When it comes to the Floyd I’m definitely in the “I liked their earlier stuff” camp. So when tickets for this gig went on sale way back in March I was in there immediately, nabbing a seat 7 rows from the front.
It was a great night. As usual with “heritage” acts they played some songs I absolutely had to hear (“Bike”, saved for the encore), some I didn’t expect to hear (“Atom Heart Mother”) and left out some I would have loved to hear (“Julia Dream”). But really – yer mustn’t grumble…
Nick Mason is just wonderful. We’re getting used to sixties era musicians still performing in their eighties, and ol’ Nick is only a few months shy of his 80th. He looks fit and healthy, and for someone whose musicianship has been questioned, even by himself, he plays the drums rather well. He has several spots where he talks to the audience and is friendly and witty. (“Oh sorry that’s my phone – is that you Roger? How are you? Your gong – no sorry I don’t have your gong. Maybe give Dave a call”)
Gary Kemp, a relatively spring chicken at 63, who looks like the eternal ageless rock star, does most of the lead vocals and plays excellent guitar. While most of the chat to the audience was scripted, he threw in a lovely comment that he noticed his bags at the airport were labelled SYD. Guy Pratt on bass seemed to be the MD, signalling endings etc with Nick. The other guitar player is excellent and the keyboard player does his best to channel Rick but doesn’t quite get his essence IMHO.
The whole show is immaculately produced – of course it is, Nick M has been involved in immaculately produced live music shows for decades. I felt like I was part of some 14 hour Technicolour Dream.
Oh and one final thing – they know their audience. I’ve never encountered this before but after about an hour they announced there’d be a “short break”. Just when all the sixty-something chaps in the audience needed to do a wee. How brilliant is that?
>>>>>>
Saw them in Dublin last April on the first night of their tour having bought my ticket more than two. years before.
Only my second post-COVID gig (Sparks three days earlier was the first) and both were very, very special.
With musos like Nick hitting their 80s, have started to notice a real fall off in the number of gigs I would like to see in the coming months.
If you get offered the opportunity to see a band like this grab it with both hands, they might not be coming around again
Nice review, am jealous. They’re the one act currently touring that would make me willing to leave my house of an evening for (though even then I’d still probably moan a bit.) The YouTube clips I’ve seen all look superb. Especially Fearless (did they do Fearless?). And I love the little phone call anecdote, glad you shared that.
I see the encores are already on YT:
The other guitarist is Lee Harris and he is brilliant! Dom Beken has the difficult task of emulating Rick Wright.
This a superb act & their show is not to be missed. They have released an excellent album – Live At The Roundhouse.
Live at the Roundhouse: listen carefully and you can hear myself and the the much missed @Phil-pirrip in the audience.
I wondered who that was!
They’re a joy to watch, aren’t they? I saw them a few years ago and I’m a die hard fan of the pre-Dark Side stuff, but I went with three others who aren’t that fussed about it and even they were impressed and really enjoyed it.
And yes, I too would have loved to see them play Julia Dream! (And Cirrus Minor, and Alan’s Psychedelic Breakfast, and Pillow of Winds, and Summer ’68, and Grantchester Meadows…. etc etc etc)
There is still time.
Thanks Mousey! What a very enjoyable review.
Glad to hear that they put on such a very enjoyable show. And provided a “short break”. Perfect!
How heartening that they are still out there playing and clearly enjoying it.
I ummed and aaahed about this show., especially when I saw the band line-up. But unlike the seated Enmore it was on at the Forum here in Melbourne. I am prepared to stand despite being past my mid sixties but this didn’t seem like the sort of show to suit a standing up venue.
Thanks for the review.
Saw them at the Roundhouse a while back. They were magnificent. Who needs Nazi Roger or Dull Dave?
I imagine Nick is having a lot more fun with this band than he ever did in Pink Floyd’s post- Wish You Were Here years.
I bought the live CD/DVD set after reading a thread here, and watching a couple of the videos. I’m Floyd-ignorant, other than Dark Side and Wish, but I was charmed by the obvious pleasure of all those playing. Similar feeling to watching Steve Hackett and band playing Genesis…
I was at the Thursday show. My son was ill and couldn’t make it so my wife came. She’s not a fan of the Syd era (she finds it too disturbing to listen knowing his mental state), but she loved it. Seeing the level of musicianship and the obvious joy they have playing these songs comes across. No sullen pouty rock stars in sight.
Great show, between seeing them live and watching the Blu-ray it’s all the stuff I’ve waited years to hear live.
The intermission thing seems pretty common these days. Saw The Church a few weeks ago and they did it. Others include Steve Hackett, Steven Wilson, The Cure. There’s the inevitable mad rush for the loos and the opportunity to sell a bit of extra merch.
@simon22367
How were the Church? Read some uniformly good reviews of recent dates.
There’s been a bit of griping over here about lack of UK and European dates plus they are also selling the cd of new tunes (not the latest album, the Hypnagogue, even newer than that) only at US dates.
They were great. Heavy on track from The Hypnagogue, which sound better live, and a good selection across their sprawling catalogue. Tim Powles back on drums, swapping between skins and percussion with Nick Meredith. Kilbey was in good form adding obscure narration to the new tracks and anecdotes the older tracks (some of which may have been true).
Merch in Sydney was the new album + various side project albums of Kilbey’s and the other band members. The t-shirts looked like they’d been screen-printed on someone’s kitchen table.
Worth a look if they’re playing near you.
Ah, thanks! Sounds like they’re on form.
I’d love to see them again but I’m in England and there are no signs of them coming here
Just to repeat what’s been said already really….we saw them on the last tour in Plymouth and it was simply one of the best shows I’ve ever been to. Astounding.
Tickets go on sale on Friday for UK dates in June.