Words by: Robert Sutton
Images by: Robert Sutton Photography
www.facebook.com/robertsuttonphotography
Following on from his five sold-out shows at the Royal Albert Hall last year, David Gilmour was back for another five sold-out nights this September, in support of his fourth studio album ‘Rattle That Lock‘ and his only UK dates this year.
There was no support for this event, but instead, we were to be treated to two sets from David.
Well to say that I was excited about this show was a little bit of an under  statement. I tried to get a ticket when the shows were first announced but had no joy on any of the four nights released at the time. Then I found out that he was to do the fifth night, well I was poised at my computer terminal ready and waiting for the 9 am ticket release time..and then whoopee I managed to grab myself a ticket and a pretty good one at that, sitting in the front set of stalls on the floor area.
The band opened the set with ‘5 A.M.’ from the new album , which was released about this time last year and they followed that with ‘Rattle That Lock‘ and ‘Faces of Stone‘ which also happens to be the same order that they appear on the album.
The iconic round circle above the band provided a center area for the video projection of the band as well as taped backing videos and the edge of the circle providing the area for some of the vast amount of lighting that the set had.
The fourth song, was perhaps the start of what a majority of people wanted to hear from the band?, a Pink Floyd song ( ‘What Do You Want from Me‘). The evening continued with a mix of David’s solo material and Pink Floyd songs, with him playing another three songs from his current album during the night.
I think the highlight for me from the first set had to be ‘The Great Gig in the Sky‘ with super singing by the backing singer and also ‘Wish You Were Here‘ for simply being one of my favorite Pink Floyd tracks…
After ‘High Hopes‘ David announced that the band would take a quick break and be back shortly for their second set…This prompted a quick exit from the arena floor to get to the bar first for a quick refreshment and then return to my seat ready for the start of the second set.
Once the band returned they opened the second set with ‘One of these Days’ and followed this with ‘Shine On You Crazy Diamond‘ , ‘Fat Old Sun‘ and ‘Coming Back to Life‘. ‘On an Island ‘ the title track from David’s third solo album, released some ten years ago now…was next, after which David introduced the rest of the band to us and then slowed the pace down a bit when they played the jazzy/bluesy number from the new album ‘The Girl in the Yellow Dress’.
The band finished their standard set with ‘Run Like Hell‘ and my word what an intense light show that was that went with the song to such an extent that all of the band members were wearing very dark sunglasses for the song.
I thought that lighting was pretty special for the last song, but we were in for an even better lighting show when they returned for their encore with a super laser show to accompany, ‘Time‘ ,’Breathe‘ and ‘Comfortably Numb‘.
Wow, wow and wow! … What a fantastic show, great musicians showing how to give a great performance and with the added bonus of a superb lighting show and also the grandeur of the venue made for what was an incredible evening’s entertainment . What a night!…My gig of the year??…well it may well be…
Setlist:
Set1:
1: 5 A.M.
2: Rattle That Lock
3: Faces of Stone
4: What Do You Want From Me (Pink Floyd cover)
5: The Blue
6: The Great Gig In The Sky (Pink Floyd cover)
7: A Boat Lies Waiting
8: Wish You Were Here (Pink Floyd cover)
9: Money (Pink Floyd cover)
10: In Any Tongue
11: High Hopes (Pink Floyd cover)
Set2:
12:One of These Days (Pink Floyd cover)
13: Shine On You Crazy Diamond ( parts I-V) (Pink Floyd cover)
14: Fat Old Sun (Pink Floyd cover)
15: Coming Back To Life (Pink Floyd cover)
16: On an Island
17: The Girl in the Yellow Dress
18: Today
19: Sorrow (Pink Floyd cover)
20: Run Like Hell (Pink Floyd cover)
Encore:
21: Time (Pink Floyd cover)
22: Breathe (Reprise) (Pink Floyd cover)
23: Comfortably Numb (Pink Floyd cover)
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