Live And In The Flesh
Roger Waters - June 25, 2012
My brother and I had decided to pick up our father tickets to go see Roger Waters live in Ottawa for Christmas. I can remember him getting pretty choked up about it when he opened up his gift Christmas morning. Unfortunately there would be a bit of a wait until the show, but it was definitely well worth it! The show landed not long after Father's Day, so it all worked out quite well! I was still coming down off of my rush from the Radiohead/The Flaming Lips doubleheader not even two weeks prior to this show, and couldn't believe that I would get to experience such a legend live and in the flesh.
I was always a fan of Pink Floyd growing up over the years as my dad would normally have Chez106, the local classic rock station, on at all times. It was fitting that this would be our very first show together. I had missed the first opportunity to see Roger Waters when he toured through Ottawa a few years earlier, so I was pleased to be lucky enough to buy tickets to his 2012 The Wall Live Tour. Waters would recreate their classic spectacle from the early 80's and take it on the road for all to rejoice once again. We knew we were in for something pretty special that night, but nothing could have prepared us for the incredible stage performance that we would be treated to throughout the entire evening. There wasn't an opening act that tour, how could anyone attempt to open up for such a show?
We made it to our seats down in the 100 level of Scotiabank Place just before the sections began to bend around the bowl, our view would be perfect for the entire night. The lights went out and the crowd began to cheer. Roger took to the stage to salute the crowd before draping himself in his attire, a long black leather trench coat complete with the red armband, and shades. Waters looked remarkably well for someone pushing 70 years old. You could tell the rock and roll had treated him well over the years, as opposed to the likes of Keith Richards.
In the Flesh? would get everything started up that night in Ottawa, and what an introduction it would be to the spectacle known as The Wall Live! Pyrotechnics were in full swing as we already had an aeroplane fly down from the ceiling and crash through a section of the wall causing even more fiery explosions! This was only the beginning and we couldn't believe it! Roger Waters along with his backup band would work through the first half of their 1979 classic album The Wall, adapting the stage production to fit 21st Century Technology incorporating videos and special effects like never before. Brick by brick The Wall would begin to fill in. By the time Another Brick in the Wall Part 2 was played we were graced by the memorable school-master marionette as fifteen local choir students from the Ottawa area joined Waters on stage to denounce the figure throughout the track. A memory that those kids will never forget I'm sure. Empty Spaces and What Shall We Do Now? had to have been the highlight for the first half of the show for me. The music and animations really stood out for these two tracks and had me more excited than ever for the remainder of the show. The first sixteen tracks wrapped up and the last brick was placed into The Wall as Roger Waters sang the final notes of Goodbye Cruel World.
The show reached its intermission and fans were able to restock their refreshments before embarking on the second half of the journey. We returned to our seats just in time to hear one of Pink Floyd's biggest classics Hey You get started. One track after the next would tell the story of The Wall as it was meant to be told. Accompanied with the outstanding visuals enabled the story to be told at a whole new level. The 3D projections were incredible to see on that great big wall that was built spanning the entire width of the arena. The wall of bricks lent itself perfectly as the canvas for their visuals. Is There Anybody Out There? followed along with the rest of the second half of their double album. Comfortably Numb was incredible to finally see live as well. Never had I ever thought I would get the opportunity to see this track let alone the entire album beginning to end. In the Flesh and Run Like Hell were also amazing to see with their visual accompaniments. Waiting for the Worms, Stop and The Trial would wind things down before their final performance Outside the Wall.
We were all blown away by every track of the twenty-nine song setlist. Each song helped tell the story of The Wall in its entirety. This show has landed in my top five all-time favourite perfomances throughout the years. The visual masterpiece that was paired with the incredible music of Pink Floyd was something that I would pay to see time and time again. I am so thankful to have been given the opportunity to see such an incredible talent in person, and to have my father and brother there to share the moment with me had made it even more memorable.