Australian Pink Floyd - NIA - Tuesday 1st May 2007

Soundcheck over, the dry ice builds, anticipation mounts as the house lights fade and ..... the most famous single chord intro starts. Shine On You Crazy Diamond starts the set and Run Like Hell concludes - so what happens in between??

Well - get a piece of paper, don't pick a specific era, and write down your ten favourite Pink Floyd songs. I guarantee you the band will play at least seven of them (you've got to allow for personal preference). Mix into the blend crystal clear sound, a full lighting rig (with lasers), interesting special effects, note-perfect renditions, and Antipodean humour and you will be close to the overall effect. The touring band has been bolstered in numbers from last year with the addition of an extra guitarist for certain solos, and an extra vocalist who was conjuring up Vic Reeves style leg-rubbing from the good lady and possibly a good percentage of the female audience.

Highlights? Too many to mention really - the pig/boar inflatable during Pigs, the inflatable pink kangaroo marauding centre stage and the lighting in general are all worth looking out for if you are going to see them later in the tour. A two and a half hour playing time set has always got to be good news - why do bands think they have provided value for money with an hour and a half including encores? Personally, Set The Controls For The Heart Of The Sun, Great Gig In The Sky and One Of These Days were staggeringly good, but quite frankly, everything was so well played, and executed, it's quite difficult singling particular songs out.

Should you go and see them - hell yeah!! Can't wait to see how good they will be at Dudley Castle on the last leg of the U.K. tour on September 1st. Bear in mind that this was the third time I have seen them and they continue to perform to exceptionally high standards. Em is usually wary of going to concerts - admittedly I normally disappear close to the barrier just in front of the pit - but her face was a picture throughout - eyes like saucers doesn't quite cut it.

Gig of the year so far? Not quite, but then I have seen Mastodon, Porcupine Tree, Kamelot and Killswitch Engage amongst others. Worth seeing?? Buy your tickets now - if you like Floyd you won't be disappointed.

20th Anniversary Tour Review here