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9 Sep 2006 - Concert Review Boston Herald - Roger Waters Band Tweeter Center, Pink Floyd, revisited: Waters doesn’Äôt disappoint No gimmicky light show or practiced cover band can match the majesty of seeing Roger Waters recreate his visionary work with Pink Floyd. And even though he’Äôs currently touring under the guise of performing the legendary ’ÄúDark Side of The Moon,’Äù that’Äôs literally only the half of it. ’ÄúDark Side’Äù was originally performed as Act 2 of a Floyd show - exactly how Waters did it last night before a capacity crowd for the first of two gigs at Mansfield’Äôs Tweeter Center. For all the anticipation surrounding Act 2, the first set was a much more compelling display. That’Äôs not to knock Floyd’Äôs 1973 masterpiece, which the musically muscled 11-piece band did commendable justice to. But hearing him lead his troops through crisp renditions of ’ÄúHave a Cigar,’Äù ’ÄúSheep’Äù - during which an inflatable pink pig circled the venue - ’ÄúWish You Were Here,’Äù the opener ’ÄúIn the Flesh’Äù and ’ÄúShine on You Crazy Diamond (Parts 1-5),’Äù complete with multiple images of the late Syd Barrett flashing across the video screen, was infinitely more satisfying. During ’ÄúMother,’Äù when posing the question, ’ÄúShould I trust the government?’Äù the crowd roared, but Waters disapprovingly shook his head as if to say, ’ÄúYou’Äôve missed the point.’Äù But there was no misinterpreting his messages of despair and disillusionment during the politically charged power-suite of ’ÄúSouthampton Dock,’Äù ’ÄúThe Fletcher Memorial Home’Äù and ’ÄúPerfect Sense,’Äù the latter of which likens war to an arena sporting event. ’ÄúDark Side’Äù itself was spot-on tight, if not a little predictable. The hazy melancholy of ’ÄúBreathe’Äù gave way to ’ÄúTime,’Äù for which drummer Graham Broad hammered out a thunderous intro. Waters proudly stood by, grinning while playing bass, letting his band’Äôs amazing talents shine. Dave Kilminster’Äôs guitar and vocal work was particularly notable on ’ÄúMoney,’Äù and he cranked out a biting solo during the instrumental passages following ’ÄúUs and Them.’Äù Ian Ritchie’Äôs saxophone added elegance and warmth throughout, especially during the expansive bridge in ’ÄúSet the Controls for the Heart of the Sun.’Äù No, it wasn’Äôt Pink Floyd. But for many in attendance, it was close enough.
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