notaussiefloyd.com

Just waking up after a "cracking" night seeing the Aussie Pink Floyd experience. What a great show. Now I know what all of you people have been babbling about around here. The attention to detail that this band puts into the show be it the music, stage show or lighting is phenomenal.

One of the highlights of the evening for me was "Us and Them." I know that fans that have seen the band many times may be tiring of the DSOTM set but this one gave me chills. It's always been a personal favorite of mine and the piano, sax, the girls and the harmonies were simply amazing. I loved the images of world leaders popping up on the video screen during "Brain Damage." They showed one of George Dubya and Tony Blair walking together. Georgie was walking ahead with that stupid, smug grin on this face. The one that makes me wish his parents would have drowned him at birth. I hope everyone who reads this in countries outside of the US realizes that most Americans loathe George Bush and what he has put the Iraqi people and this nation through. No, I'm not anti-American, just anti-Bush. When the bill comes due for all of this, we will pay dearly. Sorry, enough of my left-wing nonsense.

After the DSOTM set, the band took a short break. We ran outside to "readjust" and then partake in one of the $12 Heinekens the arena so graciously agreed to sell us. They were 24 oz, but $12? Christ, I sound like my father. We settled back in for the 2nd set. Everyone told me that's why we were here and they were right. Here's the set in proper order.

Shine on You Crazy Diamond
Take it Back
Learning to Fly
Gunners Dream
Nobody Home
Pigs (3 Different Ones)
Turning Away
Wish You Were Here
One of These Days
Another Brick in the Wall (Part 2)
Shine on You Crazy Diamond (Part 2)
Comfortably Numb

ENCORE

Hey You
Run Like Hell

All of the stage props were present including the inflatable boar during "Pigs" and the menacing-looking pink 'roo. Sorry I forgot his name. At the end of "Shine On" the final image on the video screen was a picture of a young Syd that I thought was very cool and obviously appropriate. During "Nobody Home" I loved the singer (Ian??) in the armchair with the lamp next to him as the only light on stage. That was a nice touch.

Before "Wish You Were Here" the lights went out and the sounds of a radio could be heard complete with static as if someone were changing the dial. The dial changed a few times and snippets of music and voice were heard. One was Men at Work's "Land Down Under" which made everyone chuckle. This was followed by some crazy Aussie yelling about "poofters" (did I spell that right?) and then a single light hits the stage as the acoustic guitar intro to "Wish You Were Here" broke through. Again, another nice touch.

The bass ripped through my body all night but it was quite profound during "One of These Days." They rocked so hard on this one. Before "Another Brick" the lights again went out as the sounds of helicopters filled the arena and 2 single spot lights scanned the room from the ceiling. Yet again, attention to detail. Very cool indeed.

The light show during the encore was "off the hook" as we Americans might say. The giant disco ball was the largest I've seen. I don't think even KISS used one that big! The way the light hit that ball along with all of the other colors and lasers was spectacular. I've never judged a band by its light show but this certainly added to the experience. After a killer "Run Like Hell" it was all over. We filed out in an orderly fashion and retired to a nearby bar (pub) to discuss the night and get the set list on paper before it left my fragile mind.

I would definitely see this band again. I never saw Floyd live. I was a sophomore in high school when they toured for the Wall. My parents weren't the type that would have allowed me to travel from Delaware (where I lived at the time) to Nassau Coliseum in Long Island (the only east coast US shows) to see them. I kind of checked-out on Floyd after Waters left and passed on multiple occasions to see them post-Roger. Watching the Aussies last night, I was kicking myself for being such a purist and refusing to see Floyd sans-Roger. A friend that went with us last night had seen Floyd 4 times post-Waters and he agreed that I was foolish and had missed some great shows.

All in all, this was a great night. All of you US fans, enjoy the remainder of the tour and keep us filled in with your thoughts about the live APF show.