Quebec City... My first Roger Waters concert... (I had seen PF twice in '94)... Expectations were high to say the least, and the days leading to July 30th were filled by a mix of anticipation and disbelief... I was FINALLY going to see Roger perform!!! I had lifted the set list off the 'Net so I knew what was going to be played... I couldn't wait to hear ATD material coming from somewhere else than my headphones!
The "Agora du Vieux Port" in a small exterior venue (6,500) located near the St-Lawrence river... It was the first time I'd seen a show there, but had been on the site before... Quebec City is really busy with tourists during the summer months (and in winter during the "Carnaval de Québec") It is mostly a "fun" city with lots of bars, cafés, restaurants etc... There is always a general feeling on lightness in the air, and you could really feel it at the show...
We met with some friends outside of the gate, waiting in line to get in. People were cheerful and were obviously there to have fun. When we finally got in trough the gates I was surprised to find that the Agora was even smaller than I thought, with the fartest seat still being really close compared with an arena or stadium show (like PF)...
People rushed to the Beer stands, who were exceptionnaly busy during all the evening, with people coming and going all through the show, which after a while I found iritating... Quebecers drink lots of beer! :)
Anyways, the seating at the Agora is somehow elastic because the rows are a series of long "benches", making it hard to pinpoint where your seat really is... So we found a spot where there was nobody and just sat there... (10 rows closer than we were supposed to be!) 8:30 was approching and there were still lots of people waiting in line... I knew from the first shows's reviews that the show started right on time, and at 8h31 the show started, with TOO many people still finding their seats and coming in... (I think it took 3-4 songs before everybody had their place—we had to move a couple rows closer!)
It wasn't complelely dark outside when Roger came out. He was welcomed by a huge wave of applause and when the first chord of "In The Flesh" rang everybody went crazy in the place!... The lighting didn't really do much effect at the beginning of the show because the sun had not complety set...
The sound was crystal clear though, and I coulnd't believe how such a small PA (Clair Bros.) could pack so much... The sound was not as loud as other shows I've been to, but just perfect to really feel the music without having "ringing" in your ears for 2 days...
The "WALL" songs went down
great, the people obviously happy to hear familiar material...
The rest of the first set was played
just like the other shows, and I won't write all about it cause
I feel the show has been nicely described so far... The high
point for me was certainly "DOGS" one of my all-time
favorite Floyd song, with Jon Carin doing a great job with the
first verses and amazing guitar work from Doyle Bramhall ][ (he
has amazing technique!) and Snowy White (did Andy Fairweather-Low
jumped in there as well?).
LOTS of beer and other substances were consumed during the intermission... Which made lots of people move around again, well into the beginning of the second set...
The Dark Side material was warmly welcomed by the crowd, obviously delighted to again hear some familiar songs. I really felt cheated to hear "TGGITS" stop right before the vocal part though... I had hope that maybe tonight would be "the" night of the tour when there would be an exception, but halas it didn't happen... I felt much better about my "experience" during the second set, knowing that what I really wanted to hear was coming its way...
After "Money" (which Roger should have sang), the first notes of "Every Stranger's Eyes" made their way out of the PA and I finally really felt moved and touched by the show... You could tell Roger was obviously happy to sing his solo stuff, and that feeling stayed on for the rest of the second set. My eyes watered during PP Arnold's part in "Perfect Sense Pt.1" and the damb broke during the "anthem" part of "Perfect Sense Pt.2", where everybody stood up and sang their hearts out with Roger. He look really moved all along, and I think it must have been a great moment for him to see how well the crowd was responding. All in all it was the greatest moment of the night, and I was really proud to see that people could react to something else than "ABITW2" or "WYWH"...
The rest of the ATD material was also exceptionally touching for me, with "It's a Miracle" (one of my faves off ATD) and the end of "Amused to Death" bringing tears to my eyes once again... Roger and the band left the stage under waves of applause. I went to the front of the venue with my friend to see the action up front, and stayed there to hear Roger treat us to Brain Damage/Eclipse and Comfortably numb... It was encore, Snowy White and Doyle Bramhall ][ fired up their guitars up there on "the wall" bringing the show to a great end...
And there it ended, my first Roger Waters show... What I had waited on for so long... Tomorrow I'll see him again in Montreal, and then, "it'll be over"... Lets wish Roger comes back for another tour sometimes soon... Not in another 12 years at least!!!
After show comments:
I have to say I was pleasantly surprised with Doyle Bramhall ]['s performance... I'm sure we'll hear from him in the future... Great performance also from the lovely backing vocalists; PP Arnold has an awesome voice (we already knew Katie Kissoon did!)... I also felt Andy Fairweather-Low was "at the back" a little too much, often sitting on the couch, having nothing else to do!!!
All and all a great show—better in the second set :) - and a great thrill to finally see God, humm, I mean Roger Waters, perform live...
by Louis Allard
by Clap
Well, when our Syracuse sow got cancelled I immediately planned this Canadian
trip. First Montreal was focussed but plans were to go to Quebec city. We had no
tickets. In the end, everything fell together. This venue was amazing, - by the
water - and in a quaint outdoor theatre, and we needed to take a ferry back to our
room too.
Waters was beyond top form and the show was amazing. It was the same setlist as documented for the previous shows. This show was very very special, but I just got back home so IÕm sure IÕll have much more to say later. But for now all I can say is: Amazing.
by Richard Horton
Hi: An interesting and exciting thing happened to my wife and I in Quebec City on
Sat, July 31. We were staying in a hotel in Quebec City. We drove 1000 km to
attend the show in that fine city. The show was fantastic by the way.
We went to the hotel restaurant the day after the concert at about 12:30 PM for a
light snack. The restaurant was basically empty. The hostess seated us and a few
minutes later she brought another couple to a table directly behind me (3 feet
away). I didn't pay much attention to them, but my wife overheard a few comments
and mentioned to me that there was something familiar about the man.
I sort of
listened to the conversation for a few moments. Then I realized who our lunch
mates were. It was Andy Fairweather Low and Katie Kisoon. I was excited, but did
not bother them. 5 minutes later, they were joined by Graham Broad and Snowy
White!!! Of course, by now I am really impressed. I got very nervous that Roger
himself would show up...then I think I would have to get up and say something.
We stayed and finished our meal, by which time they had left the restaurant. When
we went to the lobby...there they were again, but now the whole band was there.
This was a very thrilling moment for me, and of course I am kicking myself for
not saying hello, and telling them how much I enjoyed the show, but I did not
feel right about invading their privacy. It was "strange" listening to the talk
about the show the night before. I even had my camera and did not turn it on.
That was my brush....err brunch with greatness.
