by Gerhard den Hollander and Sean Zloch
Gorgeous
The Gorge Amphitheater, George, Washington
June 30, 2000
Gerhard: Good day, RoIO Review readers. Since the topic of this issue of Spare Bricks is "Floyd Goes to War", we will be reviewing a RoIO of Roger Waters concert at the Gorge, June 30, 2000. Why? Well a couple of reasons: 1) Each Small Candle deals with the most recent war in Europe; 2) Many of the songs on this 3CD set deal (directly or indirectly) with war; 3) It's a nice show that easily bears the repetitive listening required to review the show.
Sean: Believe me-- #3 is a big help! :)
Gerhard: Yup... Listening to it, once again. It's a 3CD set with rather nice artwork.
Sean: I don't know, I've seen better art... ;)
 |
|
Get your filthy hands off my desert. Arriving at
the Gorge in George, Washington yields some incredible views of the
desert landscape. Photo by Rick Karhu
|
Gerhard: The show is sourced from audio tapes, and features the complete show, with the pre- and post-setlist banter, and the inevitable audience noise. As far as sound quality is concerned this is certainly not the best sounding RoIO from the 2000 tour. If you're a sucker for sound quality, I suggest you check out the Madison Square Garden shows or the Las Vegas gigs, both of which are easily tradeable.
Sean: I'm partial to Life on Mars myself, but the two that you mentioned are very good as well.
Gerhard: The Gorge show looked to be a hard to find show, as almost no one I knew had it on his (or her) trade list, nor knew someone who had the show. And then, more or less out of the blue, I managed to get my hands on this set.
Sean: Yes. Thankfully this one is circulating out to the fans where it belongs.
Gerhard: And will continue to circulate. Keep an eye out on your local trading circles, and expect copies to arrive there shortly (if they aren't already there).
Sean: It's the kind of show that collectors and fanatics drool over. It's one of those shows that something magic happens at, something that sets it apart from the rest of the identical shows on the tour. In this case, it was an airplane.
Gerhard: CD1 opens with the pre show audience noise. Then Roger Waters gets onstage and announces that the band is about ready to begin... "No, no, not quite yet;" a nice nod to the Wall concerts.
 |
| The view from up here. Roger launches into a fantastic
rendition of "In The Flesh" to the crowd's delight. Photo
by Rick Karhu
|
"In The Flesh!"
Gerhard: Just as "In the Flesh!" starts, the crowd goes nuts. The reason for this is evident as 3 seconds later the band is drowned out by the sound of an airplane roaring over the audience. Since it was too windy to put up the screen, Roger thought it would be a nice gesture to the fans to have his tour plane buzz the audience, kind of like the spitfires way back when in 1975.
[Editor's note: I was there. Not only was it a nice gesture, it was, for a moment, scary as hell!]
Sean: Also a nice throwback to The Wall shows as a plane flies over the crowd during "In The Flesh?". I've always liked this song, and Roger and his band do a great job performing it.
"Another Brick In The Wall"
Gerhard: Nothing too shocking here, a nice competent rendition by a band who is clearly enjoying themselves. It's also clear that the band is much more familiar both with the material as well as with themselves, as the songs sound much tighter than they did in '99.
Sean: Don't forget that Roger put together an excellent band, probably the best he has ever put together for a solo tour.
Gerhard: You're absolutely right there. Roger has managed to put together a high-quality touring band, and it shows. Snowy is a great guitar player, and the addition of Doyle (making his band a 3-guitar group) was a great choice.
Sean: I always enjoy "Another Brick 2" no matter how many times I hear it. Unlike other songs, it hasn't worn out its welcome (see "Money").
"Mother"
Gerhard: A song that gives the backing vocalists a chance to show of their talents, but I would rather Roger had dropped "Mother" from the setlist and had kept "Brick I"/"The Happiest Days" in his setlist. Ah well, you cannot have them all.
Sean: I agree with you about "Mother"--it could have easily dropped in lieu of a dozen other tracks ("The Final Cut", "Free Four", or "Three Wishes" to name a few). At least Roger plays it closer to the original version. I never liked the version played during the KAOS tour. I disagree with you about "Another Brick 1". I was glad to see it go as I thought it didn't work on its own outside the context of The Wall.
Gerhard: For some it does, for some it didn't. I agree that it works much better within the context of The Wall, but I really dig the intro to "Brick 1" (especially during the KAOS tour where it was lengthened to great enthusiasm of the fans). And obviously I'm not the only one who thinks so. Porcupine Tree fans should re-listen to Voyage 34. ;)
"Get Your Filthy Hands Off of My Desert"/"Southampton Dock"
Gerhard: "Southampton Dock" sounds more fleshed out this tour than the previous tour. A decent version.
Sean: I also like the arrangement of "Get Your Filthy Hands" being more like the studio track on The Final Cut. I still feel that these tracks could have been dropped in favor of more representative songs off of The Final Cut (e.g. "The Gunners Dream," a personal favorite from 1984-85 RoIOs).
Gerhard: Ahhh... "The Gunners Dream"... Yup, sadly missed since the Pros and Cons tour.
Sean: Hell... I'd even settle for "Not Now John".
"Pigs On The Wing (part 1)"
Gerhard: I like to think of this song as the anticipation song. The crowd knows that the next song will be "Dogs", and you can almost feel the excitement rising.
Sean: I have to agree with you. I love this track, but somehow it ends up a being a speedbump on the way to "Dogs". I wish Roger would have let Snowy play his extended solo, as on the Animals 8-Track, since he was there.
Gerhard: Ah, yes. Snowy's solo. But it wouldn't have worked: "And watching ... for pigs on the wing..." and then you hear the guitar intro to "Dogs"... Somehow I don't think that segueing out of Snowy's solo into "Dogs" would work as well.
Sean: Well, they could combine parts 1 & 2 and have the intro for "Dogs" start in the same place during part 2 as it does in part 1. That would work mighty fine to me. It would also make "Pigs on the Wing" more of a complete song and less a speedbump.
"Dogs"
Gerhard: Easily the highlight of the first set. I cannot get enough of this song. If you've heard the official In the Flesh CD (and who hasn't?) you might have felt (like I did) that that version was somehow not as great as I'd expected. The In the Flesh version sounds a bit too well polished, too perfect. This version is as it should be: live, a bit raw, not every note 100% perfect, but it rocks.
Sean: I agree. When I saw Roger in both 1999 and 2000, I found myself bored...
Gerhard: Yeah, yeah... rub it in that you saw him twice , while I still haven't.
Sean: Hey, Gerhard! I saw him twice. :) Only twice. I have friends that followed his tour from venue to venue, kind of like following the Grateful Dead!
Gerhard: 2002... I'll believe it when I see it. ;)
Sean: As I was saying, I found myself bored overall by most of the first set up until this point. "Dogs" is easily the one of the two most welcomed additions to Roger's solo setlist (I'm listening to the other one right now. It starts off the second set... hint, hint). As a side note, I really enjoy the In the Flesh CD overall (but where is the dang DVD they promised?), however, there is something so right about these songs being rougher, more live. This show is a great example of that.
"Welcome To The Machine"
Gerhard: Ho hum. When Roger did this song on his '85 and '87 tours he had changed it around a bit (for instance, check out the version on the Radio City Or Bust RoIO (Radio City Music Hall 28Mar85 or any of the KAOS shows around) and it worked very well. This version doesn't add anything to the original. Roger, if you're reading this, please leave this song off for the European tour, and replace it with "Corporal Clegg", or "Eugene", or...
Sean: Or "Take Up Thy Stethoscope and Walk"! :) "Welcome to the Machine" is probably the most disposable song in the first set. If you like it on the Wish You Were Here LP, you'll like it here. Good solid performance, but like Gerhard says, it is wasted space.
Gerhard: And it worked so well during the '85 and '87 shows. But there it was a show opener, and rather reworked and brought to life...
Sean: Also it served a conceptual purpose during the KAOS tour. On this tour (In the Flesh), which is essentially showcasing Roger's talents as a songwriter and performer, he could have chosen a better song to fit this purpose.
"Wish You Were Here"
Gerhard: Well, it's "Wish You Were Here." A nice version of a very beautiful song, but I found myself skipping this and the previous track when re-listening to this show for the review... "Dogs" is finished, eject the CD and insert CD2.
Sean: I'll admit to skipping "Welcome to the Machine", but I stop at "Wish You Were Here". It took Roger three solo tours but he finally got this one right! :) Despite the "classic rock staple" status this song has, I still enjoy it.
"Shine On You Crazy Diamond"
Gerhard: Excellent ! A great song and a great way to close the set. Now if only Roger would skip the part 1 reprise at the end (and the horrible "Shine Shine Ohhhhh") and replace it with the extended coda (including the "Dark Globe" and other tributes) this would be the perfect rendition of this song. Very, very nice. The intro to the second half (part 6) is excellent as Snowy and Doyle trade licks and rock their way into the vocal segment.
Sean: "Shine On" and "Dogs" both were big surprises when the tour first started in '99 and they still sound great. The band plays this fantastic! Compare this to the first few shows of '99 and you can see how much the band has improved, especially during the transition between the two halves of the song. I have to say that I actually am growing to like Roger's arrangement of the song the more that I hear it.
Gerhard: Apart from that horrible "Shine... Shine..." bit at the end. It starts to annoy me more and more the more I hear it. Just before the intermission, Roger tells the crowd that the road crew will try to get the screen up during the setbreak.
"Set The Controls For The Heart Of The Sun"
Gerhard: Heaven. Simply Heaven. I was overjoyed when I found out that "Set The Controls" had been added to the setlist for the 2000 tour. And while the opinions of this reworked version differ greatly, I for one feel that the new flavour (with the guest sax/trombone/trumpet/tuba/waldhorn players) works rather extremely well. Dim the lights, turn up the volume, and hit repeat, turn up the volume some more, hit repeat again and make a mental note to patch things up with the neighbours tomorrow, turn up the volume some more and hit repeat again. Luckily the kids are used to this (it's not the first 2000 show I've got ;) ) and sleep through it... Ahhhhhhh...
Sean: You know, Ger... headphones are pretty cool for a song like this! The neighbors will thank you for it. Mine have! ;) I have to admit that I had no intention of seeing the 2000 tour when it came back to Chicago, but once I heard the "Set the Controls" was in the setlist... By the way, have I mentioned that I saw Roger "In the Flesh" twice yet? :) I was amazed at the song. I am amazed now. This song is a true classic. I never tire of it. No matter the version.
Gerhard: Ain't that the truth... Now where did I leave my copy of the Yeeshkull RoIO (as reviewed in an earlier issue of Spare Bricks)? Simply the best "Set The Controls" ever.
"Breathe," "Time," "Money"
Gerhard: The Dark Side of the Moon segment. Andy rocks his way through "Money" (which works much better than the All Three Guitarists Get To Solo version from the first bunch of shows on the 1999 tour) in such a way that I actually start to enjoy the song again.
Sean: Thankfully "Money" is mercifully short. This is one workhorse that should be put out to pasture. I skip this song 9 times out of 10, no matter what I am listening to. This show is no exception.
Gerhard: Probably the only time I listen to it is when I'm listening to a live RoIO for the first time, and when I play Dark Side of the Moon. Even though it's relatively easy to put the needle halfway on the second side, I do like the song on the album... it's part of the whole scheme.
"5:06 AM Every Strangers Eyes"
Gerhard: Yes, he lipsynch the "And now, from where I stand..." bit. He also did that in 1984, 1985, 1987, and 1999. A bit of a disappointment. But just a bit. The song is very nice, and works surprisingly well in a live set as this. I'm still hoping that he replaces it with "5:01 AM" when he does his European leg though...
Sean: I enjoy this song despite the lip synching. I think it's a good representative song from Pros and Cons of Hitch Hiking. The problem with this song is that one version sounds like the next, no matter the RoIO. Maybe it's a side effect of the lipsynching. Don't get me wrong, it's a good performance. I just don't feel that anyone would consider it a highlight for them when you compare it to "Set the Controls" or "Dogs". "5:01 AM" would be cool too, provided he doesn't play it like he did during the KAOS tour (yuck!).
"Perfect Sense"
Gerhard: And then we hit the Amused to Death songs. A warm reception, and the crowd sings along and cheers along at the right spots.
Sean: This is the part of the show I enjoy most. Amused to Death is one of my favorite albums so hearing these songs live is a Godsend. Speaking of God, I was sorely disappointed by the loss of "What God Wants" from the set for the 2000 tour. "Perfect Sense" is great with the 2001 dialogue at the beginning and P.P. Arnold's great vocals during Part 2. Great song and the crowd seems to appreciate it.
"The Bravery Of Being Out Of Range"
Gerhard: "What God Wants" taken off the setlist and replaced by "Bravery"... it wouldn't be my first pick to replace "What God Wants" (in my ideal setlist the Amused to Death segment would be opened by a "Ballad of Bill Hubbard"-inspired instrumental, and if "What God Wants" was dropped then why not do "Three Wishes"? Andy can lipsynch the Genie...
Sean: "Bravery" seems like an obvious concert choice as it has the stadium anthem vibe to it. Strangely, it doesn't quite come off live. I enjoyed hearing this song but I would rather have "Three Wishes" or "Watching TV". Still rather enjoyable... don't misunderstand me.
"It's A Miracle," "Amused To Death"
Gerhard: Excellent songs, very good performance. It's clear that the band is now more familiar with the new songs.
Sean: I still love the guitar coda at the end of "It's a Miracle". A definite goosebump moment for me. "Amused to Death" is very well done. To me the Amused to Death set makes collecting the 1999-2000 RoIOs worthwhile and I'm not disappointed.
"Brain Damage," "Eclipse"
Gerhard: We knew that was coming ;)
Sean: And we enjoyed it nonetheless! =)
Gerhard: Roger thanks the audience, introduces the band and does his 'magic' speech again.
"Comfortably Numb"
Gerhard: There's only one person who can put enough venom in his voice to be a convincing doctor, and that's his Rogness. Doyle and Snowy put some marvelous guitar work to the front and luckily they play their own solos, not some imitation of Gilmour's. Brilliant.
Sean: I agree. I really hate all the flack that Waters gets for Doyle and Snowy not being Gilmour. I think they both do a fantastic job both here in specific and throughout the entire show (hell, the entire tour!.
"Each Small Candle" (with introduction)
Gerhard: And that's not the end of it. Roger explains the story behind "Each Small Candle" to the audience. The fact that he encores with this new song shows that he really believes in the new material, and the audience's reaction to the new song is very good. This show is no exception. "Each Small Candle" has matured a lot since Kansas, and is now right up there with "Amused To Death" or "It's A Miracle". With this song Roger has set the expectations for his new album very high indeed.
Sean: And hopefully it will be finished by next year. I really enjoy "Each Small Candle". By the time Roger gets around to recording it, the band will have the song completely polished off by then, which is exactly how the Floyd worked back in the "good ol' days". I'd like to see Roger do his European leg of the In The Flesh tour with a few more new tunes, come back and then record the final album. It is exciting to listen to early versions of these tracks and see their evolution, only to be blown away by the finished recording! One could hope!
Gerhard: Ah, a new Waters album, and a new tour, and Ca Ira... all to be happening in 2002? Well, I'd be really, really amazed if he pulls it off. That DVD was promised ages ago, and it's still not here either.
Sean: DVD?!?? I'm still waiting for the live KAOS album he promised us back in 1987. How much longer is THAT going to take, Rog? :)
Gerhard: And now the points from the Dutch jury:
- Sound Quality 2 out of 5
- Performance 4 out of 5
- Collector's Value 4 out of 5
Sean: I think the "collector's value" should be 5 given the rarity of the show and seeing how this show is so different from all others.
Gerhard: Worth getting? Yes, if you're a collector of In The Flesh shows. If you prefer a good sound quality there are better shows out there (and of course, if you haven't bought In the Flesh yet, get that first!)
Gerhard den Hollander and Sean Zloch are staff writers for Spare Bricks and currently have tapes that the editor wants very badly.