Saturday, 3 June 2023

Roger Waters, "This Is Not A Drill" Tour, OVO Hydro, Glasgow. Saturday 3rd June, 2023


I had tickets for comedian Mark Simmons tonight but the quip-meister rescheduled (to an inconvenient Thursday in August), which freed me up to attend this. Initially, when Roger's tour was announced, I baulked at the ticket price but closer to the time, and with two good seats available on level 1, I thought what the hell? Come on, it's time to go.

Roger's work has always been influenced heavily by his politics so it's not unreasonable to expect his live show to be similar but it often felt like he was shoving it down our throats. Subtlety was rarely on display with huge messages, like HUMAN RIGHTS and WAR CRIMINAL in block capitals bombarding us from the screen. He's in a grump tonight after a journalist in the NME regurgitated all the rhetoric from the right-wing press calling for his English shows to be cancelled because of their alleged fascistic content. He defends himself by calling on people to look at his body of work supporting his opposition to dictators, fascism and the abusive powers that be. He's always been paranoid but now they really are out to get him but the show must go on. 

The staging was clever. Situated in the middle of the hall, the stage was cross-shaped instead of round. This gave the performance area a structure to prevent it from feeling like the band was constantly circling to perform for someone else. The area with the piano in the middle was known as 'the Bar' for him to play his quieter, more intimate numbers.   

A massive monolith of a display screen, similarly shaped to the stage, rested upon it, rising after the first number to sit above the band where it remained until the end of the show. The design allowed anyone in any part of the hall to see at least two screen facings. 

The sound was impressive too, booming at us from speakers suspended from the ceiling. At times, I felt it was a little too loud but at least it blocked out the nearby drunks who wanted to chat on their phones and to their mates further along the row. Unusually, the smell of weed pervaded our space as one punter lit up a joint, arguing with the staff that he wasn't vaping (which was explicitly banned in the hall). Another girl who'd been puffing out clouds of vapour the entire first set was eventually warned to stop by security during the second half. She complied, shrinking down into her seat for the rest of the show.

During the interval, a fight broke out downstairs, one bald chunk of a man being removed while still gesticulating and attempting to have another go as he was being led out. I have no idea what happened except to suggest alcohol was heavily involved. I praise the young security girl who, despite her small size, kept him in check, moving him on with her presence without the need to physically restrain him, even when a third party attempted to launch another attack at him.

This was a gig that I enjoyed despite not being familiar with all the songs. The Pink Floyd numbers I loved. They were all executed marvellously. The rally feel of Run Like Hell with its jackbooted hero in a long black leather coat and machine gun rat-tat-tats was glorious in its glee. The sheep inflatable and pig drone added an extra dimension to proceedings as they passed close by circling the hall during the relevant numbers. It was sometimes difficult to work out where the individual musicians were playing, the massive imposing screen drawing your attention more than the music. Roger rambled a bit during the chat, lacking conciseness at times. We can forgive him that though, given his age. He had things to say and this was his platform. 

Overall, I was glad I went.  

Doors open 6.30 pm, on stage 8.15 pm, show end 10.50 pm.
Ticket price £126.05 inc fees (Ticketmaster)

Setlist
Comfortably Numb (Pink Floyd song)
The Happiest Days of Our Lives (Pink Floyd song)
Another Brick in the Wall, Part 2 (Pink Floyd song)
Another Brick in the Wall, Part 3 (Pink Floyd song)
The Powers That Be
The Bravery of Being Out of Range
The Bar
Have a Cigar (Pink Floyd song)
Wish You Were Here (Pink Floyd song)
Shine On You Crazy Diamond (Parts VI-VII, V) (Pink Floyd song)
Sheep (Pink Floyd song)

Set 2:
In the Flesh (Pink Floyd song)
Run Like Hell (Pink Floyd song)
Déjà Vu
Déjà Vu (Reprise)
Is This the Life We Really Want?
Money (Pink Floyd song)
Us and Them (Pink Floyd song)
Any Colour You Like (Pink Floyd song)
Brain Damage (Pink Floyd song)
Eclipse (Pink Floyd song)
Two Suns in the Sunset (Pink Floyd song)
The Bar (Reprise)
Outside the Wall (Pink Floyd song)

Pre-show view


Rising screen

The messages begin











Peek-a-boo


Baaaah



*Except for his merchandise

Not a real fascist rally
















A marvellous way to end, with the band still playing
'Outside the Wall' as they left the hall,
 continuing backstage before taking their bow.



Tour Blurb
London, England – September 23, 2022 – MFM and Sensible Events are pleased to announce Roger Waters' This Is Not A Drill European tour in the Spring/Summer of 2023.

Roger Waters will play 40 shows across 14 European countries, starting in Lisbon on March 17, 2023, at the Altice Arena.

The show features 20 Pink Floyd and Roger Waters classic songs, including: “Us & Them”, “Comfortably Numb”, “Wish You Were Here”, and “Is This The Life We Really Want?”. In addition, Waters debuts a new song, “The Bar”.

Waters on lead vocals, guitars, bass and piano, will be joined on stage by, Jonathan Wilson on guitars and vocals; Dave Kilminster on guitars and vocals; Jon Carin on keyboards, guitar and vocals, Gus Seyffert on bass and vocals; Robert Walter on keyboards, Joey Waronker on drums; Shanay Johnson on vocals; Amanda Belair on vocals and Seamus Blake on saxophone.

“This Is Not A Drill is a groundbreaking new rock and roll/cinematic extravaganza, performed in the round, it is a stunning indictment of the corporate dystopia in which we all struggle to survive, and a call to action to Love, Protect and Share our precious and precarious planet home.  The show includes a dozen great songs from Pink Floyd’s Golden Era alongside several new ones, words and music, same writer, same heart, same soul, the same man. Could be his last hurrah. Wow! My first farewell tour! Don’t miss it”.  Love R.

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