With its high ceiling Le Grand Rex offer a wide volume of space. From my location the sound was excellent, all instruments being clear and well balanced. Although I am pretty sure that the general sound system was mono, we could hear Phil Manzanera’s guitar coming directly from the amp behind him on the left of the stage.
The first part was a bit disappointing. I’d never heard the album before and discovered it live on that day. If the performance in itself was good, I found that this was a little weak at the exception of “Take A Breath” which really sounded better than the rest. Hopefully David did not extend the songs too much so the first half ran quite smoothly.
The second half featured some Pink Floyd classics and other goodies:
Shine On: great to hear it live with a rhythm guitarist, but too bad that no backing singer to support David’s voice. Nice guitar work from David.
Wot’s… Uh The Deal: first revisit of pre-DSOTM era repertoire.
Wearing The Inside Out: great version, I like this one better than the one on TDB.
Breathe/Time/Breathe reprise: pure pleasure but too short.
Dominoes: better version than 2002 – really enjoyed it.
High Hopes: nice version but preferred the 2002 performance with the backup singer; but the finale with David back on the acoustic guitar was great.
Echoes: well, I could not believe he would perform that one again. The light show was fantastic in a way, but from my location it was very uncomfortable/unpleasant to look at the stage (same for Take A Breath).
Encore: Wish You Were Here: I just prefer the way Roger Waters performs it live so not too much to say.
Comfortably Numb: great as usual. Liked the way the “AAH” was performed!
David was not very talkative during the evening; he simply introduced his musicians and had a short word for Syd before Dominoes.
Thanks JYB
I took a four-day break with my other half to Paris to include (what was to be the highpoint) DG at the Grand Rex on the 15th. Paris is a nice place – good food, excellent history and architecture, shame about the dogsh*t everywhere and pedestrian-hating drivers.
The 15th came and we queued politely like good English people do, then was escorted to our seats. A shame about my seat being one of those half seats at the end of a row, especially as the other seats looked so comfy, and why are the people who escort you to your seats not paid or was I done? D’oh! [The escorts took you to your seat then demanded a gratuity for doing it – quite menacingly at times! – Matt]
Show starts a few minutes late, by my watch, and straight into Castellorizon. Even this had the bass rearranging our internals! The rest of the new album followed which was superb, and grows on you more and more through repeated listening. Excellent.
Intermission, where at this point the crowd in the foyer all lit up cigarettes and the ensuing smoke drifted in…
Set two and finale: an awe-inspiring lesson of how to play guitar with and without a band and please an impassioned audience beyond anything I have witnessed in the flesh before. Sublime, intoxicating, exciting, moving, sensual and perfection are all things that spring to mind, which are not over exaggerated.
I`m not going into track listings here – it’s not important, you probably already have an idea or you`ll find out what they are when you go, and you will NOT be disappointed, trust the expert.
I`ll be there to see it all again on the 29th May at London’s RAH, God willing.
Thank You David Gilmour.
Thanks to Jeff Ramm
Thanks to Karim
Arrivé à Paris dans l’après-midi, un petit tour par l’Olympia histoire de prendre quelques photos.
Retour une heure et demie avant le concert.
Aux abords de l’Olympia, je rencontre Phil Manzanera qui me signe gentiment un autographe.
Les portes sont ouvertes environ une heure avant le spectacle. Le temps de bien sentir ce lieu si particulier. C’est vraiment un privilège de pouvoir assister à un concert de David Gilmour dans cette salle.
Un public de quadras, quinquas, passionnés, authentiques connaisseurs s’installe tranquillement.
Les lumières s’éteignent et les premières notes de Castellorizon retentissent. C’est parti pour trois heures de concert et quel concert !
David Gilmour est visiblement heureux d’être ici. Lui qui d’habitude s’en tient à un seul Thank you very much indeed. Good night!,va plaisanter en français pendant tout le concert.
” Nous allons joué le nouvel album et il y aura une petite surprise nous dit-il “. Tiens tiens !
On an Island, The Blue, puis Sam Brown entre timidement en scène juste devant les claviers de Rick Wright. David à la pedal steel pour un magnifique The Great Gig in the Sky.
David visiblement très content, embrasse Sam Brown et serre les poings voulant dire Yes we did it ! ” Je l’ai persuadée nous dit-il “.
David toujours en français : ” Maintenant un petit cadeau pour vous ” et il empoigne son saxo pour Red Sy At Night.
This Heaven, Then I Close My Eyes, Smile, Take a Breath (meilleur live), et les deux petits bijoux de l’album que sont A Pocketful Of Stones et Where We Start et qui deviendront sûrement des “classiques “.
Entracte de 20 minutes.
Shine On You Crazy Diamond, un larsen persistant oblige David à s’arrêter. Mais qu’est-ce qu’il y a ? dit-il en regardant Rick et Jon. Un spectateur crie: tu n’as qu’à la refaire! David s’exécute, trafique sa pédale, nous fait une version accélérée de la partie acoustique puis se raccorde magistralement avec les claviers. Maîtrise!
Dick Parry magistral comme d’habitude.
” Maintenant une vieille chanson tirée du film La Vallée ” :Wot’s Uh the deal.
Wearing The Inside Out. Le volume du micro de Rick un peu faible au début, puis vite réglé.
Deux titres magnifiquement interprétés que j’ai redécouvert.
David a une petite discussion avec Rick (apparemment sur le choix du morceau). David d’un air décidé attaque Fat Old Sun.
J’avoue avoir eu à ce moment une petite inquiétude de voir la setlist chamboulée et ne pas avoir droit à Echoes, Time, etc.
Breathe,
Time sur un tempo enlevé,
Breathe Reprise,
High Hopes: magnifiquement joué. Je peux me tromper mais il me semble qu’à la fin du solo à la pedal steel, David a échappé son médiator (échange de regards complices avec Phil Manzanera) et terminé à la guitare acoustique en arpèges un peu à la manière d’un guitariste classique rendant la fin du morceau encore plus belle.
Echoes:Jamais je n’aurais pensé entendre ce morceau live. Les voix de David et Rick comme aux plus beaux jours. Sublimissime.
Bis:
Wish You Were Here
Comfortably Numb: superbe, mais pour moi la version du Live 8 reste la version de référence.
Que dire de plus, vraiment un concert inoubliable.
L’ambiance particulière de cette salle, les jeux de lumières sobres mais efficaces, le son excellent, Sam Brown, cette setlist de rêve.
David Gilmour plaisantant en français et trois heures durant alternant entre guitares électrique, acoustiques, pedal steel, saxo, chant, direction d’orchestre. Quel boulot et quelle mémoire à 60 ans!
Vraiment un grand musicien.
Chapeau l’artiste.
Merci et revenez quand vous voulez.
Thanks to Dominique Gouby