Roger Waters performing The Dark Side Of The Moon

The Friday 13th was not an unlucky day this time, at least not for the music fans in the Czech republic. Sazka Arena has hosted the concert of Roger Waters, the key member of Pink Floyd from mainly 70s and the author of majority of their most famous music. Even though there are many concerts in Prague each year, such musical personalities do not visit us every day (the last ones were probably Phil Collins in 2005 and Paul McCartney in 2004), therefore his show has been awaited very much.
This year's tour is devoted to in my opinion the greatest album of Pink Floyd and one of the greatest albums of all times - The Dark Side Of The Moon. In fact the concert looks like 2 in 1. In the first half Waters has played various compositios from other famous Pink Floyd albums + 2 his own songs, the second half was a performance of the complete Dark Side Of The Moon.
Compared to Roger's concert in 2002, which I have seen, this time I enjoyed it much more. One of the reasons was that I stood much closer to the stage, but even objectively I think this show was more precious. The atmosphere was better, also Roger seemed to enjoy the show much more and generally I like the way how his acompanying group played (Btw it was rather a large group: 2 guitar players, one guitar & bass player, drums, saxophone, 2 keyboardists, 3 female singers). And last but not least the visual show was amazing. Generally I do not see it as a very important thing for me, but if the show is intended to support great music and not just to hide that the music itself is shitty, then I enjoy it. And here it supported the music in a perfect way, and I would even say exactly in the Pink Floyd way. Pink Floyd conceptual works have always integrated all possible instruments to approach the audience, which has developed into albums with a common topics or idea, where all songs and compositions were connected, and this connection continued with the album cover and later with the live performances.
The first half of the concert included pieces from The Wall, Animals, Wish You Were Here, Final Cut, which were the albums where Roger Waters has left the most visible footprints. But actually for me the best moments were two different songs. One was Set The Controls For The Heart Of The Sun from the Pink Floyd early days, here it looked really spectacular. And the other was Perfect Sense, this was the only song that Waters has selected from his solo albums and I think it was a brilliant choice. Besides that he has played his new song Leaving Beirut, but this has not impressed me that much. One more special moment was Sheep from the Animals album, during which a huge inflatable pig was flying in the hall - one of the most famous Pink Floyd artefacts.
As mentioned before, the regular second part of the concert consisted of full DSOTM album. I feel quite emotional about this album, the way, how it described the madness of our daily lives, how it creates unbelievable unity of music, lyrics and the album graphics and at the same time how each part of the whole thing can stand by itself and has its own power... this is something incredible. I could write pages about this album and I don't want to do it here, I might just give you a link to an album review, which I have written for one Czech music server (it is in Czech).
Perhaps my expectations for this part were set too high, so it was not possible to reach them, but now after few days I definitely feel how strong this was. I can still see the drum solo at the beginning of Time or the surprise from the On The Run composition, which has been played in a new version and at a concert show this acts in even more powerful way than the original.
The whole album has about 45 minutes, but here it seemed like a moment, during which we were presented different aspects that attack our minds and that in the end conclude in a Brain Damage and Eclipse (which are of course the names of the last two songs at the album).
Sazka Arena applauded, but it was obvious that this can't be the end of the concert. Hard to imagine that the concert would not contain Another Brick In The Wall pt. 2 (yes, that's the "we don't need no education" thing) or Comfortably Numb. Both were played in the encores together with shorter songs that precede them at The Wall album. For me it was a wonderful ending of a great concert, because during the Another Brick the atmosphere has culminated and Comfortably Numb (which was the very last song)... this is a song that made me fall in love with Pink Floyd and since then it one of the songs that really do touch my heart. Beautiful melody, amazing guitar solo... the best possible ending for such concert.
Roger Waters is not a very good singer and not a top bass player, there is something different about him that is exceptional. He is a convinced pacifist and the war theme is one of the most common in his music. Sometimes it may seem a bit exaggerative or superficial, but here you just have to admire his passion and charisma with which he sends his message. You may not agree with him in all things, but you have to respect him. And of course the most important thing: he is not just a preacher, he is mainly an author of wonderful multi layered music, which has proven its quality over few decades. Here we could see it in the audience, where people of all generations were mixed.
Simply said: Pink Floyd music is still up to date and here we had the opportunity to see it best pieces performed by the most important personality in the band's history.