In The Flesh
Tour Reviews

Show was pretty much what has been going down at shows, "In the flesh" rips and is a perfect opener for obvious reasons.

The movie on TV for the 1st set was "All Quiet On the Western Front" (I believe, same as during the KAOS tour if i'm not mistaken), Movie on the TV for the 2nd set was "2001: A Space Odyssey".

As Breathe played the "monkeys" were sleeping in their cave, as time started the obelisk was in the fore ground on the TV screen, and as the "monkey" smashes the cattle skull with a bone, as the bone clenching fist dropped so did big drum kicks and subtle but pervasive bass throbs right in time.

Whether it was Roger and Co. who timed out the movie and the music to have numerous synchronicities or Kubrick's sense of musical flow in his cimematography or more likely... that magic is intrinsic in time and events that are executed with art as their essence, the magic is there on a multiplicity of levels.

As "Money" began, the shot on the TV screen was of the space station rotating in outer space.

Undoubtedly for me, at the two shows I went to see this tour, the Solo stuff SHINED! From the applause at the end of Amused to Death, I think he could have played the entire album and not a soul would have complained about hearing less Floyd material.

Not enough Final Cut, "Get Your Filthy Hands Off My Desert" seems to have fallen to the way side (unless I wasn't paying attention at both shows I saw.) Also, Brick Part 2 has been dropped, I thought they dropped them for the Jones Beach show because of the late (8:30PM) start, but Albany started early and doesn't have a curfew I'm aware of and they still did not play those two songs. [note: others report that Another Brick, part 2 was played this night. I'll leave it in the set list for this show until there's better evidence that it was dropped this night. And if anybody disputes that "Get Your Filthy Hands Off My Desert" was dropped, please let us know at breathe@memes.com—ed.]

The "South Hampton Dock" is beautifully sung. The "Dogs" kicks Arse! the delivery is intense. The "Shine On..." was mesmerizing and beautiful both nites, the diamond wheel is beautiful, rays of light of light weaving dynamic art. Could've gone for a little more of a Syd retrospective slide show, or some home movies ala the "Arnold Lane" segment form the KAOS tour, but the Liquid Lite show was kewl and the one during Comfortably Numb at Albany was especialy intense (blue and yellow with surging Red thru the center of the screen). Every Strangers eyes was Beautiful and poignant both nites, Powers that Be ripped! This is where the ladies really start to shie, the backing vocals are transcendent.

All of the "Reader's Digest" version of "Amused To Death" was just incredible. This Band RIPS! And the WOMEN, the ladies are AWESOME! Some of Rogs best theatrics come during the submarine wargames during "Perfect Sense" and the biting ironies wash over the audience with all of the contradictions of truth.

Doyle and Snowy White were great, Snowy had some problems with his axe in Albany during "it's a miracle" but ripped none the less, gorgeous clean, tubey lines on his Paul Reed Smith guitar. Doyle did a nice job on the Gilmour vocals and sports a few left handed guitars, all of which are strung right handed. He played a burgundy strat for most of the night (tortoise pickguard) and during "Comfortably Numb" he sports a Gibson HollowBody Didn't get a read on which model, the jam was too ripping and my moments with Roger were dwindiling rapidly.

Roger and Snowy played Washburn Electro-acoustic guitars, Snowy played thru Hiwatt Heads into a Marshall 4x12 cabinet. Doyle played thru Yamahah Heads and 4x12 cabinet.

Jon Carin (keys, vocals, acoustic guitar) definitely tore up the "Dogs".

Andy Fairweather Low covered all the basses, white strat with single coil humbuckers in the bridge and middle positions when Rog was playing Bass, bass when Rog was playing acoustic guitar, and a raunchy bare handed guitar solo during 'Money" I believe, not sure on that one, could've been powers that be, but i think it was $$$.

I'm all over the palce with this review, sorry, IT was Great to see the man again! I hope He will come back and grace us with more of his spectacular solo work which at this point speaks more deeply to me than the sometimes ragged anthems of The Pink Floyd.

At both shows, the light went up in a fake out after "eclipse" and then went back down after a minute or two of crazed clapping for the "C. Numb" encore which rocked both nights even though it was short, it wailed.

Roger spoke both nites of how the crowd helped bring the magic , that the original band had, to music that had been played that night.

Roger shook hands with many folks in the front row at jones Beach, (lucky stiffs), but at albany we had a five foot (un-fenced, but verbally communicated by the security guards) barrier (more of an imaginary line) between us and the stage and everyone seemed to respect it with out argument or even question. Roger did point to specific people off ot the left and the right of the stage and say "Thank You" (people freeaking out and going ape shit), but we had him all to ourselves for all of the nite, it was great to see him up close and personal, there was a warmth there that was absent during his KAOS show that he did at MSG (which I was also front row center for 8^). So I got my fill, and I loved and cherished every moment.

As the lights went up, Stevie Ray Vaugn (riviera paradisio???) goes out over the crowd, gentle and beautiful.

I hope every one who had tix for the landmark show is able tro see this tour, it was very sad when he cancelled.

Go see him at Darien Lake this weekend, there is still time left!
peace, tr

by Willy Ray
Saw the show at Albany. Very Good. Mostly classic Floyd with a few songs from his solo stuff (would have liked more—like when he did the KAOS tour). He seems to want to reclaim some of the material as his own, which he has every right to, but I think Comfortably Numb (his current encore) is more of a Gilmour tune. His current guitarists were very good but nobody can quite pull off that Floyd sound the way Gilmour has it mastered. The bottom line is that Roger puts on a great show of great tunes and it's great to see him in action again!

BE ON TIME! I missed the first song while in the parking lot getting primed! Not too many concerts start on time but this one did. This show was added to the tour and was announced less than two weeks before the actual show. Tickets went on sale 7/30 for the 8/10 show, this may explain why it was not sold out. I heard about it on the radio the day they announced it (7/28) but the only other advertising that hit me was in the paper (although the announcement prompted me to search the web for more info).

by j frank
All in all, the show was very good in Albany. Although Syracuse would have far more cozy. The setlist is still the same, the highlight for me was Dogs into Machine (I wonder if Roger won his little card game during Dogs). I had seats on the floor but wandered about for the first set. At the start of the show I was way up high in the back (I wanted to get that stadium feel). For the second set I found an empty seat 15 rows back dead center and enjoyed the sound from that position very much! The visuals where good,I liked the liquid bubbly effect but I do miss the circular screen. Snowy seemed to have troubles with his equipment during the second set, I don't think they totally got things right. Roger was very up beat during the show, seems to like the smaller surroundings. Two eclipses for us, one at the show and one at 6:11 EDT for the world.

by Harold Williams
Hey there Roger Water's fans!!! I got to the show a little late and Welcome to the Machine was playing as I was sitting down so I am not sure what songs I missed before I got there. I thought everything sounded excellent but after watching my tape of Rager Waters live in Berlin 1990' I was hoping for some better solo work than what I was hearing in ALbany. Hey, the gutair s were awesome and they were jammin' dont get me wrong but I was hoping for a little more of the originals. Other than that I loved the show and had an awesome time. I cant wait to see them play outside at 6 Flags this weekend. Take care all and have fun at the shows.

by karl
I went to the Roger Waters concert Tuesday Night at the Pepsi Arena. I thought this show was incredible. My friends Dave, Tammy, Ashley, and my girlfriend Cheryl went to the show and sat head on across the arena from the stage. The opening song was awesome, from then on in I knew it would be good. For his opener he played IN The Flesh, then ABiTW part 1 and 2 w/ the happiest days of our lives, Then was the best version of Mother ever. Welcome To The Machine, Wish You Were Here, and Shine on You Crazy Diamond were just too good, I thought I was in heaven.The lights were cool and the sound effects were on good. Then came most of DARK SIDE and that was pretty average. Then he played some new stuff and that was good. Then came the encore, the crowd was crazy and he played Comfortably NUmb and I felt that way at the time. But all in all great show.

by Funnelgush@aol.com
My friends and I were lucky enough to catch Rogers's show in Albany on Tuesday the 10th. We were quite happy seeing that the original show we planned to go see was in Syracuse, NY but to the dismay of many of us it was CANCELED. I had never seen roger or any of his ex band members but from what I saw tonight I will forever be a fan.

I had always enjoyed Pink Floyd's music having idolized them for their talents and music. I enjoyed the set he played which sounded great. The show kicked off with In the flesh which sounded excellent. I wish I had scratched down the set list but I really forgot to.

The atmosphere on the stage was very relaxed. With Roger and his fellow musicians sitting down to play a hand of cards while the rest of the band played on. One highlight of the night was Rogers's guitarist Doyle Bramhall who sounded great, his solo on comfortably numb was mind blowing.

My two personal favorites of the night had to have been Shine on you crazy diamond and Comfortably numb. Shine on had sounded just amazing they played the whole while with a picture of Syd Barret being projected over them. It was such a thrill seeing the person who created such great albums as the Wall and DSOTM playing for us.

by Chris
Hey my name is Chris, I'm from Albany, NY and I went to the concert at the Pepsi Arena. Basically the show kicked ass. Roger started out on top of a gang way that was over the stage and did In The Flesh? to start the show. He then played The Wall through mother before playing a song off of The Final Cut. The huge jumbo tron behind him was awesome, it had different pctures and things on it throughout.

When they played Shine On You Crazy Diamond, they had bubbles moving down the screen and then during the lyrics a far off shot of Syd Barret was shown, it kept getting closer and closer until it was right on his eyes. When his picture first went up the whole audience erupted. The rest of the show was really good too.

They played Pigs on the Wing Part One and Dogs. The crowd really seemed to enjoy Dogs as did I. Then they took a 15 minute break and came back and played some songs off of Radio KAOS. I had never heard that album before but it was killer, especially the first few songs they played.

After they got into Dark Side. They played all the way up to Money then skipped ahead and played Brain Damage and Eclipse the 'conclude the show.' Of course after Roger thanked the crowd for coming out and watching and saying how he has made this speech before but that we the fans make this special for him, the whole arena erupted with screams whistles and thunderous applause. Some fans thought the show was over but most knew that if enticed enough Roger would come back out.

Finally after about 5 minutes of yelling they all appeared back out on stage and did a slamming redition of Comfortably Numb. It was by far the best version I had ever heard. Whether it be on the Wall or P.U.L.S.E. When the last note was struck the audience again applauded like mad. Roger said thank you one last time and that was that. Outside the arena all the fans were yelling and screaming.

One thing that kept getting repeated was the Pink Floyd ROCKS!!!!! Of course I totally agree (as) this was the best damn thing I had ever seen. (But either these kids had no idea of who they were seeing, or who is in the band Pink Floyd, or they were reaffirming, having recognised, that Roger is indeed Pink if not Floyd - Ed)

by Phan2000@yahoo.com We walked in just as "In the flesh" was starting. To Comment on the show, I would have to say that this show turned out even better than I expected. The energy levels were HiGH with the crowd, and also with Waters himself. His Band was also having a good time. But how could one not, when you get to sit down on a sofa and drink Tea while the other musician are playing.

At first I was wondering why Waters picked the songs that he did, but I now understand, it was for his fans. Many would of liked to have heard older stuff like interstellar overdrive, and Bike. But Waters, and Floyd have so many Good songs that you need to at least throw in the Classics.

Well that's what he Did. Most of the songs he played are Classics. My favorite that I heard where Dog's, In the flesh, Pigs on a wing. Welcome to the Machine, Hell they were all Good, Even his later stuff which I was less Familiar with Was Rockin. You could tell that Waters and his Band enjoyed his later stuff, such as What God Wants. This song almost became an Religious experience with the crowd.

Over all, I never thought that I'd be able to ever get to see Water's Live, and when he canceled my PERFECT show at the Land Mark in Syracuse, I almost didn't Go. But I'm really Glad I went to Albany. The show was great. I would put in up there in my Top 10 list , after seeing close to 75 shows, from bands including, The Grateful Dead, Phish, The Black Crowes, BB King, Buddy Guy Wide spread Panic, Santana, The String Cheese Incident, Dave Matthew's, Pink Floyd, and More. To any one that still has a Chance to See Waters and His Band. All I can say is that you would Regret it if you knew what you would be missing.