Us + Them

[Alec Taylor]

With a band as large in scope and as impressive as Pink Floyd, that's not surprising. Part of Governor Kasich's presidential campaign was to reunite Pink Floyd upon winning the election (easily the most hilariously misinformed promise in political history).

[Artisan]

Roger will go against any president who actually does what he says; like it or not, the pig has balls.

I'll leave.

[Alec Taylor]

How awkward would it be to go to a concert of one of your favorite all-time musicians, only for that musician to turn your father into a big balloon pig and let the crowd tear it apart?

[quicksilver]

I'm debating whether or not to go see Roger in Milwaukee at the end of the month. From others I've talked with and reviews I've read, this show is basically a vehicle for his political ranting. I'm quite offended that he believes everyone has the same viewpoint as he holds. I think he's going too far with the whole "Trump is a Pig" theme ...... that alone tells me his motivation is not to give fans (such as me) a good show but rather try to indoctrinate me into his way of thinking. Last week a local radio station was giving tickets away and they had to preface the giveaway by letting people know the show is highly political. That says a lot right there and I think it's a shame.

This also hits close to home because many of my close friends are Jewish and many groups in Milwaukee are protesting the show because of his anti- Israel stance. I don't know.......

[Artisan]

Alec said it best - no sense in spending $200 to hear him rant about what capitalism has done to the world if that's going to ruin the show for you. I'd say watch some videos of recent performances of the actual music, and decide from there whether getting to be a part of that is worth $200 (or whatever it costs) and putting up with political BS. Never mind "seeing a legend live", if you know you're not going to enjoy the show, don't bother spending the money. I passed on Dylan about a month or so for that reason - I knew I would have enjoyed it, but $60 for crap tickets versus buying five albums I knew I would get more enjoyment out of...

[quicksilver]

It would be nice to sit through a show and just hear the music and nothing else. As far as Israel goes, I'm sure there are atrocities on both sides, but how does boycotting a country help the issue? The rank and file citizen (like me) just wants to hear the music and be entertained.

I was in Chicago for a run this past weekend. Running attracts all types, races, religions etc. Music is the same....... it brings people together.

[Dyolf]

As far as Israel goes, I'm sure there are atrocities on both sides, but how does boycotting a country help the issue?

It's supposed to be a "cultural boycott", it's actually a pretty big movement - to deny Israel access to the popular forms of art from the West. It's not going to get anywhere, especially when people like Roger are probably doing more harm than good to their cause with his ranting every time someone plays a gig there.

[The Silver Lining]

I do not understand why people should have their lives boycotted because their governments are shitty. Should we all start boycotting Russia, too? What about Turkey?

[quicksilver]

I do not understand why people should have their lives boycotted because their governments are shitty. Should we all start boycotting Russia, too? What about Turkey?

This is true to my point and most of my angst. I suppose Roger has a right to do whatever he wants in his shows, but he chooses to fuck a huge fan base just to make his point. So, in reality, his shows are more about his stance on issues rather than the music and the fan base. This brings me to a broader issue which is why I think Gilmour was very smart. He has done a very good job of distancing himself from Roger and the baggage that comes with his viewpoints. I don't know David Gilmour and can only speculate on how he comes down on certain issues, but I can say that he doesn't let his viewpoints enter his shows at all- which I think is smart.

[Alec Taylor]

I just sort of think about my own views on how I would be, I guess. I don't support the North Korean government, but if some North Korean kid found a few songs of mine and felt something from it, I'm not going to tell him to fuck off and block him from listening to it. Granted they still have access to Roger's music whether he's there or not, but still, there's sort of this responsibility he should have about it. Music is a unifying concept across all parts of the world, and in that particular part of the world, it can provide a sense of escape from the awful shit they go through on a daily basis. If anything, depriving them of that release makes them all worse off IMO.

[quicksilver]

I just sort of think about my own views on how I would be, I guess. I don't support the North Korean government, but if some North Korean kid found a few songs of mine and felt something from it, I'm not going to tell him to fuck off and block him from listening to it. Granted they still have access to Roger's music whether he's there or not, but still, there's sort of this responsibility he should have about it. Music is a unifying concept across all parts of the world, and in that particular part of the world, it can provide a sense of escape from the awful shit they go through on a daily basis. If anything, depriving them of that release makes them all worse off IMO.

You are right and that's exactly why Kim Jong Un blocks the internet. He dictates what people read, hear, everything. Any potential glimpse of freedom is extinguished

[Floydy]

It's just been announced that Roger is coming to Australia early next year. He plays Perth Febuary 20. I had faith that he would. I'd better start saving now if I wanna buy a t-shirt and a beer at the show.

[Dyolf]

It's just been announced that Roger is coming to Australia early next year. He plays Perth Febuary 20. I had faith that he would. I'd better start saving now if I wanna buy a t-shirt and a beer at the show.

He said a while back that he intended to do New Zealand and Australia next year, followed by Europe. I honestly can't wait. Another gig I may have to drag my girlfriend to if my dad doesn't want to go.

[Floydy]

I just realised that he plays Perth 4 days before the 30th anniversary of when Pink Floyd played here. Pretty trippy huh? I wonder if he'd actually give a toss about that bit of trivia.

[Dyolf]

I got tickets to see the show in Liverpool! More than £200 but it'll be worth it!

[Floydy]

Got my ticket. I go 20th Feb. Can't wait.

[Dyolf]

Got my ticket. I go 20th Feb. Can't wait.

Lucky you! My ticket is for June (I think).

[Floydy]

Got my ticket. I go 20th Feb. Can't wait.

Lucky you! My ticket is for June (I think).

I had a look at the set list last night and I truly can't wait. He'll be playing a lot of my favorites.

[Dyolf]

Got my ticket. I go 20th Feb. Can't wait.

Lucky you! My ticket is for June (I think).

I had a look at the set list last night and I truly can't wait. He'll be playing a lot of my favorites.

Yes! The set looks great. Although, having said that, I've seen some of it on YouTube and "One of These Days" is much more like the Meddle version, not the guitar-heavy version we've come to know from David's Pink Floyd, or even his recent solo tour. Roger has also updated the original video footage for "Time" a little. Apparently the version of "Mother" played during the encore is a shortened, acoustic-only, solo rendition from Roger, rather than the full band, which is a little disappointing to hear. I think that "The Last Refugee" is the only song where I'll be a bit bored.

[Floydy]

Got my ticket. I go 20th Feb. Can't wait.

Lucky you! My ticket is for June (I think).

I had a look at the set list last night and I truly can't wait. He'll be playing a lot of my favorites.

Yes! The set looks great. Although, having said that, I've seen some of it on YouTube and "One of These Days" is much more like the Meddle version, not the guitar-heavy version we've come to know from David's Pink Floyd, or even his recent solo tour. Roger has also updated the original video footage for "Time" a little. Apparently the version of "Mother" played during the encore is a shortened, acoustic-only, solo rendition from Roger, rather than the full band, which is a little disappointing to hear. I think that "The Last Refugee" is the only song where I'll be a bit bored.

I've been steering clear of watching anything on YouTube because I want to be surprised when I go. That being said , I did see a clip of Roger and his band playing Fearless (for the first time ever I believe). Pretty disappointed to see he won't be playing that song. By the way Dyolf, I saw on the news this morning that Swansea was hit by an earthquake. Pretty freaky shit.

[Dyolf]

By the way Dyolf, I saw on the news this morning that Swansea was hit by an earthquake. Pretty freaky shit.

That made world news?! Haha. Swansea is about 200 miles away from me. It made the Welsh news. When the UK has an earthquake, they're always extremely minor but they always make headlines here, it's embarrassing - I found this quote from a UK newspaper who interviewed someone working in Swansea “I thought it was a lorry going past but it was an earth tremor." As far as I know, no-one (in living memory) has died in a UK earthquake. In this kind of respect the UK is kinda boring - we don't have big natural disasters, we don't have ridiculously dangerous wild animals (bears, venomous insects/spiders/snakes). I mean, I say "boring" but I should probably say "lucky".

[Floydy]

By the way Dyolf, I saw on the news this morning that Swansea was hit by an earthquake. Pretty freaky shit.

That made world news?! Haha. Swansea is about 200 miles away from me. It made the Welsh news. When the UK has an earthquake, they're always extremely minor but they always make headlines here, it's embarrassing - I found this quote from a UK newspaper who interviewed someone working in Swansea “I thought it was a lorry going past but it was an earth tremor." As far as I know, no-one (in living memory) has died in a UK earthquake. In this kind of respect the UK is kinda boring - we don't have big natural disasters, we don't have ridiculously dangerous wild animals (bears, venomous insects/spiders/snakes). I mean, I say "boring" but I should probably say "lucky".

Yeah lol. Western Australia has a rather large population of UK expatriates so any big news from the UK gets a mention over here. My parents moved out here in 1968. That's one thing I miss about England, the lack of any critters that are so venomous they'll fucking kill you.

[Dyolf]

I've been watching videos of the tour on YouTube, even though I've managed to not give in thus far, with the Liverpool gig looming I'm getting excited. One thing which is a bit disappointing is Roger has axed Robbie Wyckoff as the vocal stand-in for David and replaced him with Jonathan Wilson, who sings like he can't be bothered and doesn't have the bassiness in his voice for the parts like Wyckoff does, plus David's parts sung in an American accent just sounds very off.

This is a pretty decent video of some of the show at Sofia, Bulgaria