Downtown Nashville was bustling the night of August 27th as the town was hosting a football game and several large concerts including the much anticipated Roger Waters, “This is Not a Drill Tour”. This tour was originally scheduled for 2020, but was postponed due to COVID. Therefore, many fans had been holding on to their tickets tightly for two full years and were excited to have the night finally come to fruition!
As I walked up to Bridgestone Arena and through the sea of people downtown, I walked by seven parked tractor trailers and knew immediately that they were there for the elaborate stage set I had been hearing so much about. The arena was set up “in the round” which means (as the name would suggest) that the audience surrounds the stage. Because of this setup, there wasn’t a bad seat in the house!
The lights went down and “Comfortably Numb” starts. A video covers the huge screen plus sign shaped screen. When that song concludes, Roger enters from the tip of the stage dressed in black jeans and a black tee shirt. He then kicks off the infamous start of “Another Brick In the Wall”, “You, yes, you, stand still laddie!” and of course, the crowd went wild! The stage screens then rise to show Roger’s nine-member band all clad in plain black pants and plain black shirts, just like Roger. It is immediately obvious that this show is about the music, not about the costumes. And, boy was the music done right as the sound was impeccable. It is rare that you can go to a concert that is loud and fills the entire arena, yet there is not a moment that you wish you had remembered your earplugs! And earplugs would have possibly made you miss the subtle sounds within the 360 degree sound. Sounds such as the conversation in songs like “Us and Them”, sounded so much like people were talking behind you, they made me turn around to look.
The screen was full of imagery throughout the entire show. Videos, graphics, animations, old picture memories of the band, and printed words to tell the stories and messages that Roger wanted to tell. It kept the crowd completely engaged and reacting emotionally not only to the music but also to what was on the screen. Not surprisingly missing from the band pictures and stories, was any mention or visual of David Gilmour. We all know of their long-standing feud. While I’m sure we all wish they would bury the hatchet, it doesn’t look like that time is near.
Roger Waters was impressive for many reasons. Of course, he is a musical genius and put together an awe-inspiring production, but more…MUCH more than that, I was impressed at some other things that I didn’t really expect. He seemed to be so engaged in the show and with the audience. He seemed to be truly enjoying himself. There is nothing more enjoyable than watching someone on stage having fun. At 78 years old (and as many times as he has played these songs) many musicians would be going through the motions at this point…not Roger. Most of all though, I was impressed with what I observed of his relationship with his band. Several times Roger hugged his band members seemingly congratulating them for a job well done. He toasted them on stage with sparkling water, and in an act RARELY done in this sort of setup, he acknowledged each band member with their names and roles on the screen. It made me feel like he appreciated them and cared about their individual futures, and that made me appreciate them more and care about their futures.
I have since looked each of them up and learned a bit more about them. Something that probably would have never occurred to me otherwise. Here they are so you can look them up too:
Band:
Gus Seyffert – Guitar and Bass
Amanda Belair – Backing Vocals
Shanay Johnson – Backing Vocals
Roger’s tour goes on to New York from Nashville, then into Canada, a few West Coast, and Texas dates, and then concludes in Mexico in October.
If you are a Pink Floyd fan, this is a must-see. If you are not a Pink Floyd fan, I think you will be after this show!
Set List:
Set 1:
1.) Comfortably Numb
2.) The Happiest Days of Our Lives
3.) Another Brick in the Wall, Part 2
4.) Another Brick in the Wall, Part 3
5.) The Powers That Be
6.) The Bravery of Being Out of Range
7.) The Bar
8.) Have a Cigar
9.) Wish You Were Here
10.) Shine On You Crazy Diamond (Parts VI-IX)
11.) Sheep
Set 2:
12.) In the Flesh
13.) Run Like Hell
14.) Déjà Vu
15.) Déjà Vu (Reprise)
16.) Is This the Life We Really Want?
17.) Money
18.) Us and Them
19.) Any Colour You Like
20.) Brain Damage
21.) Eclipse
22.) Two Suns in the Sunset
23.) The Bar (Reprise)
24.) Outside the Wall
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