Wachovia Center
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From: Michael Ragiel
The setlist was the same as last year's. This time in the program they listed the entire set, not just the Dark
Side.
The show started a bit late, and being up close, it was hard to focus on the entire stage... I just stared at
Roger. If there was quad sound, I wouldn't have known. It sounded like 2 channel stereo to me.
The band was real upbeat, and Roger was jumping, swinging, laughing like he was just hanging out with a
bunch of his old buddies reminiscing with his songs as his stories.
I also loved the way Ian Ritchie performed. The fans, where we were, made him feel real at home. There
were a couple of times I thought that he was going to laugh through his solo. There's nothing like good sax.
Song highlights for me were The Final Cut part. Beleive it or not, but I was asked to sit down. Arrgh!! But
when I did sit down, it was alot better. Sitting down was a better visual.
'On The Run' was the only difference I noticed visually. It was almost a 3D affect. It's hard to explain. You
had to be there. Ha.ha.
The shirts were the best ever. There were 6 styles. I was very impressed. The women's shirt was $5.00 more
than the men's. My wife was a little pissed about that. Bootleg shirts were alright. Nothing to talk about. The
ones that were shown in the REG newsletter magazine were better.
We did meet a couple from Florida, Tim and Laura. Tim works for NASA, who in exchange for the enormous
amount of pictures we had taken, agreed to "trade" some NASA photos for the shots we took. Amazing.
Last night was one of the best shows I have seen. I would never take away the nose bleed seats of past
Roger shows cuz I don't think I would ever experience the full affect that I did last night.
That's my story. Even if you had seen Roger's show on the last tour... sit in a different seat and it will be a
differnt show.
REG Member
Last night my wife and I attended the Roger show at the Wachovia Center in Philadelphia, PA. In the past I
was a little jealous of all the Roger fans telling their stories about how they got to see Roger in the first few
rows. Now I'm able to tell my story. 5th row and right in the center. I was so close that Roger avoided eye
contact with me. Ha,ha.
Michael Ragiel
The door opened at 7PM, and when we got in, we immediately regretted that we didn't bring a sweater or jacket - the place was like a refrigerator! I was only wearing shorts and a t-shirt, and the extra t-shirt that I boughtcame in handy as a second layer. Later in the second half of the show, the air warmed up a bit (not much though) with the heat of the cheering 15,000 bodies.
Finally, around 8:15, the video on the screen appeared with the handturning the radio dial, and the band played the explosive "In The Flesh!", not "In The Flesh?" I guess the choicewas fora good reason - it has a very dramatic effect! I think that songby itselfcan captivate the audience instantly,even if there was no special lighting or pyrotechnics (which there were!). It's a great concert opener as always! "Shine On..." aroused very special emotion in me since that song has put on yet another layer of feelings now that Syd is no longer in this world... During the playing of "South Hampton Dock", so many people got up and started leaving the arena, I thought some kind of hazard has happened. But, I drew a conclusion later that many people who were holding their full bladders were sacrificing this less dramatic song to relieve themselves. Though it was a big distraction duringthe very emotional song. People, you gotta plan your time in a concert like this so thatyou don't have tosacrifice a second ofRoger's concert!"Perfect Sense I & II" really made perfect sense considering all the current political issues, and especially with how our nation is behaving these days. As expected, this song got the crowd ecstatic!
In the beginning the auduence was pretty tame, I thought. I didn't like that aspectof this show. I was wondering to myself 'how can a crowd who seem to knowall the lyricsof "Wish You Were Here" calmly sit down and sing along?' My impulse is to get up and move your body, sing along, and be fully integrated with the show! So, I didn't care about the lethargic audience sitting behind me, and I was on my feet most of the time. I thought that if they wanted to see the show, they will have to get up. But no one seemed to have gotten up behind me, and no one complained directly to me. But then, I am a small woman, so I probably didn't do them much harm.
The heart beats that start the second half of the show got my heart beating wildly too! It's funny, I knewexactly what to expect from this show as far as the set list goes, but somehow, I got really excited with every song that they played. And, I realized once again how short the DSOTM album is - at least it seems that way when it is played at a concert. When Brain Damage started, I wanted to cry - it's almost over.
At the end, audience asked for more cheering in thunderous applause and noise of all kinds. By this time, the audience was in total exaltation. "Bring the Boys Back Home,"once again, fit in perfectly with the sentiment of the audience, and "Comfortably Numb" finished the concert in a grandiose way!
The whole band was awesome, and although I missed David Gilmour, I recognize that Dave Kilminster, Snowy White, and Andy Fairweather-Lowarein no small measure great guitaristsin their own right, and they fit in and adapted very well. Although, it's just not the same as having Gilmour there. But, on that note, I know that when Roger left PF, it was the only choice that he was left with. I can see very clearly that there was no way that PF could have carried on after the "Final Cut". It is clear just listening to Roger's solo albums thatDave wouldn't have cooperated with suchheavy lyric and message oriented pieces.Maybe the creative energy for PF as a whole has expired after"The Wall". I would like thefans who still lament about Roger leaving the band toreally see that he could not have done anything else but leave the band - nothing!
As for the politics that Roger expresses in his songs, I am grateful that somebody that influential is doing it. When you think about it, he has significant powerin being able to share his message with so many people every other night! On politics, I share the same sentiment as Mark Levy who expressed hisopinion in his 5/24 review (so I don'trepeat what he said). Right on, Mark!
Rogerwas really enjoying himself and interacting with the fans on either side of the stage. I think... I hope... he will tour again next year - maybe with moreof a selection from his solo albums and new material.
REG Member
Min Jung
PS - Roger, Philadelphia appreciates you taking the time to throw out the first ball at the Phillies game on Friday night!! Just wanted to let you know the Phillies got pummeled, 13 to 0 (ha-ha)
Roger, Thank you for coming to Philly and please come back next year. Your showing these young bands how to do it professionally!
Peace
I took my wife and 2 sons to the show. My sons are aged 12 and 13. They were in absolue awe. We sat about 50 feet from the stage, and my boys were amazed,to say the least, they were soooo into the show! It was great to see the look in my sons eyes' and the smile on their faces. What a nite!
Thanx andPeace
REG Member
Sam Giacobbe
After seeing Roger and the band last fall in NJ from rather distant seating, we had to see the show again, as most reading the reviews would agree. If I could, I'd go to yet another one!
The whole band played great: Dave had searing guitar solos. Roger pounded out his bass. The sax was right on. Andy played some great guitar too! Snowy was more laid-back, but fine as usual. Drums smack on... synths great, as was Roger's son on keyboards, and the female vocalists. The bass was 'boomy' for some of the first few songs... rather surprising. I noticed it when Roger was not on the bass, such as when he strums the acoustic on "Mother." Later on, the bass was fine... just deep and tight. Great job from the lighting crew too, and thanks to all the worker-bees who bring us the show.
Highlights for me at this one were the rendition of 'Sheep,' 'Bring the boys home,' and the numerous guitar solos all throughout. These shows are my best concerts ever, a 'tie' with The Who show in 1980.
Let's hope Roger stays healthy and wills to tour again in 4 years, though anyone would expect a less-exhaustive one.
Of course, I'm hoping for a 2008 DVD release of this current 'DSOTM live' tour.
Hey, can those of us who write a review get a free ticket for the last show
in Boston? lol.
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