Sir David Gilmour, guitarist and singer of the legendary band Pink Floyd, played three shows in Los Angeles capping off with a spectacular performance at the Forum on Sunday night. He’s touring to support his latest solo album ”Rattle That Lock” and played seven songs from it during the show. He opened with a new track “5 A.M.” and then played two more off the new album before bringing in the first heavy hitter “Wish You Were Here” from his days with Pink Floyd. Everyone in attendance when to the show to hear him play his Pink Floyd hits, but everyone was wondering which tracks were going to be delivered. And hearing “Wish You Were Here” early in the set was a true treat. Then he kept the chords Pink with “What Do You Want From Me” from the last Pink Floyd album Division Bell. In the latter era Pink Floyd Gilmour is the dominant creative force, so I was expecting a heavy dose of that era. We got them when he played “High Hopes” and “Coming Back to Life”.
Nearly 2/3rds of the songs in the show were Pink Floyd hits spanning across seven of the bands albums. It’s been 20 years since Floyd toured together and, fortunately for fans, both Roger Waters and David Gilmour tour independently and give the crowd the opportunity to hear their favorites. Some of the PF hits heard at this show were, “Money”, “Us and Them”, “Astronomy Domine”, “Shine On You Crazy Diamond”, “Fat Old Son”, “Coming Back to Life”, “Sorrow”, & “Run Like Hell”.
Throughout the show Gilmour laid solid claim that he should never be left out of any discussion of rocks all time greatest guitarists. His lead guitar is captivating regardless of if it’s a Pink Floyd classic or a brand new tune. His saxophonist João Mello did an excellent job of playing both the tenor and alto sax sometimes during the same song with both woodwinds strapped across his shoulders. It was an entertaining sight and sound. Pink Floyd was known to put on an elaborate spectacle of lights and props to accompany their shows, but Gilmour’s tour was very traditional. Yes, there was a jumbotron, and some fancy laser-esque stage lights, but nothing extraordinary. Except the music, it was exceptional.
For the encore, Gilmour went to some truly timeless hits with “Time”, “Breath”, and “Comfortably Numb”. Being able to see and hear Gilmour play one of, if not thee, greatest guitar solo in rock and roll history was truly a transcendent experience. Just imagine 17,000 people playing air guitar to their favorite song to air guitar to, as its being played by the man who created it right there in front of them. Awesome.
A few other notes from the show: I was surprised that “Run Like Hell” was performed. Waters lays heavy claim to the album “The Wall” and has recently toured playing that album in its entirety. Waters played an interesting arrangement in his tour, but Gilmour gave it to his concertgoers closer to the album version. Granted, at the same time I was surprised to hear this track off “The Wall”, I knew with 100% certainty that “Comfortably Numb” from the same album would be the closer. There were actually two songs I felt with 100% certainty that were going to be played, and the other was not. Only one song off “Momentary Lapse of Reason” (the first album without Roger Waters in the band) was played, and not its biggest hit. “Learning to Fly” was noticeably absent. I would much rather have had “The Girl in the Yellow Dress”, a jazz number from his latest album, which seemed oddly placed within the progressive rock dominated evening, be replaced with a song many consider Gilmour’s signature songwriting hit.
For anyone that’s a fan a guitar driven rock, or a Pink Floyd fan, seeing David Gilmour is an absolute must. It will take away the moments that make up a dull day and leave those comfortably numb feelings in the past.
Los Angeles, US