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David Gilmour,
Royal Festival Hall, 22 June 2001 -
Andy Saltiel
So, to take events in the right order: Sparklehorse were crap. Let’s move on.
Dave ambled on to a rapturous reception at around 9:20, armed with just
an acoustic guitar. He strummed a few chords. There were hints of Shine On, but it was quite different to his normal way. And so it
should be, IMO. As he strummed some more it became clear it *was* Shine On and he moved smoothly into the verses, singing in more
relaxed, jazzy style than usual. It became clear very early on that a) Dave is a master of the acoustic guitar as well as the electric and b)
his voice has worn very well over the years. As the song moved on, the first surprise arrived. None other than Dick Parry and the two of them
took the song through to, er Part V I think. I never can remember which part is which. A very good start.
And so to surprise number 2. Thus quoth the burly axemeister: “That
was about our old friend Sydney (sic) who really did have a light in his eye a spring in his step. This one’s by him.” Yes, you read that
right. Dave then did Terrapin. Not quite as languid as Syd’s version; Dave is a much more precise guitarist than Syd, but great to hear it
done by someone who should have a better idea how than most. Clearly, this is not going to be a lazy stroll through the back catalogue. Dave
is going to treat us to some unusual stuff tonight.
But it gets better still. Next up: Fat Old Sun. This brings a tear to
my eye as yet another impossible PF-related ambition is fulfilled. Shut your eyes: it’s 1971. It was *that* good. As I sit here
listening to the newest ROIO in my collection I can feel the pricks at the back of my eyes again. The only small blemish was finishing before
the solo, but I can live with that. Utterly beautiful.
Now we’re bang up to date (or as close as is possible given PF’s
‘busy’ programer). The 'choir' (7 girls, 2 guys) who had helped out during
FOS hang on for an ethereal version of Coming Back to Life. The mournful opening works really well on an acoustic, but the body of the
song lacked punch. And I’m 99% certain Dave got the words wrong too. As the song develops the rest of the band join in and it starts to
sound better. But much as I love the guitar work on this song I always
feel it’s a little bit plodding. A competent but not outstanding rendition, it gets an enormous ovation anyway. At this point in
proceedings the pain-in-the-bum Sparklehorse fans in front of me walked out. Obviously they like DG as much as I liked Sparklehorse. Dave
also spent a huge amount of time fiddling with guitars and quaffing water. Some wag shouted “You are the weakest link. Goodnight.” which
at least prompted Dave to speak to us, if only to complain about the state of his throat and his need for fluid.
The Division Bell furrow receives yet further ploughing and we’re into
High Hopes, supported by Polly Samson* on cello. The balance was slightly awry on this one as the drummer can’t quite decide just how
hard he should be hitting the bell. The song comes over well, especially cello in the middle 8, but isn’t quite the same without the
screen and the video and the huge scarves and so on. Just to make things interesting, Dave does the slide solo on what looked like a
mandolin. It certainly wasn’t a lap steel and was too small to be a normal guitar but perhaps someone with a better view than me can say
what he was playing. The quiet play out at the end of the song was carried by Polly* on the cello and very good it was too.
Dave then shares a wee story with us about the last time he played the
RFH in 1969. I can’t quite catch all his words, so I’m not going to relate it here. Then he tells us “This one’s tough!”. Tough or not,
it ain’t PF, or DG solo or anything even close. For start it’s in
French. It is however, a very beautiful, very plaintive piece from The Pearl Fisher by Bizet. I only know that cos DG back announced it! The
band combine to give a very full, lush sound and it’s very well received. Then big surprise! “This is a new one so if you’re
bootlegging, start your machine now”. Excusez moi? A new one?!? Untitled (as least, no title was announced), was a mid-tempo number in
3/4, a quaint little love long about longing to come home to see a
lover’s smile. Pretty, but not especially Floydian. Still, add a few lasers and 200 or so varilites and he could be on to
something.
Back to familiar ground with Wish You Were Here. Of course in this
Unplugged (ish) environment it sounds completely natural. The solo section is filled out yet more fine cello work. Amazingly the audience
respect the intimacy of the occasion and decline to sing along, which just made it even more special. I love WYWH, but to hear it done
without the usual 20,000 backing vocalists was very special indeed. Then comes the most poignant moment of the entire evening. Michael
Kamen plays the opening chords of Comfortably Numb on the piano, and an
offstage voice sings “Hello...”. It’s Robert Wyatt. Dave has prevailed on his old mate to return the favor and join him for a song.
Robert puts in a typically distinctive performance, speaking rather than singing but lending the lyrics an expressive power as he himself
is something of a rock’n’roll casualty. Dave swaps to an electric for the solo, back to an acoustic for the second verse and finally back to
the electric for a much shortened final solo. What no mirror ball? Oh well. But the song is rapturously received as ever. I’ve got so used
to hearing a monster solo at the end with all the attendant hoopla that it seems a bit bare, but listening back to it at leisure, it still
works reasonably well.
DG then detunes his bottom E to D. Hmm. An acoustic Run Like Hell
perhaps? Nope. It’s a song “that has nothing to do with me but I like it. It’s by Robert Thompson.” Dave then shows off some more
impeccable and beautiful acoustic guitar work. I need you at the dimming of the day would appear to be it’s title, it is a pretty song
with a simple haunting melody. Robert Thompson is worth checking out on this evidence. He’s certainly adored by the critics in the UK.
At the end of the song some wag in the crowd shouts “Bring on Roger
Waters.” Dave’s response? “If you want Roger you can have him.” Quite amusing really. There’s no malice, just a weary resignation IMO.
Earlier someone else had asked “When’s the next Floyd album” and our
hero said “Who gives a f**k?” I think he’s been longing to say that
to the 1001 journalists who’ve asked that question. Clearly it gave him great pleasure to be able to give the gut reaction to the question, but
it was delivered with a modicum of humor, so whilst I would say the chances are tiny, don’t give up hope just yet.
The last song of the main set was the remainder of Shine On. It was a
much shortened version but well delivered and featuring Dick Parry yet again. As the song drew to a close the band left the stage leaving
just Dick to blow the last few notes. Pandemonium.
And so to the encores. Someone asks for “something from Animals,
please” which gets a genial “We’d still be here after turf-out time
if
we did that.” Sadly Dave is true to his word, launching into A Great Day for Freedom instead. By now his voice has become a little hoarse
and he rasps his way through the opening lines. There are no problems with the solo though and with the choir warbling in the background it
could almost be 1994 all over again.
The final song came from way, way, way out in left field: Hushabye
Mountain from children’s movie Chitty Chitty Bang Bang. I can only presume that Dave sings his kids to sleep with that song. It must have
some special resonance chez Gilmour. FWIW he did it beautifully, supported yet again by Polly* on the cello, but it was a strange choice
IMO. Anyway, pandemonium yet again which at least brought him out for one final bow, but no more songs.
To sum up: it was a pleasure to be there and for me the ticket price
was justified by Fat Old Sun alone. Dave obviously enjoyed himself, describing it as “fun”, and he certainly enjoyed some good banter with
the audience. Personally I would have liked him to dredge the archives a bit more (Cymbeline perhaps) but overall it was a fine night. If
we’re lucky he might decide it was fun enough to do it more often, but more Floyd stuff? Don’t hold your breath
*Quick
Note: I'm told David's wife Polly Samson was actually in the front row of
the audience and that CAROLINE DALE is actually the Chello player in
question :)
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Pictures from the
Show
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