To me, "The Wall" has always reminded me of the Who's "Tommy", with its similar themes of post-WW2 trauma and ensuing shutting down of the individual. I am of an age where the Pink Floyd version hit me in my mid-teens and left a huge impression- the iconic hammers and their fascist walk, the teacher churning out ground meat from children, the hauntingly beautiful guitar work and melodies that are peppered across this magnificent double album.
Tonight, I finally got to see a bit of it live, as Roger Waters performed his second night at the Air Canada Centre as he starts the North American leg of his tour. The show is a whole run-through of The Wall, in its entirety, with the big foam bricks resurrected, but helped along with modern computer graphics and the old animation from the movie. It was sometimes surreal to watch it, and to be brought back in time 30 years, and yet... It was very modern, very current, and used up-to-date scenes from Youtube and the nightly news to show us how little the world has changed in all this time. It was at times emotional, touching, troubling, but always hopeful, which is what drew me originally to the album back in 1979. Those who condemn Pink Floyd for being pessimistic miss the point, I think. The Wall is like Townshend's Tommy- it is hopeful, it dreams, and eventually begs for those walls to come down so the light and love can come in. It is also anti-authoritarian, anti-war, anti-violence, all the while demonstrating this with sometimes brutal graphics and images. I loved the theatrics, the lights, the pyrotechnics, the crispness of the guitar work and the beauty of Waters' older voice, still strong, clear, and still fighting the good fight. I loved his tribute to fallen soldiers of old and current wars, and his inclusion of civilians as well- the wall of remembrance during the intermission was very touching. He had the audience engaged from the moment he circled the floor area, carrying a strange sign ten minutes before the show actually began, and their attention never wavered. No one working the stands objected to the gentle wafting of marijuana smoke, everyone in our row was friendly and generous, and the overall sense was that we had all witnessed something magnificent.
If you're a fan of this work, you won't want to miss this show if it comes to or near your town. I am going to remember this a long time.
10 comments:
it is hopeful, it dreams, and eventually begs for those walls to come down so the light and love can come in. It is also anti-authoritarian, anti-war, anti-violence" ... I agree with you here.
I remember seeing The Wall in the movie theatre, when movie theatre's were big. And, that, I thought was amazing, I can only imagine in my mind from your evenings experience with modern technology how fantastic it was. I know my brother went, he is a big Pink Floyd, Roger Waters fan. i believe I have missed the op. But, thank you for sharing. Gosh, I love live music anyway, and all the visuals to boot....!!!
Anne Marie, thanks for your review.
your right, but more I like Tommy. Pete's Tommy is more fresh as "The Wall" today. If I listed both, I must say there are some lengthen at "The Wall", but the show is better. I remember the original "Wall", it was a very good show. Here in Germany it's very expensive to go the Roger Waters gig.
Stefan xx
Grace, the tour just opened here two nights ago, and you can still catch it in Oakland or San Jose in early December.
Stefan, I don't know if it's because Tommy has psychedelic music, but I actually find the Wall sounds fresher to me. I love them both, but I identify more with the Pink Floyd album- it is perhaps because I was a teenager when it came out, and so it has more relevance to me. I'm sorry the show is too expensive in Europe- last night's show would have been the same for me as going to U2, the Who, the Police, anything that I have seen in the last few years, plus it had amazing lights and production. I thought it was a good deal for what I got, but it's all expensive here.
thirty years? you're dating me!
I don't know about the comparisons except students as ground meat is precisely what has happened over here.
How were the children singers? What did all of your world experience in those thirty years tell you about the importance of the work on its own merits?
I smell oatmeal burning...so, I must run.
Great account Anne Marie.
Thanks for the account. I am a Pink Floyd freak.
So glad to hear that the show fulfilled the expectations! Would have been such a drag if it had been a disappointed - even if you would have had the original work to enjoy.
Anne Marie, I've just read this account again, and really enjoyed it the second time around. You make me want to go see the show. He is bringing it here, but I doubt if I'll be able to afford it...either that or it'll be very difficult to get ticket, but I will try.
On the whole I am more of a David Gilmour fan more, but the Wall is a special case.
Val, it's funny that you and Stefan both mention how expensive the show is going to be, because my perception here was that he was cheaper than or just as much as recent shows by The Police, U2, Paul McCartney, etc... and yet represented a better value for money because of the spectacle involved. (I also happen to love the music of that album ,so it was a win-win.
Shows typically here for big names start at $100 for the upper seats and go to about $400 for floors, and our mid-level seats were $125, with an added $17 in taxes. I thought that was a bargain, although yes, it is not cheap, especially when I look at my ticket stubs from 1977- $7 to see Queen. Those were the days!
Assuming this tour goes as the last one, cheap Roger Waters Tickets price will be well worth it. I think it was 2 years back, we saw him at Jones beach in NY. I had a great seat ,got it at Ticketsinventory.com He played the entire Dark Side of the Moon album, Wish you were here, then a few tracks from the wall.
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