Thanks to Jon Kruse jk52923@alltel.net

I went to this show with my brother, Joe who has never been to a concert before. We stayed at the Crown Plaza Hotel just 4 blocks from the Target Center and what a great place it was to stay. The day of the show we met several Echosians and friends. Mark Strand, Rusty, Monkey Man (Henry), His girlfriend, Jens from Denmark, a couple of Minnesotans and almost Roger himself. Missed him by about 10 minutes on the south entrance of the Target Center before the show.

I met Jens at Glueks. It was great talking to someone who had never been to the states before. We then went to an Irish Pub to share a few with some friends. It was again great talking with great Roger fans from around the world.

My seats were originally in the 35th row of the floor. But I knew this may be the last time I ever see Roger so I set out for an upgrade. I met a gentlemen who had 7th row dead center seats. We ended up trading tickets plus an extra copy of ITAOT that I left sealed. (I knew it would come in handy!) These seats were by far the best seats I have had to a show. The sound was phenomenal! Roger even looked directly into my eyes on several occasions. You could really feel the intimacy he had been talking about. I shot up a roll of 400 speed film and am currently waiting on the Pix. They should be great shots.

The set list remained the same and it was just one of those shows where you let the music take you where it will. My brother was in awe!

After the show Roger left immediately and we had no chance to catch him. We did however go back to that Irish Pub accross the streets for a couple more refreshments and talked about the show with many fans.

Henry even got photos of a cracked out lady sleeping in the middle of the street in front of the Target Center! She was arrested a short time later by Minneapolis’ finest.

Thanks to everyone for a great night. -Jon Kruse, Nebraska jk52923@alltel.net

Just returned home after a long drive from seeing the Minneapolis show last night. I was fortunate to see Rog’s opening show in Milwaukee last year (nearly one year away from the show last night!) and in my mind there was going to be no way that this show was going to top last years show in terms of enjoyment (not musically, as the band was definitely more comfortable with the songs this time around). Boy was I wrong. And I honestly think it was because I knew what to expect, and therefore wasn’t trying to analyze every little detail like I did at last years show. This is also supported by the fact that my memory of the songs *not* played on last years show (StC, BBR) are rather sparse compared to the songs I knew would be played and *how* they would be played. When they did play StC and BBR I again was concentrating too hard on what I was hearing instead of just enjoying the moment for what it is. Anybody else who has seen multiple shows- have you had this experience? Anyway, on with a description… The show started a bit past the 8:00 mark. I was seated in the 21st row on the floor (much closer than I had anticipated it would be, so that was a nice surprise). I seemed to be the only one in the arena wearing a Harvested T-shirt. I didn’t see anybody all night with one on. I did get a compliment on it though. The war movie was playing (has it been confirmed yet that it is ‘Paths of Glory’?) and Rog strode to the top of the platform to sing ITF. IMO, watching his head-jerk movements on the ‘big’ notes is really cool. During ABitW2, for reasons unexplainable other than being caught up in the moment- this isn’t a favorite song really and has no ‘meaning’ for me other than what it is- I felt tears welling up. Right then I knew something about tonight was going to be special for me. Mother was good, and it was nice to hear the string arrangements added to GYFHOMD. I believe it was this song that saw Rog do his best ‘air violin’.

Dogs again was a highlight for me. My appreciation for Animals has doubled since I heard this live the first time last year. What a killer song. I believe Rog won the card game based on his arms being upraised and a smile on his face as they got up to return to the song. I will add here that the Target Center sucks for sound. The holo/quadro/blahblahphonics that occur during the midsection and some guitar bits throughout the whole show were very tough to hear where I was. I might also add the the arena was nowhere near full, which was fine with me- the less people, the less audience noise and annoyances. Shine On was good. It seemed like Snowy mistimed or something a few spots in the beginning and came out awkward sounding to me. The transition between part 5 to 6(?) was not very smooth. I really liked Carin’s keyboarding on this one- I was hoping for a Syd homage at the end to be thrown in but oh well.

After the intermission (which honestly seemed shorter than 15 minutes) the band came back out and we heard about going back in time. As this was being said, the TV screen showed ‘The Dawn of Man’ (from 2001) on it. If it was planned, cool, if not, even cooler. Like I said above, StC is kind of a blur. The sax guest, playing soprano for this one, wasn’t too incredible. The song was a lot shorter than I was hoping for, too. Still, to hear this song played live is something I’ll never forget. The images of the old days of PF were incredibly neat to see. I don’t recall seeing any pics with David in them, though, and since this song was from ASoS I thought there might be. If there was I missed them. Into the crowd pleasing DSotM set. Breathe was standard fare. Broad ripped on the toms- that was exciting to see! Money- seeing it live isn’t nearly as bad as hearing ont he radio every day. I really like hearing live versions of it quite honestly, but in not so regular doses. The same sax player returned, this time with a tenor I think, and put in another OK solo. Andy F-L: DAMN! He was beating the crap out of his strings! That was the coolest part- perhaps this is why Rog intro’d him as the ‘inexcusable’ Andy F-L later in the show.

After the lip synch debate about ESE, I watched closely, and while he clearly does it, why does it look so bad when he does it???? It’s almost like Rog is ‘trying’ to make it look obvious! I was disappointed that WGW was dropped. Into PS1 and 2 we go. Another definite highlight. I just went with the global anthem bit and mouthed along with my arms raised. At this point I truly felt ‘part’ of something, recorded audience or not. Seeing a few others around me singing with their arms in the air and watching Rog on stage…. man, what a moment. I got chills, I did. TBoBOoR was good to hear, but it isn’t as good as WGW, IMO. It’s a Miracle is so great to hear live.

It was a highlight for mr last year and again this year. Carin’s keyboarding, and the loud drums in the quiet bits were spine tinglers for me on this one. After IAM, ATD kind of just went by for me- I was still feeling the chills of IAM. During the ATD stuff, Rog was much more animated than in any other part of the show. He did the periscope bit, strutted around stage quite a bit. He clearly enjoyed this part of the show, as did I.

After a breif ‘Thank You’, next came BD/Eclipse, which got the rest of the crowd to their feet again. During the instrumental bit at the end of BD Rog went back and forth on stage stopping every ten feet or so to look out on the audience in front of him and mouth ‘Thank You’. This occured probably 6 or 7 times. Roger gave us a short ‘magic’ speech, and he seemed genuinely appreciative of this crowd. He did the band intro’s and went into CN. Nothing incredibly spectacular, the solos were good, and a good closer.

A short time passed (and some house lights even went up, prompting some folks to leave) and Rog and the band returned. We got an ESC explanation, with Rog this time saying ‘Your country and mine bombing…’. He again thanked us for listening, and proceeded into ESC. I’m still not sure how I feel about the songs progression. I liked the acapella w/drone intro on the KC show (but I also like OtTA, so…). I got a few quizzical looks while I, in time, mouthed the words to this ‘new’ song. I am extremely curious how the new album will turn out…. this song honestly reminded me of something PF87 would do, minus the lyrics. It des sound like it could be from the AMLoR sessions, IMO. Anyway, I enjoyed hearing this song, and it seemed the audience was very receptive to it. Rog thanked us again and left.

Overall, for me, this show was far better than Milwaukee. I was able to relax and enjoy the show for what it was. My recommendation is don’t try and absorb *everything*, you’ll end up losing more than you gain as far as enjoyment goes. Thanks, Rog, for giving me a second chance. Now lets hope you tour in support of a new album next year so we don’t have to wait 12 years!

With thanks to “Andy Slash” <andy_slash@hotmail.com>

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Published Friday, July 7, 2000 Review: Rock icon Roger Waters puts music first in solo show

Vickie Casey / Star Tribune

Silence can be a deafening roar, and that type of silence made itself heard at the Target Center Thursday night as fans waited with hushed anticipation for one of rock ‘n’ roll’s exalted icons, Roger Waters.

It was quite different from the scene at the Metrodome five years ago when Pink Floyd, Waters’ old group, performed. There, the cavernous stage seemed to swallow the band, making it difficult to find the players, and the laser light show got as much attention as the music. But now, Waters was in control. Not a thing was out of place — and it was all about the music.

As the darkened stage filled with band members, Waters entered, casting a lanky shadow. Decked out in a black suit, he headed to a platform at center stage, high above the rest of the group. As soon as the lights and video screen came to life, he launched into “In the Flesh,” querying fans if they’d “like to go to the show” and triggering peals of thunderous applause.

Snapping his head to the attentive, taut rhythms, Waters looked like an almighty conductor, commanding the course of events and lording over his musical troops. Pushing forward with the hard march of “The Wall — Part III,” Waters dropped his voice to a resonating bass that turned the song away from its original defiance of educational ideals to a tone more cynical and weary.

Waters lost none of the song’s verve or impact with the change. Instead, he proved that as the musical conceptualist behind Pink Floyd, he could now, after all these years, feel his way into the recesses of notes, space, rhythms and beats to breathe new life into decades-old songs.

Waters also understands the importance of hiring top-notch players. With three guitarists in tow (Doyle Bramhall III, Andy Fairweather-Low and Snowy White), an equal number of vocalists, two keyboardists and drummer, the group recreated Waters’ solo material and Pink Floyd staples with the necessary elan and soul. Beyond that, samples and effects bounced off the back walls of the arena, flooding every inch of space with sound and adding the necessary additives that give the songs their inimitable signature.

Pulling out a fair share of Floyd material, the first set focused on songs from the era of “The Wall” and the second set kicked into a trio of tracks from “Dark Side of the Moon.” Throughout, Waters proved the viability of his material, with “Money,” “Time,” “Breathe,” “Is There Anybody in There,” “Wish You Were Here” and the Syd Barrett tribute “Shine On You Crazy Diamond.”

That Waters’ music still connects with so many people is startling. With a focus on introspective, grim and dire emotional straits and such subjects as abandonment and greed, lyrically the songs don’t match the staples of pop and rock hits, but Waters makes his mark. With fans spanning more generations that most family reunions, the music has survived and not because of some acid-drenched ideal of hippiedom. In concert, Waters showed he’s created some of the headiest, most emotionally troubling and well-orchestrated rock ‘n’ roll of the past three decades.

© Copyright 2000 Star Tribune. All rights reserved

Thanks to “dmp91” <dmp91@earthlink.net>

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