One word really sums it up for me. WOW! Well maybe three words Holy F’n Wow! Yes the show was that good. I admit that my perspective is a just a tad skewed on this issue having been a fan for over 25 plus years.
As I commented in my earlier post I spent my formative years fully in the grasp of Pink Floyd. From angst filled drives pouring out my soul to friends or having a manic episode raging with Run Like Hell burned into my brain. Good times, good times.
But onto the show, I knew going in that the production values of this production were going to be beyond top-notch, Roger being the detail oriented man that he is, and I wasn’t disappointed. The minute we walked into the MTS Centre and saw the beginnings of the wall I knew that we were going to be simply blown away.
Doing a quick scan around the arena revealed a few surprises that were to come. The German fighter plane tucked into the rafters and tethered to a wire, two oddly placed bundles high above the stage, and what appeared to be trap doors in the stage floor. All would be revealed in good time, and with great effect!
German fighter plane hidden in the rafters.
Then all hell broke loose, people whistling, clapping and cheering. Roger on stage it’s all just like a slide show in my brain now. In fact it may be easier to explain in pictures so here we go.
“So ya thought ya might like to go to the show”
In the Flesh
The Nazi-esque Roger takes the stage challenging the audience to dare and have a good time. I must admit I was feeling the thrills of confusion and space cadet glow. Explosions boomed, pyrotechnics flashed and at the height of the action the German fighter plane hidden in the rafters flew into the wall causing a huge explosion and shower of sparks from the front of the stage.
One hell of a way to start the show, don’t you think?
“We don’t need no education”
Another Brick in the Wall: Part 2
The arrival of the teacher and his students really got the audience singing along. Who doesn’t know the iconic lyrics. “We don’t need no education, we don’t need no thought control.” The inflatable puppet of the teacher bounced around angrily. A choir of local schoolchildren sang the chorus and taunted the teacher. The children were all decked out in exclusive t-shirts that read “Fear Builds Walls”
Local school children taunt the teacher in Another Brick in the Wall: Part 2
“Mother should I trust the government?”
During the song “Mother” thematically the concert began to take on a new edge. Not only does this song speak of an overprotective mother figure that refuses to let her baby go but it also has dark overtones of government interference and deceit.
Mother standing stoically in the background while slogans from the government play on the wall. Note the security camera center stage also watching everyone.
Earlier in the show Roger brought up the case of Jean Charles de Menezes a Brazilian visiting London shot dead by police in a case of mistaken identity. According to Roger the London Police were never held to account over the incident. Mother should I trust the government….NO FUCKING WAY!
This one speaks for itself.
“Look mommy there’s an airplane up in the sky”
Goodbye Blue Sky
Sadly most of my shots for Goodbye Blue Sky turned out poorly but the image above will give you an idea of what is going on. Much like in the movie waves of bombers fly overhead on the wall. In this version though they drop more than just bombs and crosses. They drop religious icons, and symbols of commercialism and greed. From the Christian Cross, the Star of David to symbols from Mercedes-Benz and Shell. They all fell symbolizing not only our blind devotion to religion but also our unwavering dedication to consumerism.
“Where are all the good times? Who’s going to show this stranger ’round?”
Young Lust
Young lust hit like a sonic assault, images of sex and women filled the wall. Commercialism in all of its rotten roots. Women depicted not as persons, but objects to be bought and sold. Base pleasures and debauchery fill the air as pink descends into madness.
Ohh I need a dirty woman! Ohh I need a dirty girl!
“Goodbye cruel world I’m leaving you today”
As the first act drew to a close the wall was almost complete only a few bricks remained to isolate Roger and the band from the audience. Pink’s decent into his handmade hell is complete as he isolates himself from pleasure and pain by building his wall.
Goodbye Cruel World
Seeing as this post is going extra long I’ve decided to cut this post short and bring you part two of my review of the wall in a few days.
Till then. Goodbye all you people there’s nothing you can say, to make me change my mind. GOODBYE.
However just so I don’t cause a riot here a few select clips from the first act of The Wall.
Related articles
- The Concert that could change the world: The Wall (spanglishbeauty.wordpress.com)
- Roger Waters builds memorable ‘Wall’ in San Francisco (photos.mercurynews.com)
- Roger Waters, The Wall (aaronfulkerson.com)
Bob
Exploring Winnipeg and Beyond. 
Reblogged this on I Want Ice Water and commented:
Sounds like one hell of a show. Oh man, do I wish I was there!
Great show! Thanks for the reblog
Looking forward to the next installment! 😀
Aww, glad you had fun, Bobby!
I had a blast SG!! One of my all time biggest concert experiences!!
Reblogged this on Pinkfloydiana.
In a comment to my reblog of your post, one of my readers said “Brilliant except for the fact he was miming through most of it” about the show she saw a few months ago. I find that hard to believe. Did you see any evidence of that in this show?
I didn’t see evidence of lip synching. In fact he handed off some of the singing duties to his guitar player.
From my vantage point he looked and sounded very close to the original album. Giving him a pass for his age of course.
It’s his insistence on an accurate projection of his vision that makes me love Waters so much. It’s one of the things that’s missing from the new Pink Floyd I think, as good as they are. Of course, considering that desire on his part and his advanced age, I don’t think I’d blame him if he did resort to the occasional “trick” or two. And about that guitarist, I was amazed at how easily he’s able to duplicate the efforts of David Gilmour in that Roger Waters rebuilds Pink Floyd’s “The Wall” on 60 Minutes! 😀
Speaking of Gilmore, I was less than overwhelmed by his performance in London. Everything that I saw and heard of his guitar piece for Comfortably Numb reeked of a lack of preparation on his part.
His guitar work seemed almost Keith Richards sloppy, it pains me to say that because I think David is a incredible axe man. But I think in this case he just didn’t get enough rehearsal time in to make it truly stellar.
From his work with Pink Floyd, I’ve always thought of Gilmour as one of the greatest rock guitarists ever. At the same time though, he does have that “let’s do it off the cuff” attitude that so many rock n rollers have – which is one of the reasons why I don’t really get into live performances. The original Pink Floyd was one of the very few bands I thought worth enduring the crowds to see live!
Wow looks like it was an amazing show! I saw a Pink Floyd concert many years ago and it pretty awesome as well.
Incredible does not do it justice!
Actually if you’re referring to the 94 Division Bell (Pulse) tour I saw that one as well in the Winnipeg Stadium on Canada Day. Blistering hot, no money and no food save for a banana that I smuggled in. JOY!!
It just looks amazing and astounding, oh how I wish I would have been there as well…
Ah Rincewind now that would have been a tale to tell the folks back home, a trip to Winnipeg and The Wall. EPIC. If you are interested I did find a couple of bootleg videos that I could turn you onto if you’re wanting to see the performance.
So awesome! Thanks for sharing!!
It was a serious blast Nikki!
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