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Roger Waters - The Wall (Arnhem 2011)

Introduction

Roger Waters, the creative mastermind behind Pink Floyd, with his groundbreaking masterpiece 'The Wall' is currently on tour in Europe. To 30e anniversary of the album does mark Waters, in what is probably his last major tour, more than 25 European cities. As part of this tour he plays 8, 9 and 11 april 2011 in Gelredome. To date, 'The Wall' 31 only once by his creator and performed only in the United States, Germany and the UK, including Pink Floyd's tour in support of the album 1980-1981. Previously, the show was simply too great to be able to tour, but the new stadiums and the advancement of technology have solved those difficulties.

 photo © Rogerwaters.com 

The show contains all the Roger Waters show what can be expected with special effects like a crashing airplane, quadraphonic sound, fireworks, giant inflatable puppets, projections, video and mapping images of the original Gerald Scarfe who is also involved in the development of new imagery. Waters has every song on the latest technology and special effects used to make sure that 'The Wall' in 2011 still as relevant as 30 years ago.

The show start with a broken wall and during the first half, the stones are built up. The second half is played with the wall completely built. Waters has new dynamic video graphics and visuals developed the story and songs to illustrate where the wall acts as a giant screen over 700 m2.

Thanks to Pink Floyd classics such as' Comfortably Numb ',' Another Brick in the Wall Pt. 2 ',' Mother ',' Run Like Hell "and" Young Lust "was the album 'The Wall' millions of fans around the world and became one of the best selling albums ever. Immediately successful in the release was 'The Wall' in 1980 the best selling album in the United States where it is still in the top 5 best selling albums of all time is.

During the tour, Waters assisted by a band consisting of Dave Kilminster (guitar), Snowy White (guitar), G. E. Smith (guitar), Jon Carin (keyboards), Harry Waters (keyboards), Graham Broad (drums) and background singers Robbie Wyckoff, Jon Joyce, Pat (instead of Michael) Lennon, Mark Lennon, Kipp Lennon.

Impressions

How many superlatives are there? Probably not enough to describe how great I thought this concert. I sat on Tribune East, across the stage, and was treated to a mega spectacle around that huge wall along the full width of the hall was built. Behind the wall, the band prepared, before the wall was a smaller empty stage where Roger Waters did his solo songs and some songs with the band and where that group of schoolchildren from Arnhem (the JF Kennedy School) enthusiastic "Another Brick in The Wall "was singing.

Right at the outset, the show opens with a spectacular flying across the hall from World War II Spitfire fighter plane behind the stage "crash" in a blaze. And then that amazing video projections on the huge wall, the incomparable surround sound, the mega-moving "Teacher" and the other built caricatures from The Wall. The wall was meticulously timed, sometimes to the rhythm of the music (coincidence?) Up until halfway through the show was completely closed.
Also very spectacular was how suddenly the whole band before the closed wall on the small stage was playing. Indeed, there was much to see that I missed here is where they're suddenly came from, but presumably the entire podium from behind the wall under the wall shifted. Would they pitch of the movable Geldredome here for borrowed?

And then Roger Waters; almost 70 years but moves like a young god on the stage, is surprisingly good voice and still an excellent and impressive musician and entertainer. Clever how he, well 30 years after its initial release, The wall still aktueel can make it seem. Back then it was actually a person, now it's also about his political vision of a current situation in the world. Very impressive and sad at the same time were the many portraits of victims of (war) violence until very recently that during the break on The Wall were shown.

Short clip of "Another Brick in the Wall" with the cooperation of a group of schoolchildren from Arnhem.

For me personally, The Wall an important album that was released in 1979, then a period of great and significant events in my personal life. I have in that period through music, partly because of that album, found much inspiration and energy to move through a tough time to come. Now, more than 30 years later, you know the album continues to impress me during this great show again and emotions in me to loosen. And not only me but also to the public with such a 31000 spectators went completely out of their minds.
You would also expect that the audience would exist predominantly elderly. Nothing is less true, the younger crowd was well represented and the music of The Wall is also 2011 still immensely popular.

Conclusion

It's great that Roger Waters, along with his band and technicians, much effort has been made to this album on such a high level, so perfect and so spectacular present and so many do it to entertain and yet manages to move us.
Impressive is how Roger Waters anno 2011 the public via The Wall "confronted" with what is currently happening in the world. Of course it is unfortunate that the other band members not to participate in this concert, but the current band, with Waters, the music experience better than good.
"The Wall" anno 2011 is an unforgettable experience and a "must see" for anyone who has not bought tickets for the concerts to come.
 

The photos and video taken with a simple viewfinder camera from a great distance in low light and high ISO values. They are of poor quality but nevertheless give an idea of ​​the mega-spectacle during "The Wall".