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Set Une
In The Flesh
Another Brick In The Wall Pt. 1
The Happiest Days Of Our Lives
Another brick In The Wall Pt. 2
Learning To Fly
Money
High Hopes
Set The Controls For The Heart Of The Sun
Mother Sheep

Set Deux
Shine On You Crazy Diamond Pts. 1-5
Time
The Great Gig In The Sky
Goodbye Blue Sky
Empty Spaces
Young Lust
Keep Talking
Hey You
One Of These Days
Wish You Were Here
Comfortably Numb

Encore
Run Like Hell

The Aussies took the stage before a sold-out house in Brussels last night. The wildly enthusiastic audience greeted the traditional Aussie line-up with loud, long applauses and standing ovations. This was my first time seeing the band with Steve Mac and Colin Wilson in their normal places with Mike Kidson making a most welcome return on saxophones; it was absolutely wonderful to see Mike healthy and happy once more. All felt familiar to me as the band took the stage to the lilting opening of In the Flesh.  Damian Darlington, Jason Sawford and Paul Bonney with Amy Smith, Jacquie Williams and Ola Bienkowska rounded out the line-up for the evening; sadly Miss B. was a bit under the weather (I hope you found some chicken soup Ola). My thanks to Gareth Darlington for letting me pilfer his set list like he frequently does, letting me surprise him a bit on the way to the break between sets and providing the even, yet dynamic mix this band and music demands. Sandra and I enjoyed the show from the 11th row center, the perfect seats for viewing the full production. Being a “smaller” venue it was great to be able to turn and see Gareth as well as make eye contact with the band members on stage. It also provided insight into a few minor musical clams onstage, not something I’ve witnessed before.

The show in general was brilliant, several songs from The Wall, plus, Keep Talking and Sheep, were new to me. Damian ripping free from the mould in the solo section of STCFTHOTS where I’d only seen Jamie do it was fabulous and his complete performance was the highlight for me (as usual). Having the lead vocals shared among three members instead of two was different and honestly not that much to my personal liking. I missed Ian’s voice and his combination with Damian. I praise him for doing the right thing right now and from what I understand he’ll be back for the UK tour. The crowd, unknowing, could’ve cared less, embracing each as they took their turns at the helm with the stunning reinforcement of the ladies who astounded as always. Amy’s reading of GGITS brought the house down as she took the whole song herself with Ola not being vocally up to it. Paul and Colin rumbled the foundation and Jason‘s swirling soundscapes gave Damian and Steve lots of space to do Mr. Gilmour great justice. From my position it’s odd because it was like Steve and Colin substituting for Ian and Jamie, of course that’s wrong, but having only seen the band in North America after Ian came along it’s how it seems to me. I’m sure there’s tens of thousands of people in North America who’d feel the same now.

I thank the band and my great friends back in the U.K. for their continuing hospitality and friendship, it means a great deal to me.

Sitting and chatting with Damian, Jason, Mike, Gareth and the ladies aftershow was great, Steve even popped by for a minute for a quick chat and he was charming as well. We talked right up until it was time for the bus to leave for Holland at 1:00am/0100 hours. My growing friendship with the band means a great deal to me and seeing old friends always warms the heart, we’re even going to try to get them out to see Childhood’s End on a off night next fall!

Greg Jackson