Review: Roger Waters Relives The Wall at AT&T Park
Photo by Attic Floc. View more photos here: http://bit.ly/JqVl51
In the original context of The Wall, these images and statements promoted pacifism in the face of a world that, less than 10 years after the end of the Vietnam War, was fed up with the pain and trauma caused by armed conflict. Today, in the midst of a very real war in the Middle East and revolutionary conflict sprouting up across the globe, The Wall confronts an issue very close to the hearts of many in the audience. In 2012, a year weighted with apocalyptic connotation, The Wall asks, “How long will we put up with the problems caused by war and when will it end?”
The story of Pink, the Waters-esque rock star character who questions his reactions to events in his life that have resulted in a disconnect (aka: the wall) between his inner-self and his exterior, resonates powerfully in this 2012 context. Are we becoming more disconnected with each other as a defense against the consequences of a corrupt society and a corrupt government that plunges into devastating war? Waters uses Pink to show what can happen to anyone (especially in a society like The Wall, overly-focused on sex, drugs, fame and violence) when burdened with the pressures of loss, restriction resulting from overprotective authority and a lack of loving support.
Waters doesn’t hesitate to allude to his own struggle, announcing to the audience that he will play “Mother” alongside a projected video of “that poor, miserable little Roger” from the 1980 tour. Waters appears now to be far from miserable, with a voice that has been so well preserved that it hardly, if at all, differs from the voice of “miserable” Waters 30 years ago.
With such a cast of talented musicians in addition to Waters’ own impressive vocal strength and a lineup of fireworks, puppets, lights, sound and of course that magnificent, unbelievably large wall, The Wall lived up to its grand expectations. The size of the large arenas and stadiums that Waters is touring, alongside the sometimes shocking ticket prices, can be enough to scare would-be attendees off.
Don’t buy into the fear. This 2012 tour will likely be Waters last. The Wall live is a once in a lifetime experience, a show mixing music and theater and circus like no other has been able to do, that only a few generations will live to tell of.
View the full gallery HERE.
