** SPOILER ALERT: This story features a selection of highlights from opening night…it’s your call on whether or not you choose to view the videos.
It was opening night of The Wall Live tour – the night Pink Floyd fans have been waiting for.
Last night, Roger Waters brought his massive stage production to a sold-out Air Canada Centre – the first time he’s played the concept album live, in its entirety, since 1990.
Before the show started, a homeless man wandered through the crowd, pushing a shopping cart with a sign that read “We Don’t Need No Thought Control,” a line from “Another Brick In The Wall.” Security followed him through the floor area before he was ushered out.
Roger Waters – pre-show protest
Air Canada Centre, Toronto, ON – September 15, 2010
Many of the props and special effects from Floyd’s 1980/81 tour were on hand and, like the original concerts, the first half of the evening was spent building The Wall across the front of the stage.
Roger Waters - In the Flesh (Live) - In the Flesh (Live) Roger Waters – In The Flesh
Air Canada Centre, Toronto, ON – September 15, 2010
Early on, Waters had some local help with some special backup singers on “Another Brick In The Wall, Part 2”; 25 kids (ages 10 to 15) - from the Regent Park School Of Music joined the production.
Roger Waters - Another Brick In the Wall, Pt. 2 (Live) - In the Flesh (Live) Roger Waters – Another Brick In the Wall, Part 2
Air Canada Centre, Toronto, ON – September 15, 2010
The second half of the show began with Waters and his band playing behind The Wall, kicking off with the first song on disc 2/side 3 of the album, “Hey You” – from there, it wasn’t long before they played the classic, “Comfortably Numb.”
Roger Waters - Comfortably Numb (Live) - In the Flesh (Live) Roger Waters – Comfortably Numb
Air Canada Centre, Toronto, ON – September 15, 2010
As the show reached its climax, to huge applause (and no one’s surprise), The Wall came tumbling down following “The Trial.”
Pink Floyd - The Trial (Live) - Is There Anybody Out There? - The Wall Live 1980-81 Roger Waters – The Trial
Air Canada Centre, Toronto, ON – September 15, 2010
Many early post-show fan reviews – via Facebook and Twitter – were raves, with many calling it “the best show I have ever seen.”
Waters plays the ACC in Toronto again tonight and Saturday, before heading to Chicago for four shows at the United Center next week.
For more on the tour, check out:
Behind The Wall with Roger Waters - part 1
Behind The Wall with Roger Waters - part 2
Roger Waters launches The Wall Live tonight
9 comments:
`MOTHER`......WHAT a song and WHAT a great show...... GREAT and ART Jeannine JL Be [Thanks Johan!X]
You say it was a homeless man pushing around a cart before the show - how would a homeless guy get into the ACC in the first place? This guy was part of the opening act - security would not have followed him around the ACC numerous times - they would have escorted him out much sooner -
Yes, very aware that the homeless guy was part of the show - didn't want to spoil that info for others since it was opening night, but I guess we just did.
The "Homeless Guy" was actual Roger Waters.
He did the same thing at the Pittsburgh show,
but folks up close to him recognized him and he shook our hands after being found out.
There was a homeless man wearing a cowboy hat, jeans and flannel shirt walking around the arena (with no security escort) pushing a shopping cart with a sign stating; "Homeless, need money for booze and hookers." He stopped periodically and talked,shook hands with people. My wife was 100% convinced it was Roger Waters. I said; "Definitely not!" Of course as the show was getting ready to begin, the "man" with the cart slowly made his way towards the stage and starting to change his shirt and remove his hat and fake beard. Yes, I was wrong as it was Roger Waters! He definitely proved his point as no one really went out of his way to talk to a "homeless" man but if he went out as himself, he would have been mobbed. Very clever and I must admit, point taken.
I saw the same homeless guy at the Kansas City show. I was three feet away and we made eye contact. The fellow in Kansas City was definitely NOT Roger Waters. It may have been in some other cities, but not Kansas City. I'm quite sure he was a part of the show and a part of the cast who had a very interesting role. Let's not get all orgasmic thinking this was Rogers.
I was at the Kansas City show too, and it was definitely Roger Waters, I was less than a foot away.
i went to november 13 show in south florida and there was a hoeless there too. it cant just be coincidence.
I took a picture of the homeless guy in Florida, November 13. I didn´t know about the rumour of him being RW, but when I did I went back and paid attention to the image and it was definitely him, I am sure! Although I also watched the video from the Chicago (HD) show uploaded in Youtube, and the homeless guy was not him, but I'd rather say he was Jon Joyce, one of the backing singers. Bye! G from CR.
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