Photo by Steve Snowden
From: Aaron Ross
I'm sure you've heard it before, but let me be the one to tell you yet
agiain, Roger Waters rules!!! I saw several shows on his tour last year,
this is the first one that I have caught this year and I believe hands down
that this year's show is much better than last years show!
Instead of telling you everything you already know, (great sound, great backup band, cool stageshow, etc.), let's examine the things that make this 2nd leg a much better tour.
For starters, "The Thin Ice" is out so the show begins with a rousing performance of "In the Flesh" and then straight into "Another Brick in the Wall Part II". This seems to keep the energy flowing as opposed to "The Thin Ice" in between. What was lost is well worth what was gained, instead of "The Thin Ice", we get an amazing alternative, "The Bravery of Being Out of Range". I don't know about you, but being a true Roger Waters fan, I kept asking myself last year, "Why doesn't he play Bravery? That would rule". The god's of rock have heard my plea, and I couldn't be happier! Although the song needs a little work at the beginning, (a bridge, sax, something), this is the kind of song that really makes you feel like you are part of the 'arena rock-show' experience. BRAVO!!!
Also of note is the outstanding job with "Time" including an excellent homage to the nick mason drummie-drum part at the beginning. Cool! Do that again!!!
Note also that the order of the songs have been changed and although it is not a huge difference from last years show, it seems to be generally more cohesive. For years I have imagined how wonderful it would be to hear "Dogs" live, the way it was meant to be heard, in true surround sound, the way Rog intended it. Trust me, if you are on any trippables during this song, you WILL freak! You will swear there are dogs just behind and all around you!
But what's this??? Set the Controls for the Heart of the Sun!?!?!?!? You gotta be shittin' me!! And not just Set the Controls like you remember it from A Saucerful of Secrets, oh no, this is the new and improved Set the Controls. Begins pretty much exactly like Saucerful but then gets heavy! Wow! I was totally floored! Unfortunately, most of the people in the audience seemed less than impressed but trust me, if you've been a fan from the beginning, (I'm talking Effervescent Elephants and Corporal Klegg), you'll most certainly appreciate this addition.
And what's up with the lava lamp trippiness on the screen? Didn't I see that on the Division Bell and Delicate Sound tours? Nice touch! I would have to say the highlights of the evening were "Perfect Sense", (you could really tell Roger is proud of this song, he looked like he was gonna bust), and the encore of "Each Small Candle". I was shocked to see that most of the audience started leaving right after "Comfortably Numb", they missed out on a great new song!!! Not only did Roger take the time to explain how the song came about, but the lyrics were also projected on the back of the stage along with a plug for Amnesty International. Excellent idea Rog!
Although Roger may not like "corporate policies", at least he is smart enough to realize that he can use his star power to enlighten those of us who may not be privvy to the insight he has, (ie Walden Woods, Amnesty International, etc), and use said power in a constructive way! It all makes perfect sense!
Also of note is the ultra-cool limited addition In the Flesh lithographs signed by the man himself. The vendor who sold it to me indicated that there were only a thousand of them, (mine was 250 out of 1000), and that they were special for the show. It is definately worth the $75 price tag, it will go nice with the signed ticket I got from him last year after the Chicago show.
That about covers it folks, if you are anywhere near a venue where Roger is playing, you MUST see this show. I followed Pink Floyd for a full year on their Division Bell tour and I can tell you personally, this blows it away completely!!! If you are looking for a light show that will blow your puny little mind then Pink Floyd is probably for you, but if you are looking for the music, and the genious behind said music, the In the Flesh tour is the ONLY way to go.
Don't miss out on this amazing show because you think you can just catch it 'next time around', remember, it's been 12 lloooonnngggg years since Roger has toured and there's no guarantee that he will again. Do yourself a favor, catch each and every show you can, (I'll be catching around 8 shows on this tour, it still will not be enough), and consider yourself one of the lucky ones!!!
And Rog, if you still hit this website,
let me just say this: You do not need to be a rock-god! You do not have to
keep your distance from the fans, we just wanna' thank you for touching our
lives with your music. And by no stretch of the imagination do you need to
live under the shadow of that other band, (what's the name of it again?), it
should be obvious to all that your greatest work has come from your solo
career and I look forward to your new album more than any that has come
before. We love you Rog!!!
From: Mike Powers
Brilliant show last night, I can't say enough good things about it. Rog was very enthusiastic and animated at times, looking like he would nearly explode during "Perfect Sense 2". I would see the show again just to hear that song !
He was in great voice, as were the supporting members of the group. The sound was absolutely perfect, utilizing some incredible ambient effects, ...voices, airplanes, etc. The encore of "Each Small Candle" was amazing, and I hope he continues to write more in that vein.
If you haven't
seen the show, go and do it before they close up shop for the Summer !
From: Bryan
Las Vegas loves you Roger. You must come back with more great music. Your show wasawesome and you sounded unbelievable. All the
supporting characters were great as well. There was not a particular song I liked the most because they were all perfect.
With all the controversy surrounding bands today, it is great to have a major rock icon such as yourself present such facinating music and stay true to what you want to produce and not some major record labels decision about their ideological views about what they think people should listen to.
If you did not have a chance to get your seat to see Roger Waters in fabulous Las Vegas, then check out the tour schedule and get yourself one
in another city. This concert was great and something to remember for a long time. Been waiting for a very long time to see Roger Waters in
Las Vegas.
From: Stephen Kligge
Reg,
The show on Saturday night at the MGM was Grand. I have had the chance to see Roger for the The Pros & Cons tour, & Radio KAOS tours, but this show was probably one of the best I have seen. From the time he came on the stage until the encore he held the audiences attention 100%. I am lucky that I live in L.A. and he has three more hsows here this week to catch another one.
As far as the set list, nothing shocking it was the same as most of the other shows this year. I was hoping he would of switched up and did a little something from KAOS or What God Wants, but he did not. The Floyd stuff was great, but I am a Roger fan and really wanted more solo stuff. Don't get me wrong, I am not complaining, Roger is Pink Floyd, The surigate band only holds the name.
For all the fans coming to the L.A. shows, get ready to see the best concert you will probably see this Millenium.
Always remember the Formula for Pink Floyd is "Just add Waters."
From: Steven B.
I am a big fan of Rogers.
I have loved his music and lyrics since I first heard "Dark Side" back
in the early 70's, when I was just a teenager.
I saw Roger perform "The Pros and Cons" concert, as well as "Radio KAOS" and "The Wall", (in Berlin in 1990). All those shows were brilliant. Not just a band standing on the stage playing tunes, but a sensory experience, an opera of sounds and sights that had a common thread running through the show.
I saw the show on June 16 in Phoenix and June 17 in Vegas, and I must say I was most disappointed. Whilst the music was excellent, the show lacked luster and theme. It was merely a bunch of songs strung together in no particular order, with lighting that was plain, to say the least, and a backdrop with slow moving objects projected there on that certainly did not qualify as video. The rotating "Phillips Screwdriver Head" that was used on "Shine On..." at the end of the first set was the special effect of the evening. It was clear to me that the crowd was hungering for the extravaganza that usually is a Roger Waters show. The intensity was lost due to the mere fact that the band just stood on stage and played.
I still think Mr. Waters is a musical and lyrical genius, however I believe that he has not come close to his potential in the anemic stage show he is currently presenting to fans who have hungered for his work ,and waited patiently for his next masterpiece, and who have sided with him in the Pink Floyd controversy, as I have.
I thank you for this forum, and i hope you post this on your very nice
web site.
From: Cesar Cervantes
Is Roger Waters one of the best artists to ever perform in Las Vegas?
Of course when you think of Elvis, Sinatra...Engelbert Humperndick?...SHIT YES!!!!
This is not a Casino Showroom situation...this is later XX century classical
music...
When I first heard the music of Pink Floyd as a teenager I was left in a state of shock that made me believe this sound was more important than that of The Beatles themselves. I saw more revolution in the music of The Floyd than on any other band I had ever heard...even more:.. than on ANY MUSIC EXCERPT FOR BACH, MOZART AND BEETHOVEN...but then I discovered that most progressive rock of those years was just as complex but not as powerful as the FLOYD's.
Nowdays I don't think the same way...I still like The Beatles AS MUCH as I like Floyd and as equal as most of the music from those years: the old Genesis, Yes, King Crimson, The Who, The Stones, Clapton, Dylan, ELP, etc.,but at this point in my life I'm very grateful that I got to hear "Dogs" and "It all Makes Perfect Sense" alive and in full gear. Roger Waters did not display the lasers and lightshow the "others" do on their shows. But let me tell you...HE'S GOT THE TUNE!. I don't mean any poorness of staging: It was good in average terms, not mediocre. It wasn't top of the art. BUT THE MUSIC MANTAINED THE AUDIENCE IN AWE DURING THE WHOLE PERFORMANCE and Roger was sourronded by a pletora of music and top notch MUSICIANS...(I tought of Gilmour...but I didn't miss him) with an accuracy and deliverance impecable, immaculate.
Yes I still think that technically the "Learning to Fly" and "The division Bell" tours are till today the best stagings I have ever witnessed. But, Roger Waters makes merit to the fact that HE IS THE MUSICAL GENIUS BEHIND PINK FLOYD and as the main and almost ONLY writer he delivers on stage. I can probably attend Water's tour eyeblinded and still will amaze me with the power of HIS MUSIC. I wish I could say the same about "the others". I dare to say that I heard better guitar accuracy from Water's company than from the Gilmour's own, but I still would like to see the original band togheter. Nevertheless, THIS IS ONE OF THE BEST PERFORMANCES LAS VEGAS HAS EVER PRESENTED.
Thank you Roger for your genius... Thank you Roger for coming to Vegas... Please!...COME BACK!..
