David Gilmour of Pink Floyd and roger waters In the immortal words of Taylor SwiftNever get back together.
Gilmour recently made it clear that he would “absolutely not” be performing. His rival former bandmate Once again, citing Waters’ controversial political views including inflammatory comments about Israel, Ukraine, and the US.
“I stay away from people who actively support genocide and autocratic dictators [president of Russia Vladimir] Putin and [president of Venezuela Nicolás] Maduro,” Gilmour, 78, told the guardian In October. “Nothing would compel me to share the stage with anyone who thinks it’s okay to treat women and the LGBT community like this.”
But the legend and legacy of the British pro-rock band – which sold its list to Sony Music last month for $400 million – that’s how even a single Gilmour could attract loyal Floydians Five Nights at Madison Square Garden On his “Luck and Strange” Tour.
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Gilmour released her fifth solo studio album, “Luck and Strange”, in September. And on the opening night of his MSG run on Monday, he relied on the patience of revered, respectful audiences to give the new material a chance.
In fact, they played all but one song from the new album. And there was no investigation into the fresher, less familiar things in the crowd. (Bathroom and drink breaks were, for the most part, saved for intermissions between sets.)
Like “Luck and Strange”, the singer-guitarist was joined by his daughter Romani Gilmour on “Between Two Points” and “The Piper’s Call”.
But Romani’s best moment came with background singer Louise Marshall and the Webb Sisters (Hattie and Charlie) in a haunting, harmony-rich reimagining of Pink Floyd’s 1973 classic “The Great Gig in the Sky.” “the dark side of the Moon.”
Two other “Moon” moments – “Breathe” and “Time” – were early crowd favourites, while “Fat Old Sun” (from the 1970s “Atom Heart Mother”) also took it back to classic Pink Floyd, Before Waters left the band in 1985.
But “High Hopes” (from 1994’s “The Division Bell”) showed there was love for the group’s later material too, closing the first set with the launch of giant white beach balls into the field.
However, the two largest numbers were surprisingly “I wish you were here” And “comfortably numb.” The two got the only real singalong of the night, which was a bit refreshing. This was an old-time audience that paid to hear every note and nuance – not the screams of their classmates.
They remained seated and listened attentively during almost the entire show. And there was no nonstop video recording on his phone. It was a refreshing return.
As an encore, “comfortably Numb” A killer was close. Gilmour’s guitar echoed off the smoke-filled stage and across the arena amid a series of lasers.
As he got lost in the bustle of space with an extended solo that electrified the arena, he and the audience were transported back to 1980 – and an alternate universe where Waters hadn’t been released at all.
