Photo by Kyle Sandstrom
From: John and Jessica Flanery
What an experience! was able to share the moment with my daughter.
We had the time...time...time... of a life! smile after smile after
smile....
Thank you! Roger and crew. You were there for me then and now and forever in song! Thanks for making us part of the "miracle"of song that will be shared around the world...
Shine on for the roses are for you!
From: Joy Al-Sofi
There ought to be a law that requires Roger Waters to tour at least once every
four or five years. Making us wait for 12 years between tours is criminal.
What can I say? He was simply awesome tonight in Portland. His musicianship continues to grow while still allowing him to keep connected to the old repetoire that brought him and Pink Floyd their initial fame. He too seemed to be connected to the audience tonight which gave it a special feeling.He alsostayed totally visible throughout.
I saw him in Dallas in 1987 or 1988 (I forgot and the t-shirt doesn't give the dates!). That tour was tremendous and totally blew those other guys out of the water. The massive show had so much to say in terms of the visuals that it was an excellent contrast to focus more closely on the music sidein this tour. Although I remember a lot about that show, which I really appreciated seeing, I remember the visuals more than the band.
In Portland,the particular venue is not known for having decent acoustics. Rogers care and thoughtful use of highnend technology assured the audience that we would indeed hear it all. I often have to resort to wearing ear plugs at arena shows, but although the sound was really full and certainly loud, it was clear and not so loud so that it was painful or caused his great music to become distorted.
I should be going to sleep because I have to get up early tomorrow for work but after such a great show, how can I?
Roger is a great talent and I am lucky to have seen him twice. We are all lucky
that he is also a man of conscience who is willing to take a political stand. I
just
wish he had said something about this country's continued bombing and embargo of
Iraq where we are responsible for more than 5,000 children dying each month
and every month and no one says a word. Iam sure that Roger cares about this
issue.
From: Jim Brinkmeyer
Was entirely blown away. 1st Time I have seen Roger but have seen PF on
three dif. occasions over the years (1st 2 when he was still with the
group) and I have to say that this concert sounded more like PF than
PF...
The guitars were astonishing (especially Andy) as were the back up
singers (ok and the entire band).
The staging and sound system were unbelievable and well you get the
idea.
From: Tsnebeker@aol.com
Still reeling from last nights show. To have experienced the Roger Waters
concert is to have literally all senses on overload- from the phenomenal
sound to the feel of the bass pounding in your chest. It's interesting to
note that every single review of the tour to date has been submitted by
males, but this 44 year old mother of five had a dream come true after all
these years- hearing, seeing, and feeling this magical music in person.
Being there with my 22 year old daughter was a kick. Thank you Roger for
your fantastic, intelligent art!
From: Carly Taylor
On June 27th I had the amazing privilege to attend the Roger Waters 'In the
Flesh' concert. At this show they taped it for the video version. As a part
of the amazingly receptive and participating audience I had a great time. Mr.
Waters sounded amazing and I could not believe that it had been twenty years
since some of his works were released. As both a solo artist and as a member
of Pink Floyd I have emensly enjoyed his work. I was thrilled to hear
Mr.Waters perform 'Wish You Were Here', my all time favorite song. The show
lasted almost three hours without a dull moment. I would love to see Mr.
Waters go on tour again, possibly to see him perform the whole 'Wall' would
be a dream come true. I would like to say that I had a wonderful time and
that it couldn't have been a better concert.
From: "Dana Norwood"
You know, I was perusing this website before Mr. Waters got to
Portland... looking at the set lists, other reviews, photos, etc. My
husband is a HUGE Floyd/Waters fan, so as a result, I've acquired a lot
of his enthusiasm and love for the band. Needless to say, I was quite
excited about seeing him perform. It was the first time for me, but the
second time for my husband (who has also seen PF in the post-Roger
days). What else can I say that hasn't already been said here? It was
sheer brilliance, and I'm so lucky to be able to say that I was there
and experienced it firsthand.
I can honestly say that this was one of the best concerts I've been to in my entire life. All the PF songs were perfect, sounded as though you were playing the cd in your home (very clear, crisp, and accurate sound performance-- which is quite an accomplishment in this particular venue). As Jim mentioned before, Roger does PF better than PF does. And while I certainly can appreciate Gilmour's contribution to their sound, the guitarists Roger had with him were just amazing, and the "layered sound" was awesome!
I also have to admit that I was particularly touched by his final song, "Each Small Candle." It's so easy to listen to a song like that, and think, "Well, what a nice, little, idealistic song!" but it really touched my heart. It made me realize how petty and foolish we can be, just like the dumb sheep that Roger references in his songs. If that was his intention, he struck home with me.
I would definitely see him again, and would recommend anyone who is
remotely interested in PF/RW to see this show. You will not be
disappointed!
From: Ravi Kudpi
I saw the Roger Waters Show last night in Portland, OR.
Awesome is an understatement. Immensely enjoyed it.
From: Cliff Bechard"
Roger Waters came to Portland Tuesday night, and had what I considered
THE biggest and most fantastic stage production this person has ever
seen here in Portland! I want to inform ALL the Roger Waters and
Pink Floyd fans that Roger had a HUGE camera crew here at the Rose
Garden Arena to film the show for an up comming live concert DVD!!!
At 8pm, radio personality Jim Ladd came out to enounce that the show would be starting at 8:30, due to filming. He asked all of us,about 10,000 attending, to please go nuts and be loud and all that at the end of each song,and to please be quiet during the quiet parts. Well,the crowd was respectful to that, as we did!
Jim Ladd also
told us that Roger picked Portland out of ALL the other cities on this
tour to film! So thank you Roger, where ever you may be!! Oh, yes, the
show ROCKED!!! Do not miss this tour when it comes your way! His voice
was great, and his band was excellent."Dogs" was my favorite!
From: Scott Brown
>
Thought I'd pop in on you guys, and throw in my 2 cents...
I saw "Animals" back in '78.
I saw "The Wall" performed live at Nassau Coliseum back in, what was it?
80? 81?
I missed Roger both times for solo efforts (The Pros and Cons of
Hitchhiking never made it anywhere close to where I am currently living,
and Radio KAOS, although at the Tacomadome, near enough, I was unable to
make it).
I saw the "alleged" Pink Floyd at BC Place back when they were touring for "The Division Bell". Was THAT a big disappointment! Not only was the musicianship absent from the performance, but it was fairly obvious that the gents didn't write any of the songs they put on the album; in more than one instance it appeared as though they forgot not only the lyrics, but the music as well! A waste of money hard-earned. Yuk.
Now this brings me to the performance of the night before last. This was absolutely, including The Wall, the most incredible performance and display of talent that I have ever seen. I don't know if it was because of the fact that the concert film was being shot here, or a certain "magic" in the air, or just an extreme talent overload, but the perfection of every note was astounding.
They definitely did sound more like Pink Floyd than the latest version
travelling under the name. Absolutely amazing. Dogs was like listening to
the album. I have never heard a live performance with such dramatic
attention to sonic details and nuances. I am completely and totally in awe.
From: Andrew Kowaleski
I'm 21 years old and have never been able to see a Pink Floyd concert in
person. I've been told before that Pink Floyd tours in Europe (I don't know
if this is true) and since then I have always wanted to go to Europe to
catch a glimpse at one of these marvels of a show.
Fortunately, I didn't have to go far to get the experience. Roger Waters was bringing his music to Portland. The Rose Garden is a great venue providing superb sound, but I was hoping there sound system would work with Roger's type of music. It really did. I was blown away. I could actually feel the guitars as they played through Comfortably Numb. I could feel the bass shaking my entire body.
I've
never thought that I'd be able to actually see Roger Waters play his guitar
in front of me, but it happened and it was worth every cent that I had. On a
side note, this concert may be a part of a lot of people's lives because
Roger had a video crew there filming the concert for a "In The Flesh" movie.
Truly, truly awesome.
From: Chris Walters A 40 year old self-confessed Pink Floyd fanatic went to the show, to pay his respects to the genius behind several favorite albums. I left my wife and child at home to fend for themselves, had a couple of beers with a buddy from NY, and went in not quite knowing what to expect. Frankly, I was a little apprehensive - so much of what I enjoy in Floyd is the music, as opposed to lyrics, and I have never really been a fan of Roger's solo work (or the Final Cut), which I find a talky.
I have to say that he and his bandmates really pulled off a worthwhile, memorable concert. His drawing 2/3 of the three-hour show from the PF catalog reestablished my respect for Roger, for a lot of reasons. It left me with the impression that he has developed an insight that the classics are what his fans need, not just want. What do I mean? Well, we have these seventies songs from DSOM, WYWH, Animals and the Wall absolutely stuck in our heads, buried somewhere next to Hey Jude and Layla, and we really need to have them occasionally performed live to reaffirm why they are stuck there. This really struck me as Roger paced the stage, without a mike, happily singing along with us as we belted out Time and Comfortably Numb in our best bathroom voices.
Good thinking on the setlist - win the crowd over with your classics, and when they are all on your side, sing them your newer stuff. I couldn't believe that, at the end of the first set, I had just been taken through a full Pink Floyd concert. By the time he eventually brought out the Amused to Death songs, I felt I had heard what I "had to" hear, and was ready for material with which I was unfamiliar - and which I could then enjoy and appreciate on its own terms, without thinking I was missing a Pink Floyd song in substitution. And I did like most of the solo set - especially 'Its a Miracle.'
The poker game, the sofas for the backup singers, the second bass player's presumably intentionally funny guitar solos, and Roger's circulating the stage near the end giving personal "thank you's" to the audience helped dispel for me the impression given in the press and elsewhere of his seriousness and aloofness - he and the band really seemed to be having fun.
A few suggestions on what could be added/altered to enhance the show:
