Before the concert...

Riding to the concert with my girlfriend Kathy made the ride quicker than I ever thought it would be. We listened to selected tracks off of Roger's solo albums that were going to be performed LIVE in front of us that night - made the songs sweeter to hear. I had seen the concert 2 weeks prior at Cleveland and Kathy had not achieved that milestone....yet.

We arrived at the Schottenstein Arena at 3:00 P.M. As we pulled up to entrance, I saw only one uniformed worker talking to a lone car ahead of ours and I patiently waited for my turn. I asked when parking was open for the public (which was 5:30 P.M.) and asked if I could drive around the empty lot near the arena. He said, "Sure." I said, "Okay!"

We parked our car in the lot at the back of the arena and saw some fans gathering on a bridge. Leaving the car, we went to meet them. It was Scott Johnston (of "Meet Me In the Flesh" website fame, Echoesian), Tim Stamps (Echoesian) and Tom (non-Echoesian, but musician all the way).

We talked about the usual... "Did you see Roger come out of the tour bus? What goodies are you sneaking into the arena?" Yadda yadda you know.

Out of the blue, a young man popped out of nowhere and joined us talking amongst ourselves. He had tons of Roger Waters and Pink Floyd recordless albums, solo tour programs, and his (young man's) autographed bass.

We talked to him and he was going only to see Waters for autographs, not shows. Man, he knew where Rog was every waking minute during the tour or thought so. He claimed to get 16 or so autographs in one session with Roger this tour. What is this world coming to? If I had one autograph IN THE FLESH signed by Roger Waters, I would never sell it for any amount of money. The young man left and we shrugged. Time to move on to supper.

Off to eat at El Vaquero (a mexican restaurant) for our Meet Me in the Flesh Preconcert Meeting (thanks again to Scott for his comprehensive, original, and frequently accurate RW-MMITF website!!). When we arrived we met Kendrah Palk (Echoesian) and Jana (non-Echoesian) at our table. Scott, Tim, and Tom arrived a little later. Then we were joined by more fans from down south of Ohio (Rob Diestler, and Joshua David Ramsey - both Echoesians). Finally, Amit Sogani joined just as we were finishing up dinner. In all, we had close to 20 people at a large table for a Roger Waters Fiesta!

After our fun dinner, we all left and headed to the Schottenstein Arena. Kathy and I pulled into a lot and I saw a brand new shiny Ford 150 pickup truck with DSotM pyramid graphic on back with a gold pinstripe ala the green heartbeat line. I briefly talked to the Ohio man and he said he was seeking a patent for it. Said if you do something like that to a car, you need to change it 30 percent or so. It looked awesome to Kathy and I and some other followers in the path.

People were starting to fill the parking lots. Kathy and I were walking around the front of the arena and soaked up the aura of pre-space cadet glow. We entered and had no problems getting in my one (I should have bought more) instant Kodak camera in her purse.

Got in line and picked up myself a tour book. Read the interesting part about the Silent Oceans Day and thought that that was a wonderful and original cause. Anyone else? I was thinking why not the title Silent Waters Day, but that would be not good because I can't picture Roger being quiet for too long, let alone 7 minutes. :^)>

Peeking into the arena itself, we were like little kids getting ready for the biggest Christmas party we would witness. I loved every moment of stepping down each step, moving closer and closer to our 3rd row floor seats. I never sat that close at a concert of that size or bigger before. And they weren't even scalped tickets!!!

We caught up with our friends Maria (Echoesian) and her Mom, Marcella. Maria and I met on Echoes back when Rick Wright's Broken China album came out and we happened to write to each other from that point on. Maria, Marcella, and Kathy had never seen Pink Floyd or Roger Waters perform live and they were excited as we waited and talked to each other.

The music for the preshow was excellent. John Lennon, Don Henley, Porcupine Tree!!! A real dream to hear Porcupine Tree at a Roger Waters concert. Thanks to Jim Ladd of LA's Radio KLOS to program the preshow music!

The concert starts...

In The Flesh. The band trickles on the stage. My eyes are flipping around for the man and suddenly he appears! He comes out not brooding, but triumphantly to the wailing masses. He stands up there, amongst the non-cattle pen we were in, and commits the Marching Hammers' salute. I mirror him back in all glory and irony. An act I always wanted to do at his solo concert.

The Thin Ice. Another Brick in the Wall, Part 1. The juicy primer for the themes to be explored during the first set. Masterfully performed and ripped through by the fine musicians.

The Happiest Days of Our Lives. Another Brick in the Wall, Part 2. The crowd really picked up on these two songs. Perhaps because it was about a frustrated teacher, his domineering wife, and a bunch of Americans singing "We dun't knead noh, edukashun!!!" I enjoyed it, even being a music teacher, but not frustrated in the least tonite!

Mother. When Roger put his bass down and pulled out his guitar for this song, it was showing Roger's fun and dark side through his singing and lyrics. He made the greatest face during the line "Mother, should I trust the government?" and he shook his head in a Vince McMahon (pardon the WWF, but it helps illustrate my point) way as if he was saying "No way!!!"

Get Your Filthy Hands Off My Desert. Too fast for even being called a song. Loved it anyhow for the sheer quad song effect.

Southampton Dock. It seemed as if Roger took the tempo down as compared to when I saw him in Cleveland. I do like it slower (more like the studio, but a notch faster on the metronome) and being that Pink Floyd never played this song (or album), it was sadly touching for me when I saw the red poppies covering the stage and band.

Pigs on the Wing, Part 1. Roger was smart to keep the setlist the same as far as concluding the 2 Final Cut songs into the Animals tunes was a great segue. I only wished Roger would have played both parts with Snowy's engulfing solo. He was directly in front of where I was sitting and he plays with so much grace and ease it is like his playing is someone's simple act of breathing.

Dogs. This song makes me wish I was a teenager when Animals came out. The jamming, projections, and cardplaying band members made this most memorable to me. Kathy really loved this song and performance, too. Do not forget Jon Carin. He is underestimated in his value and contribution to this tour. No wonder why he played with Pink Floyd for the last 2 tours.

Welcome to the Machine. I could feel the bass, but not as much as I thought it would. It was a funkier, fresher arrangement that I think was an evolution to the original being performed live.

Wish You Were Here. There are no words to express how much meaning this song is to me. It is what I wanted to hear most from Roger going into this concert. It was beyond my expectations.

Shine On You Crazy Diamond, parts I-IV, VI, VII, reprisal of part I. These last two songs fit perfectly together in their sequence. The arrangement of SoYCD is musically solid. The band played brilliantly and the round mirror reflector made me feel like I was in the 1970s. Wonderful emotion throughout on part of Roger and the band.

Intermission...

Breathe. Time. Breathe (Reprise). Money. Doyle Bramhall is like a Greek patrician out there on that stage. He sang confidently, had a great stage presence, and played his own style and he fit right in. Loved seeing those upside down right-handed guitars being played left handed by Doyle!!!

5:06 A.M. (Every Stranger's Eyes). That familiar roaring truck. The waitress. Sounds I wanted to hear being played live since I first listened to the PaCoHH. This was touching and a tribute to Roger's great lyrics and themes. It sounds as beautiful as the words are. Not many songs have that balance.

The Powers That Be. I really enjoyed the new version of this song. I thought it benefitted the keyboard and vocal treatment it needed on a 1999 tour. Perhaps it will get Joe Floyd to purchase the back catalog afterall and realize that Radio KAOS is a great album, despite the criticism of the dreaded *80s* sound label many people love to conveniently (ab)use.

What God Wants, Part 1. Snowy White plays the opening solo 2x slower than Jeff Beck on the studio album. I love both because Jeff Beck is a guitar mutant with chops but Snowy's got the blues in him so much this solo was appropriate for him and the song. Why would Snowy play like Jeff Beck on that solo? Or likewise?

Perfect Sense, Part 1. Perfect Sense, Part 2. Roger really appeared to be enjoying singing these songs from Amused to Death. He was chanting, waving his arms around the air (Syd?), and just plain projecting his ideas to the receptive audience. I know these songs like the back of my hands. I wish the audience knew it more because I am sure Roger would have taken this concert up a notch higher, if possible than already was. Submarine periscope images were best with the audience.

It's A Miracle. "No thoughts to think. No tears to cry. All sucked dry..." Towards the end of the song, Roger walks to stage left and eyes someone in the front row as he is singing. The person throws a white tshirt to Roger. As Roger sings, he opens it, smiles, and shows "It's A Miracle" with a red "NO" sign encircling it. It said something else, but I couldn't read it. Roger was really happy and he walked to the couch and threw it upon it. I took a pic of it, but unfortunately, it was while it was not opened fully.

I wish I had an Echoes (Pink Floyd emailing list for those who do not know) tshirt to throw him!!!!!

Amused to Death. Perfect way to end the ATD set. Images of the monkey watching TV with women were a great complement to the idea of the "Western woman" theme. Great backing vocals, ladies!!!

Brain Damage. Eclipse. I love how Roger plays his bass. He played it like a funky, bluegrass version of Brain Damage. Those two songs were so awesome to hear live especially at the end of the concert. There was an eclipsed moon that hung over the top of the screen when the band left the stage. Audience went nuts waiting for encore.

Encore.

After a long set of applause, Roger Waters took a moment to tell us that there WAS MAGIC that evening with us. The best thing I could ever hear him say to an audience at any of his concerts.

Comfortably Numb. A Roger classic. I finally reached peace with myself as I sang with Roger "in the flesh." I always wanted to sing along especially on this song with Roger. Great closer and both Snowy and Doyle waved their axes round each other on the elevated walkway.

After the concert...

Kathy, Maria, and Marcella were thrilled to have gone and had a great concert experience. I had sang every song that concert and felt this ebbing inner harmony within me throughout the whole concert even when it was done. I felt complete.

We went outside to catch a glimpse of our man and the band. It was 11:10 P.M. and we waited on that bridge we were on earlier in the day. I had my cd liners and tour program ready for autographs and we waited. At 11:20 P.M., we saw a new white Cadillac leave the premise with a police escort. I waved to it. I thought it might be Roger. We stuck around until before midnight and we saw the rest of the band get in a minibus. They waved to us fans and got on board and left.

Kathy and I left the arena feeling moved beyond any conventional meaning.

I wish I could have met Roger Waters in the flesh for an autograph, but when I look back at it, I am proud to have been there in Cleveland and Columbus to see him play live at last.

And Roger, thanks for making bass the instrument I play in my 3 piece band. Great work on your axe and singing this tour!!!

Thanks Roger for playing out in 1999. Keep doing it!!

Barry Valentine
...the kid from Cleveland...