Another Brick in the Wall...literally

Back in November I secured two seats for Roger Waters - The Wall Live at the Rogers Center for $285.70!!  My wife thought I was nuts (she despises Floyd) and these were not even the most expensive seats....but what I was witness to on Saturday was worth double may be even triple what I paid.  For the majority of the night I was speechless...

On the way down to Toronto my buddy Sven was playing Pink Floyd's "Is There Anybody Out There?" a live recording of Pink Floyd from back in 1980 to prime us for the concert we were about to see.  The first track on the album "In The Flesh" blasted out interrupting the MC as he was introducing the band...the hair on my arms immediately stood on end as the Goosebumps appeared and a shiver went down my spine...

The Huge Set-Up!

I wonder why though?  Why am I at a Roger Waters concert in the first place? My father loved Pink Floyd.  He purchased all the LPs, and I, curious, would check out the album artwork which was always filled with weird visuals...pigs flying...men on fire shaking hands...a brick wall with some very weird cartoon characters on them.  When the wall came out I was 5.  When the movie came out I was 7.  I remember watching it.  Probably bad parenting on my dad's part.  In my late teens early 20s I appreciated them a lot more.  I remember purchasing the Division Bell at the HMV on Yonge St when I was in university and not long after seeing them in concert at the CNE to promote that album.  Even that concert was an awesome production. 

Thec concert starts with a bang!

I was more drawn to their older work with "Animals" and "The Dark Side of the Moon" but rarely listened to "The Wall."  But throughout the concert I rarely missed a lyric...singing along as if I've been listening to the album my whole life.  I turned to Sven at least two or three times and with my jaw dropped.....my only words were "wow....wtf???....wow..." He then turned to me at one point and said "you're telling me...I'm almost in tears..."  I was just in complete awe.

Man-oh-man...what a concert!!!  The beginning had more pyrotechnics then the Symphony of Fire (look that up if you don't know what I am talking about) ending with a world war II fighter plane soaring over our heads and crashing in behind a gigantic wall (the span of Rogers Center outfield) in a ball of flames.

The screen goes Red during Another Brick in the Wall Pt1.

A massive circular screen over top of the band and the wall built up on both sides served as a backdrop for a stunning visual spectacle including footage from current events around the world, animations from the movie and even footage of Roger Waters at a concert in Earl's Court in 1980 in which he sang "Mother" in a duet with himself!  When he sang the lyric "Mother should I trust the government?" the words no, fucking, way appeared on the wall resulting in a massive cheer from the crowd...well done....

The point In between "Another Brick in the Wall" and "Happiest Days of our Lives" where you hear the sound of a helicopter approaching...a huge spotlight blinded sections of the crowd...moving about looking like it was searching for someone.  The roaring sound of the engine and the blades cutting through the air was so loud I thought the stadium was going to crumble.  It totally took your attention away from the massive inflatable school master being formed to stage right which was accompanied by the Regent Park School of Music Choir to sing those famous lyrics "we don't need no...education!"

Kids from Regent Park Music School yelling at their school teacher!

Roger Waters performing Mother in a duet with his
formal self from a concert back in 1980!

A fully bricked up wall...

As the first half of the concert came to an end the wall was completely built up isolating Roger Waters from the Band behind it...a sort of metaphor for Rogers Waters himself being isolated after the death of his father in World War II by his abusive schoolmaster and overprotective mother when he was a child. The remainder of the concert the wall remained and from time to time performers would appear at the top of the wall to join in with Waters who remained by himself in front.  During "Run Like Hell" a massive pig appeared from behind the Wall and made its way overhead floating above the crowd with red eyes glaring.  The later half of the second set was filled with animations from the movie itself...pretty demented stuff...those famous walking hammers, the judge and other sickly creatures all bearing down on "pink" a character from the movie supposedly representing Waters.

Roger Waters decides to take us all out!!

Walking hammers?  What does it mean??

The concert  pretty much came to a close with Rogers chanting, and getting the crowd to do so as well, "bring down the wall" and sure enough with a loud explosion...the center portion of wall crumbled to the ground in what was probably the coolest ending to a concert I have ever witnessed. 

With the lights on the band played appeared on stage left and sang the last song of the night "Outside The Wall"  Sven asked...."hey isn't that the guitarist from SNL??" Sure did look like him...and after some quick poking around the internet it was in fact G.E. Smith...former guitarist from SNL!

Anyhow...the concert was simply awesome.  The 67 year old lead singer was on form....and I truly hope this concert makes it onto DVD since it is definitely one to remember.  Yes Mr. Rogers...just for one day... they built that "Rogers" center just for you...

My concert partner Sven...yeah buddy rock on!

At the end as I was leaving, I thought to myself...man I wish my dad were alive.  To see this with him would have been a real treat.

For some more pictures from the concert check out tmakworlds review of the concert.  His camera was a lot better then mine.  He makes the claim that this was the best concert ever...PERIOD.  I have to agree with him...