Roger Waters, Hong Kong, 2007-02-15

Leslie Cheung over 18 years ago

The creative genius of Pink Floyd played his one-off Hong Kong show on Thursday (February 15). This is his second gig in China, after his first gig in Shanghai earlier on Monday.

The concert contains mainly his Pink Floyd numbers and only two songs from his solo career were played. Vera Lynn's "We'll Meet Again" was played and the show started at 20:30 when the man walked onto the stage and began "In The Flesh". Ending the song with air raid sound effects and fireworks, he switched to an acoustic guitar and began, "Mother", another song from The Wall. He then played "Set The Controls For The Heart Of The Sun" from the second Pink Floyd album, while the video wall playing stills from the "Arnold Layne". In the middle of the song, the reminiscent of the psychedelic lightning effects back in the band's dates in the underground scene of London. When the song finished, soap bubbles started to be floating around and "Shine On You Crazy Diamond" started and everybody were singing along. Syd was definitely remembered.

With some surprises, he sang the song "Have A Cigar", which they let Roy Harper to sing. This proves that they should let Roger sang instead of Roy, as he gave so much passion and power singing the song tonight. "Wish You Were Here" was the next number and again a singalong for everyone. He then did two songs from The Final Cut - "Southhampton Dock" and "The Fletcher Memorial Home". Before "Perfect Sense (Parts 1 & 2)", an astronaut dummy was flying from the back of the venue and landed backstage. What a scene!

Before launching into "Leaving Beirut", the b-side to his 2004 download only single "To Kill The Child", he talked about the story behind the song. The band played the last song from the first set, "Sheep". In which, the lovely trademarked pig finally gave a flight in Hong Kong's polluted air. Roger ended the first set of the concert by saying, "We're going to take a break now. A twenty-minute break. After the break, I will bring you The Dark Side Of The Moon." Cheers floated around the venue.

A full moon was displayed on the video wall during the break and it was getting bigger and bigger. No less, no more, after twenty minutes, the heart beat that we are so familiar with started beating once again. The Dark Side Of The Moon set was shorter than expected, but the great visual and alternative noise during "On The Run", mental cleansing during "A Great In The Sky", the arse-shaking song "Money" and the philosophical outro of "Brain Damage" and "Eclipse" made this set so special as always.

The band returned after a short break of the encore set, which comprised songs from The Wall only. And everyone singing "We don't need no thought control" during "Another Brick In The Wall (Part 2)". The last number played, "Comfortably Numb", was the best way to sign off a great gig in the Hall 3.

The setlist is here:

[first set]
In The Flesh
Mother
Set The Controls For The Heart Of The Sun
Shine On You Crazy Diamond
Have A Cigar
Wish You Were Here
Southhampton Dock
The Fletcher Memorial Home
Perfect Sense (Parts 1 & 2)
Leaving Beirut
Sheep

[second set]
Speak To Me
Breathe
On The Run
Time
Breathe (Reprise)
The Great Gig In The Sky
Money
Us And Them
Any Colour You Like
Brain Damage
Eclipse

[encore]
The Happiest Days Of Our Lives
Another Brick In The Wall (Part 2)
Vera
Bring The Boys Back Home
Comfortably Numb

You can check out for more photos later on www.pinkfloyd.com.hk.