961, it was a different place and time then. There weren't Muslim extremist trying to kill all Americans and anyone who believed in democracy and personal rights and freedom of any sort. That was one man's experience with one family 45 years ago; it was not in this day and time. Let's not forget the message on the pig's ass too. I firmly believe that every human being has the right to think and feel however they wish about politics and anything else for that matter; after all, it's a God given right. I don't believe however that one should take the opportunity of fame and stardom to express their own personal views to the masses; especially those who have paid to be there in the first place. Like I said, I have known for some time Waters' views of politics, but never have they been expressed in a way that I felt they were being shoved in my face. I hate that I walked away from the concert of my dreams, feeling like I had been betrayed by my long time idols personal political agenda.
Thanks for reading,
Curtis Moore
Meridian, Idaho

The last half of the show was truly stunning... The Dark Side of the Moon... who, but the original composer could do justice to such a masterpiece? Roger pulled it off with 'a band that's just fantastic... that is really what I think'. I enjoyed how parts that would have been sung by Gilmore were sung by a sultry woman with soul - very nice touch indeed. Tears were brought to my eyes as we stood in awe listening to the singer pull off the vocal masterpieces embedded in DSOTM - she was a credit to the original vocals. Roger's stage presence was truly impressive... he was having a bloody good time up on stage as he fed off the energy of the crowd. The audience was very receptive and we all left the show wanting more (hint, hint... take us to 'the Wall' next time).

My wife and I travelled from Salt Spring Island, Canada and would do this trek again in a moments notice... Roger, please come back again soon! Your music has touched our lives throughout the years... it has seen me through good and bad times and has always been there as a 'reality check' for mankind's sanity. Thank you for the music, the lyrics, the inspiration and the visual mind-fogs throughout the years.

Run Like Hell...

Whoa !!!!!!!!!!! since the first time I saw Roger solo (the Kaos show), I have told everbody, how incredible his shows are. My 15 year old son and his friend went, "nobody can top an Opeth show" so they both said before the show. I think it was the great gig in the sky that done it to them. But they felt the emotion which I think everybody feels when it is done so beautifully and emotionally. Before the show I asked them if they wanted to see the Carmina Burana (Carl Orff) show this year, which they both like. After the show my son says "When is the carmina burana show?

Roger is a genius, it is always more than a concert when you see Roger. I wish he would tame the "SHOW" down and just come and play music not that its not great, its right up there with Sex. Its that it would be easier on him, it would be more profitable, and then ...and then... He could come everyear, YESSSSSSSSS...

Perhaps he could do an Animals tour oh yeah... Perhaps a Wall show uh huh... Perhaps an early Floyd show, Syd all the way... Even better yet, A FULLY POLITICALLY CHARGED SHOW, keeping out all the "I think I am a Roger Waters fan", or is it " I am just reliving my adolescence going to what I thought would just be Floyd show " YOU DONT KNOW ROGER - The show was incredible... everybody... everthing about it... even the missed notes, or the overpriced (I bought two posters two shirts, one program) stuff ...

If you really wnat something to complain about... stay home and watch the news ...I suggest FOX.

Roger, thank you, I imagine it takes alot out of you, know that it puts alot in alot of people.
With Love,
Blaine

It was a joy to see that the political statements Roger has done in the past have continued to progress and, let's face it, he speaks the truth. I believe he speaks for a majority of us that see our world in a chaotic mess of destruction.

Roger has always been multi-media, and this tour's films and effects were excellent. The creative force that gives us the digital symbolisms were superb. I hope thatRoger releases another DVD of this tour in order to once again see the film highlights.

The musicianship was again top notch with some of his returning players and vocalists. The new players and vocalists in this tour were exceptional. They fit right in with the others and raised to the call of Roger's demanding perfection. A CD should be released as well.

I have heard that Roger may retire now. If this is the case, we all bid him afarewell. I believe he may continue in the studio and I hope he releases new material.Being a musician myselffor the past 40+ years and have just recently turned 50. Ihope that Roger feels the way I do, that is, I can't imagine not playing music or performing. I would cease to exist if I had to retire. It is my life, my soul, my being. Let's believe Roger will always be there and continue to speak out against the worldly wrongs of governments. He is our leader and speaker for all that is righteous in the world.

"Bring the boys back home..."
Sincerely,
Danny Kuettle
Portland, OR

1. Before the show started, the huge high-def video screen behind the stage showed a radio and a bottle of whiskey (Johnny Walker with the label turned around so as not to appear to be an advertisement). At one point, cigarette smoke started rising, and a hand reached up and turned the radio dial to play "We'll Meet Again" by Vera Lynn.

2. A few minutes later, the hand switched back to a rock and roll station, which played some Chuck Berry, then the beginning of Abba's "Dancing Queen," at which point everybody in the arena winced... as did the disembodied video narrator, who reached up and immediately switched it to something better! Hilarious.

3. The quote from George W, "When we're talking about war, we're really talking about peace" spraypainted on the wall of the interior of the abandoned home, which was apparently the Fletcher Memorial Home for Incurable Tyrants and Kings.

4. The pills on the video screen during "Brain Damage" printed with the small text "Soma." That's the mind-control drug from Brave New World that everybody must take.

5. The satellite from Radio KAOS circling the moon during Dark Side.

6. A long shot of an oil well pumping during "Us and Them", sitting there just long enough for you to wonder "what the hell?"... until he sings "and who'll deny it's what the fighting's all about?"

7. A quick fadethrough montage featuring George W Bush in the Mission Accomplished flyer shot just as he sings the line "all you distrust" from "Eclipse."

8. The flags of Israel and various Arab countries flashing by during "Bring the Boys Back Home" (it's not just about America or England).

9. The quick shot of him standing atop the Berlin Wall during "Another Brick."

Mindblowing show. That said, I'm as anti-Bush as they come, and part of my admiration for Rog comes from his clear political viewpoint, but I thought the politics were a bit overdone. Loved The Final Cut songs, didn't like Leaving Beirut nearly as much... the difference is a degree of subtlety and universality that Rog has always put into his songs, even the political ones. But hopefully this tour will knock all the Republican partyliners off all the Rog boards.

Not surprising to say, that I was blown away by the entire performance! I saw his In the Flesh tour in Dallas (2000), and I didn't think that show could be topped. But it was! I suspected that Key Arena would be a good venue for a Roger Waters show because of the favorable venue dimensions, along with it being indoors, versus an amphitheater - where you tend to lose some of the sound quality due to the inevitable acoustic drift.All I can say is, "wow"! The sound quality was one of the best I've ever experienced! From the first note, through the end of the show, the sound was impeccable! I agree with Matt's nicely worded overview (his review is just before this one) of the brilliant conceptual and thematic construction well known by long-time fans as a sure-fire Waters trait. And it was every bit the highlight to his genius.

The energy for this show was totally amazing and infectious! You could tell Roger was getting off on the energy, as he played with verve from the get-go! He made several references to the crowd, throughout the show. The visuals for this tour were better, the sound better, and what can you say about seeing Dark Side' performed in its entirety?! Simply amazing! I really appreciated Roger's keeping the performance true to the original. I especially appreciated [Money] not being dragged through the mud for twenty minutes, with multiple extended jams, like Gilmour likes to do. I've seen the "other" Floyd three times, and liked it, but always HATED when they played that song. In any event, Roger's rendition was superb and nothing short of stellar! Well done, indeed! Like the previous reviewer, I really dug the Final Cut selections. I realize that I'm in the extreme minority, but I'm apparently "one of the few" that believes The Final Cut, too, is a masterpiece and would love for him to play that in its entirety one day! He's already done The Wall, and now The Dark Side of the Moon. What a nice follow-up TFC would be! But, I digress

I've always respected Roger's creative genius and intellectual acumen, but I don't particularly agree with his political views, overall. Nonetheless, as a fan of his, I know what to expect and, as other reviewers have accurately pointed out, this is nothing new at all! He's been doing this his entire career. I agree with Matt's assessment that the "politics" were a bit overdone, however. I am glad Rog dropped the "Vote Democrat November 7" rubbish from the side of his floating pig. He had this nonsense plastered on for previous shows, and I'm glad he finally did away with that. I could never imagine performing in Great Britain and issuing statements about the need to vote for the Labour or Conservative party. That's over the top, in my opinion Roger is right, though, in that people shouldn't be "sheep" and be "led to the slaughter" as he so aptly put it. Both "Demicans" and "Republicrats" are systematically selling our country out to the highest bidders and, therein, lay the crisis. It's not about who has an "R" or a "D" beside their name. That means nothing anymore they're all one in the same. To that end, wake up everyone and "F" the "R" and the "D" bullsh*t! Vote your own conscience, regardless of party. It's not about the letter attached to end of one's name that matters, but rather the substance of ideas from the individuals themselves. Having said this, I knew there was a reason I hated politics!

As for the show itself, I was glad that my younger brother had the opportunity to see Roger Waters for the first time. He has always liked Pink Floyd and was totally blown away by the show! I can only accurately describe this evening in one word: magical! Thanks, Roger, for your continued devotion, stellar performances, and connection to your fans. We appreciate you! Like other fans, I so hope he has recorded at least one show from this tour and plans to release a live DVD of it. One would think that with him playing "Dark Side", that would be a no-brainer, but I won't rest well until I have a copy of the DVD in my hands!
Cheers