Tonight my son Sean and I went to see Roger Waters in concert at the Qwest Center in Omaha. If you do not know who Roger Waters is, he is one of the original members of the progressive rock band Pink Floyd. Sean is the one who purchased the two tickets (they were $99 apiece) a couple of months ago, and asked Dad (me) to go with him. I obliged. (Woo Hoo!) This might be kind of funny to most of you especially knowing that he is only 19, that he likes Pink Floyd. But it is not so funny or odd to his mom and I any longer. You see, he likes the music we grew up listening to. Which is good and bad, if you know what I mean. Anyway back to the concert tonight.
For the most part I thoroughly enjoyed the show. Waters started with “In The Flesh” and ended with “Comfortably Numb” both from the album “The Wall”. In between were two sets split by a 15 minute intermission break. The first set was a mixture of Waters solo material and old Pink Floyd classics like “Shine On You Crazy Diamond”, “Have A Cigar”, and “Wish You Were Here”, all from the album “Wish You Were Here”. He did one of my favorite Floyd songs “Sheep” from the “Animals” album. For this one they brought out a large, inflatable pig, all tattooed with anti-government graffiti. The second set was composed of the complete music from the ever popular “Dark Side of the Moon” album in sequence as it appears on the album. This was such a treat to witness. My son was beside himself. He mentioned later that he felt like he was participating in a part of history. Some of us old school Pink Floyd fans probably noticed the video they played with the song “Money” was a record album with the original “Dark Side..” record label and the phonograph needle playing the first song which is where it exists on the vinyl album.
I am only going to mention one negative side to the concert. Roger Waters like so many of his music artist peers used his artist platform to push a political agenda. He presented some Bush bashing messages throughout the show, on the giant screen, and on the inflatable pig. He used some profane words to try and get his political point across and that was a turn off.
The concert as a whole was very enjoyable. Except for the profanity used in his political messages, Rogers was a class act. He seemed sincere in his thanks to the crowd’s applause after each song. He also expressed sincere gratitude for the resounding call for encore from the Omaha faithful. Sean hoped he would do some songs from “The Wall” and he was pleasantly satisfied with “Another Brick In The Wall”, and “Comfortably Numb”. Waters’ band performed very well behind him. The lead guitar player who played a Fender Telecaster guitar most of the evening was excellent. If you had your eyes closed you could imagine the same licks and riffs being played by original Floyd member David Gilmour.
Rock On!
Upon This Rawk 
Dave in Omaha
July 2, 2007 at 9:02 pm
It was interesting to read your post. I too was at the concert and looked forward to seeing it, being a huge fan of Pink Floyd.
Likwise, my wife paid $99.00 per ticket. What a dissapointment. Had I wanted to listen to a bunch of left wing “Bush Sucks” drivel, I would have stayed home and watched CNN or PMSNBC. After “Leaving Beruit” and “Sheep” with the pig, we left the concert.
While he already had our money, we didn’t have to sit and be assaulted by his political agenda.
Chris in Lincoln
July 2, 2007 at 11:21 pm
It was a great show. If you were offended by the message you should have stayed home. This is the man who wrote The Wall as well as other well documented anti-establishment works. All of his work has been anti-war and anti government and anti fascist. Did you think that he wouldn’t bash Bush?
His political agenda is quite well known. If you expected something different you were deluding yourself.
If you were offended perhaps the time has come for offense. Just because you don’t like the message doesn’t mean that the message isn’t true!
barrydean
July 3, 2007 at 12:20 am
Dave,
Thanks for the comments. My son, who is really into classic rock, paid for the tickets so I tolerated the rest of the show for him. The music was great but once again an artist used his platform to spew their political junk. Yuck.
Chris,
I too appreciate your comments but undoubtedly I disagree with them. I grew up listening to Pink Floyd and I understand the anti-establishment content of his music. The key word I think is “grew up”. The tone of the anti-establishment rhetoric found in Floyd’s lyrics was not as harsh as the stuff Rogers was presenting to his fans Saturday night. With age you would hope comes wisdom. But I think Waters is riding on the coat-tails of his previous popularity with Floyd in regard to anti-government. And he is also taken up the more harsh tone of the popular anti-Bush and U.S. haters. Believe me I am not a big fan of President Bush I believe he has made some mistakes but he is my president and I find it offensive for someone from another country to come into our country and bash my president. Go figure huh?
Bob
July 3, 2007 at 3:51 am
I too agree that at $99.00 a ticket, we should be entertained with some great music. The lyrics of the songs should speak for themselves, after all we would be quite aware of what we would be in for. A concert is what was paid for, not a left wing political rally.
Pat in Omaha
July 4, 2007 at 5:27 am
I just wanted to say that I thoroughly enjoyed the Roger Waters concert on Friday. The band was as good as Pink Floyd’s original line-up and as a Christian I strongly agree with his Anti-war Pro-peace positions. Obviously the vast majority of the paying public agreed, as it was the best concert I have experienced.
Barry
July 4, 2007 at 5:50 am
Hi Pat,
As a Christian do you agree with his approach to protest? You should know that just because the majority agrees with something does not make it right. So please don’t use that as an argument. I also enjoyed the concert. I just could have done without the profanity.
Joe
February 28, 2008 at 10:49 am
Let me just say that everyone should ultimately be aware of what Roger Waters stands for. Rock and Roll used to be revolutionary, it used to have a message, but in most cases it no longer does. It’s become ho-hum and boring.
I’m glad that Roger has the will and the devotion to what he believes in to say it. It makes the show all the better to me.
It’s not about growing up as part of growing up is saying and championing the ideals that you believe strongly about. That’s maturity and not to mention he’s 100% correct.
erod
April 10, 2008 at 4:23 pm
the show was amazing, religion is a huge spark for violence in our world.
barrydean
April 10, 2008 at 9:02 pm
Erod,
I agree, the show was amazing. You are correct. Religion is a huge spark for violence in our world. So is oil, gold, and land. What I try to do here is point folks to Jesus Christ. For only through Him can you know real peace.
Thank you for reading and posting a comment.
j.smith
June 12, 2009 at 11:06 pm
Hey, just read your post and all the comments under it.
Thought i’d just add a quick voice to yours on the topic of religion.
Believe it or not, the Bible has a specific view of religion. Check it for yourself in the book of James chapter 1, verse 27.
“Pure Religion and undefiled before God and the Father is this, to visit the fatherless and widows in their affliction, and to keep himself unspotted from the world”
Not much of a spark for war there.
Peace and God bless.
barrydean
June 13, 2009 at 11:34 pm
j.smith,
Thanks for stopping by and taking the time to comment.
I think you missed my point on religion. There are many other religions in the world other than Christianity. Islam, is another religion that has sparked violence in the world. Although true Christianity is all about the gospel of Jesus Christ, his teachings, his death, burial and resurrection. Religion is defined as:
1. a set of beliefs concerning the cause, nature, and purpose of the universe, esp. when considered as the creation of a superhuman agency or agencies, usually involving devotional and ritual observances, and often containing a moral code governing the conduct of human affairs.
2. a specific fundamental set of beliefs and practices generally agreed upon by a number of persons or sects: the Christian religion; the Buddhist religion.
3. the body of persons adhering to a particular set of beliefs and practices: a world council of religions.
4. the life or state of a monk, nun, etc.: to enter religion.
5. the practice of religious beliefs; ritual observance of faith.
6. something one believes in and follows devotedly; a point or matter of ethics or conscience: to make a religion of fighting prejudice.
7. religions, Archaic. religious rites.
8. Archaic. strict faithfulness; devotion: a religion to one’s vow.
—Idiom
9. get religion, Informal.
a. to acquire a deep conviction of the validity of religious beliefs and practices.
b. to resolve to mend one’s errant ways: The company got religion and stopped making dangerous products.
and this has been man’s approach. I sum it up this way. Religion is man trying to reach up to a deity and Christianity is God reaching down from His heaven and providing a way to save men’s souls. Only out of that salvation can man find is called in James as “pure religion” undefiled before a holy God.
bro BILL OLIVER
October 23, 2009 at 3:49 pm
I appreciate your vigilance for The Faith.
I was just searching to see if any one knew about Roger Water’s belief system. Some of his newer stuff seems more Spiritual than the older drug induced stuff.
Thanks for any info, from an old Pink Floyd fanatic now Jesus Freak- Bill Oliver Jr
bro BILL OLIVER
October 23, 2009 at 3:51 pm
thanks.
In Christ
bro Bill
Jaime
April 22, 2010 at 9:56 am
The rock show might well be used to express ideological or political idea left or right specially in Pink Floyd music. Unfortunately christians today no longer express publicly his “gospel” because they are afraid of beeing rejected by the world… By the way Bush war was and is not JUST at all.
barrydean
April 23, 2010 at 1:07 pm
Hi Jaime,
Thanks for stopping by and commenting. You said “Unfortunately christians today no longer express publicly his “gospel” because they are afraid of beeing rejected by the world.” I totally agree. I guess they do not get Romans 1:16.
As for your final statement, I would have to just say, Tell that to the millions of formerly persecuted Iraqis.