We got there around 7pm to a very longish queue steadilly moving into the venue. To my surprise, as we were to go through the ticket check, some bloke came the other way and explained he needed to get out of the venue for something to the chap checking tickets. The official checking the tickets explained there would be no re-admittance if he choose to leave. He casually replied 'yeah ok' and off he went. Bizarre!
As for the concert, I'd waited 9 years to see Gilmour play live again so much anticipation for the setlist was to be had.
The venue itself (which I had never been to before) was a very modern affair. Not exactly cosy but small enough to kinda call it an 'intimate' concert.
You all know the setlist by now so little point in me stating what he played but suffice to say, for me there weren't any surprises. Gilmour was proffessional, said very little, was well rehearsed with the odd fluffed note thrown in for good measure.
There were many pauses and silences between the songs but you could sense the anticipation from the audience.
He clearly doesn't like communication and the only point of note was when on introducing the band towards the end, he mentioned he had asked 'Dick Parry' to play with the band but declared Dick had declined and hadn't felt 'up to it'. I would have loved to have heard him say at the very end instead of the standard 'thank you very much', 'It's great to be back' would have been nice but the reserved Gilmour would never go that far even if he felt it.
Oh one more point to note, he also stated early on regarding the songs to be played that many new songs would be played that no one had heard yet due to 'many fuck up's' on the actual release date. I presumed the album was meant to be out before the tour had commenced.
Going back to the setlist, interesting how he intersperced the new stuff with the old. It works if you ask me and as for the new material, it is a different approach than the last album to my ears.
As a guitar player, he hasn't moved forward in maybe 25 years or so as in development but has instead, settled into what we all know him for. Those tonal solos and typical phrasings he is so well known for are very present here. One particular solo stood out for me which I think was on the track called 'In Any Tongue'. Gilmour at his best.
One particular track had a very Swing/jazzy approach with Guy Pratt on the upright bass. Think 'This Heaven' but more exaggerated.
We had stewards on high alert to anyone attempting to film or take pictures of the concert. They were almost immediately told to 'stop'. If anyone plans to take snaps, I suggest waiting until the last third of the concert as by this time, the stewards had thought their job was done or better still, just bloody well watch and listen to the gig!
Gilmour's playing was as good as ever in my opinion. Some slight alteration of the solo's as always but the band sounded tight allbeit in my opinion with some slight arrangement/sound issues. 'On An Island' sounded a bit flat in parts as did 'The Blue' but whether or not that is me being objective is open to conjecture.
From a personal point of view, we had this what I could only call, complete arsehole with black hair and an 'Animals' logo on the back of his T-shirt in front of us who from time to time, insisted on jumping up and slightly freaking out to the music blocking about four people's views of the stage behind. I know folk like to enjoy themselves but this guy was little more than a selfish cretin. He eventually knocked the guy in front of him with his swinging arm that was met with protest. The idiot sat down after that!
On conlusion, one can only ponder now if the setlist will change or alter in any way for the rest of the dates but I for one sincerely hope he does self indulge a bit.
