With the opening notes of "Comfortably Numb," the audience eagerly awaits the opening lines, but when the anemic Richard Wright barely eked out "Hello? Hello? Is there anybody in there?" I squirmed uncomfortably in my theater chair, feeling embarrassed for Wright who once again appeared listless and strained as he tried to sing Waters' part from Floyd's epic The Wall. Yet, once again, where Wright disappointed Gilmour, he compensated in guitar work as he unleashed into the ubiquitous and arguably the genre-defining rock and roll guitar solo of all time. There's no question that Gilmour owns and comfortably sits on the throne of perhaps the best rock guitarist ever — and not because of speed, technical complexity or showmanship, but because he has such a command of the instrument that his seemingly effortless playing is ultimately the most soulful, melodic, and powerful you'll ever hear.
I'm sorry I missed him "live."
Soon credits were rolling on the screen. I felt shorted and gypped and wanted more. The reviews I read of the tour touted Gilmour's reach into the past playing updated versions of "Echoes", "Fat Old Sun" and "Wots...Uh The Deal?" But here in San Diego at the UA Regal Cinemas in an auditorium plagued with bad sounds and defective film projection, we weren't even treated to an encore. But not to worry; maybe I can fly to Italy later this summer and catch him on the piazza in Firenze on his extended European tour. Or more practically, I can wait until the fall when I understand that Gilmour's performance at London's Royal Albert Hall later this month will be caught on camera under the direction of David Mallet who directed the 2002 David Gilmour In Concert DVD, a DVD I reviewed. I imagine the band will be more rehearsed, comfortable, and on fire.
So I wait.
Article comments