Them Not Us: Roger Waters at The TD Garden, Boston 10/3/10.
by Mike,posted Oct 4 2010 3:55PM
I was in 6th Grade when "The Wall" came out. Of course I loved "Another Brick In The Wall Part II" because what 6th grader wouldn't love a chorus of kids yelling, "Hey Teacher, Leave Us Kids Alone!". As I got older I started to understand why these guys, specifically Roger Waters, were so damned depressed. Losing his father to war, a broken marriage, an oppressive Mother, feeling trapped in a person you thoroughly despise, complete loss of trust in all humanity including your closest allies, paranoia, ego, drugs, all just bricks in the wall. I'm not saying all this applies to my life. We all tread through similar territory at some point in our lives whether we are Rock Stars or High School Mathletes. "The Wall" was an album so heavy with baggage it broke up one of the greatest bands in music history while influencing millions to let it all spill out in grand double gate fold sleeve catharsis. The tour for the album was more ambitious than the German invasion of Russia during World War II but with much better results. It was only a handful of dates but exhausted the band so severely that they didn't speak to each other for more than twenty years.
So why would chief Bell-hop of this baggage, Roger Waters, return to this behemoth of self loathing 30 years later? Probably for the sweet cash. But he also has said he wanted to apply todays technology to his psychotic vision. Thankfully the advances in live concert technolgy over the last 30 years have allowed him to sonically and visually squeeze his legendary ego for all the bitter juice it has to offer regarding "The Wall". The TD Garden was transformed into the interior of Waters' warped mind for 3 hours. From the "Triumph Of The Will" type opener "In The Flesh" to the disturbingly distraught "Don't Leave Me Now" it was almost overwhelming at times. Giant sections of "The Wall' were already constructed on either side of the stage acting as screens for various images of human atrocities and images from the Film version of the album.
Waters was looking fit and despite the content of his epic of depression he was in good spirits. Taking in the adulation of a work that has aged better than most. He led a band of mercenaries that could play a needle through the head of a pin. He had three guitarists, 5 back up singers, two keyboard players all of which he led while playing bass. Robbie Wyckoff handled David Gilmour's vocal parts with great skill and respect.
Waters turned the 2010 version of "The Wall" into a gigantic anti-war statement. Nailing the point through with photos of the victims of war that were submitted by fans through his website and projected on to the bricks in the wall during "The Thin Ice" and with videos of US soldiers being welcomed home by their children during "Bring The Boys Back Home".
He performed "Mother" in tandem with a video of himself taken back in 1980 from a show in London. Then slowly transformed a song about an over-bearing parent into a commentary on Governments keeping a watchful eye on their frightened citizenry. A giant inflatable "Mother" figure moving it's head along with an image of a surveillance camera.
A giant marionette school master was lowered in to terrorize some local high school kids on stage for the chorus of "Another Brick In The Wall Part II" and the half praying mantis, half x-wife was brought in for "Don't Leave Me Now" making it extra creepy. In a bit of self mockery, a giant black pig balloon was floated out above the crowd during "In The Flesh Part II", decorated with graffiti and slogans from the show.
All the while, the stage crew labored, building the wall on stage, brick by gigantic brick, untill it was complete. "Hey You" was performed entirely behind it. It was also used to project images of marching hammers, half naked groupies, b-52 bombers unloading their cargo, and news footage of people being cut down by machine gun fire in a warzone.
The political messages may have been overbearing at times, but Waters has said in interviews that he wanted to associate issues in "The Wall" with the World's current situation. His problems of 30 years ago have been worked out in therapy and now he's turning his eye on the world's problems. His father was lost in a war. Now that terrinble trend continues for millions. It seemed like he was trying to create a giant group therapy session for all of those who lost loved ones to conflicts between powerful players who they'll never get to face....with a really great band and light show.
Them Not Us: Roger Waters at The TD Garden, Boston 10/3/10.
Please Enter Your Comments Below
10/04/2010 4:30PM
Dragon lady
hey jap boy where is my PEKING DUCK I ordered
10/04/2010 5:32PM
John
Nice review! I was at this show too. I posted a review on my site, and I pretty much agree with what you posted.
10/04/2010 10:55PM
Robert Kempt
I was there thursday & friday night. Sat in 8th row section C and section 308 dead center and thank god i did. I bought the double record album the day it came out by luck cause of just happening to walk into strawberries in dedham plaza. Loved it instantly and the show was nothing less then i expected. I brought my 3 year old grandson and he saw all of it. He didn't want to leave. I saw many las vegas shows and big name bands including Paul McCartney (21st row from stage), but roger with the lennon brothers , robbie , G E Smith, that show was incredible. I might have to get a refill later in the tour.
10/04/2010 11:51PM
Rich lyons
Give me a break. It sounds like you went to the Greg Hill School of Government. The Wall was not about Rogers inter-personal issues; it was always a statement against repression of every kind: political, sexual (young Lust), academic (The Wall part 1, 2 and 3), and social. The brilliance of it was clearly lost on you in 1979 and then again last night. I didn't get it either when I was in High School and the album was released in my freshmen year, but I certainly got it the second time around. Powerful, poignant and enchanting was last night's show and to say less means you either don't get it or weren't listening.
10/06/2010 5:23PM
Roger Waters Tickets
Damn, great year for me when it comes to concerts. First time around it was amazing and can't wait to see Roger again. I’ve just found cheap Roger Waters Tickets at Ticketsinventory.com
10/08/2010 1:50AM
Carl Doran
I went to sundays show.I was very impressed with waters re inactment of the wall.I left this concert saying i cant beleive how brilliant this show was.Couldnt of be done any better.I saw floyd back in 1992 and up until sundays show it was the best concert ive ever been to.Beleive me ive been to alot including woodstock.The crowd control that roger had was amazing.If you have never seen gilmour or waters i suggest you catch one of their shows.Its so on another level when it comes to a concert.That ladies and gents is how a show should be put on.Iw ould love to see more of inside waters head in the future.Its dissapointing that he hasnt come out with anything to match the wall.But i guess well take what we can get.Peace!
10/18/2010 4:33PM
Thomas Coyle
My girlfriend and I went to the Friday night show. It was truly tremendous! If only it could have been with Gilmore and Mason. Roger is certainly an artist that has kept Rock N' Roll Alive! Maybe "Animals" next?
12/05/2010 9:47AM
pharmacy technician
nice post. thanks.
03/20/2011 2:28AM
Don Nippert
That is a very interesting way of putting it, though I am not certain I agree.
05/17/2011 12:06PM
Leave Us Kids Alone (2007) - Movie
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Td waterw | Jadelogistics
[...] WAAF » Them Not Us: Roger Waters at The TD Garden, Boston 10/3/10.So why would chief Bell-hop of this baggage, Roger Waters, return to this behemoth of self loathing 30 years later? Probably for the sweet cash. But he also has saidhe wanted to … David Gilmour, Hey you, In The Flesh, Mother, pink floyd, roger waters, Td Garden, The Thin Ice, the wall, triumph of the will, war… [...]
