There are outstanding gig's, history making gig's and one off gig's however very few can only be classed as 'Events' and Roger Water's latest performance of 'The Wall' falls firmly into that category.
Playing six dates in London alone this is the hottest ticket in town right now and for good reason. Boasting a multi-million pound state –of –the –art production and with a performance nearing the three hour mark it's certainly value for money.
When the lights go down and the first chords of 'In The Flesh?' kick in the arena becomes awash with pyro, 3D projections and LCD screens capturing the moment. To try and describe the sheer magnitude of the show is a task as monumental as The Wall itself. We get crashing planes, 20 Ft inflatable characters, a flying pig, and of course while all that happens a giant wall is being built before our eyes in the middle of a polished well rehearsed performance. Completely shadowing the performance from Berlin many years ago Waters still embraces his anti establishment attitude and to some degree his vision is more relevant today than it was all those years ago when 'The Wall' was first introduced to a skeptical world. Photographs of lost loved ones through various world conflicts appear on each brick during the performance, as does powerful footage of returning soldiers greeting their children in school certainly tugs on the heart strings. Projections build to full coverage as does The Wall and before we know it, it's time for an overpriced beer at the interval.
Roger Waters
Most of the second half is played behind The Wall; however the visual eye candy surpasses everything I've witnessed before. A little room folds out of The Wall together with Waters sat comfortably with TV and light stand for 'Nobody Home'. On the previous Thursday a special appearance by David Gilmour aloft The Wall for 'Comfortably Numb' sent the audience into overdrive. Tonight however that slot is filled by Dave Kilminster and what a guitarist he is ripping into possibly the best ever solo in rock history. With uniforms, machine guns and waving flags paraded onto stage Mr. Waters is clearly enjoying himself and a fantastic resurgence in popularity. As predicted the crashing down of The Wall signifies the end to this most wonderful performance and you surely had to be here to witness the enormity of it all.
Roger Waters
Mark 'Tosh' Davies.
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