Roger Waters: Live @ M.E.N. Arena: 7th May 2007

 

The show was due to start at 7:30 'prompt', but the band finally(!) came on at 8pm. Everyone was standing and cheering as Roger was spotlighted and as he strode to the microphone.

 

As 'In the Flesh' began though, people were still trying to get to their seats from the bar (some carrying two drinks EACH!). This was the only real bad part of the show - that people kept getting up and going and coming back. But i digress.

 

 

In the Flesh blasted out across the arena, and then Roger went straight into Mother which was brilliantly sung by him and Katie Kisoon. Set the Controls was played quite well and Shine On You Crazy Diamond followed with a great chorus.

 

Then 'Have A Cigar' and 'Wish You Were Here' were played, (yes with the sudden volume cut in between!) These were both played very well. Have A Cigar's great riff was played tremendously by Andy Fairweather-Low.

 

Now Roger played two songs from The Final Cut, Southampton Dock and then the Fletcher Memorial Home which had a great video to it about an elderly people's home which housed political people who were very still and quiet.

 

Perfect Sense (Parts 1 and 2) followed and were brilliantly sung by Roger and PP Arnold who sounded much much better than she did on Amused to Death. After this Roger spoke to the audience, talking about the football season finishing and whathaveyou and then that the next song was a new song called 'Leaving Beirut'.

 

'Leaving Beirut' is a really great song and i hope it gets released on his new album. Except i did wonder however how well recieved that song would be recieved in America, because Roger does not mind airing his strong political views in this song, especially at Bush-bashing.

 

Following this was 'Sheep' from the Animals album. This was fantastically played by everyone and the pig was flying around the arena and everyone loved it.

 

SET TWO - The Dark Side of the Moon

 

Now this is what everyone was waiting for...Dark Side of the Moon. The Heartbeats bumped throughout the arena as everyone filed back to their sets and Breathe was played very well, with Roger singing well for a man of his age.

 

'On the Run' unfortunately was a little TOO loud, but nonetheless was 'performed' by Roger's son, Harry who bears quite a striking resemblance to his father.

 

Time was absolutely fantastic, Graham Broad's drumming was second to none tonight and Time was performed no differently. Everyone was up and singing and having a great time

 

Great Gig in the Sky, i didn't think i would enjoy this as much as i did, Carol Kenyon copied Clare Torry's original studio performance and IMO Kenyon's was much better. Kenyon got a standing ovation at the end of Great Gig

 

Money was great - but not everyone was enjoying themselves as much as you might expect. (Perhaps now everyone is getting a bit fed up of the song)

 

Us & Them was amazing, the saxophonist was so good ALL night he was brilliant. This song was sung by Jon Carin, but didn't quite have the volume as David Gilmour sings it with.

 

Any Colour You Like was enriched by the prism that was spinning slowly round and blasting out bright multi-coloured lights across the audience. The prism then shone it's outline like a real prism and shone out the colours just like the album cover ready for the next song.

 

Brain Damage and then Eclipse were enjoyed by everyone, by now nearly everyone was up and really having a good time. Roger was having a great time and unfortunately the Dark Side came to an end.

 

 

The band came back on to raptuous applause and played 'Happiest Days of Our Lives', 'Another Brick in the Wall Pt. 2', 'Vera/Bring the Boys Back Home', and one of the greatest moments of the night 'Comfortably Numb'.

 

The band was amazing, the crowd was loving every second of it, and to begin the Encore he said "Wow! You lot make me feel 20 years older!!".

 

A great night enjoyed by all.

 

Ali

 

He probably was referring to Rush Limbaugh, a highly annoying, witless, ignorant and arrogant, insulting, right wing radio talk show host in America.

 

Limbaugh's name belongs on the pig, it belongs in the pig, it belongs on whatever is coming out of the pig...

 

Now that you've jogged my memory, the pig actually says "BUSH" not "RUSH." When I saw Waters a few months ago, the pig had "BUSH" written on it. Maybe a part of the "B" has gotten smudged a little. However, my earlier comments on Rush still stand and apply to "BUSH" as well  

 

So tell us BTF, where do you stand on the Rush Limbaugh issue? I really hate it when people sit on the fence...