Roger Waters of Pink Floyd performs in Orlando
Roger Waters, the outspoken co-founder and singer-songwriter of Pink Floyd, came to Orlando delivering powerful political commentary through his music and showmanship, along with a message: “This Is Not a Drill.”
At least that’s the name of the tour, which appeared at Orlando’s Amway Center Thursday night. The show was postponed for nearly two years due to the COVID-19 pandemic, and there’s a suggestion, perhaps a bit tongue-in-cheek, that Waters might be winding down.
“It could be his last hurrah,” said Waters, 78, in a statement announcing the show, speaking in the third person. “Wow! My first farewell tour! Don’t miss it.”
Heading into the arena, many fans undoubtedly knew what they were getting themselves into. Ever since the blockbuster success of now-classic records “Dark Side of the Moon” and “The Wall,” music listeners far and wide have known that Pink Floyd is political — and Roger Waters chief among band members in that department.
Still, Waters felt the need to make a pre-show disclaimer, which emerged onto giant LED screens accompanied by a voiceover.
“If you’re one of those ‘I love Pink Floyd but I can’t stand Roger’s politics people,’ you might do well to [expletive] off to the bar right now,” the voice and text read.
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Those screens featured prominently as Waters and fellow musicians played, for his first time, in the round with fans on all sides of the stage. During the set one opener, “Comfortably Numb,” the English musician sang from offstage while dystopian imagery lit up on the screens, thunder sound effects booming throughout the space.
Throughout both of Waters’ two sets, separated by a 20-minute intermission, the singer-songwriter oscillated between a state of somber, showing footage of Standing Rock protests and war zone explosions, and nostalgia, breaking out Pink Floyd hits while the crowd sang along.
Each set seemed to have a storytelling arc that wove together periods in the musician’s career and his political stances. The audience gleaned that Waters is against guns and the Supreme Court but for trans rights and reproductive freedom.
There was even a call to free Julian Assange, the WikiLeaks founder who currently sits in a London prison and could face extradition to the US
Some of the songs hit a more personal note, including “Wish You Were Here” and “Shine On You Crazy Diamond,” both of which paid tribute to Syd Barrett, who left Pink Floyd in 1968 while struggling with mental health and psychedelic drugs.
A message flashed on screen, alluding to a deeper meaning behind the tour: “When you lose someone you love, it serves as a reminder — that this is not a drill.”
It didn’t take long for the politics to return. During the final song of set one, “Sheep,” a cut from the 1977 album, “Animals,” audience members craned their necks to get a glimpse of an oversized, remote-controlled sheep hovering above the crowd.
The second set featured even more razzle-dazzle and thought-provoking storytelling as Waters appeared in Gestapo-like gear, flanked by two guards while singing “In The Flesh.”
The talents of Waters’ fellow musicians on stage flourished throughout the evening, including smooth lines from saxophonist Seamus Blake and soaring vocals from backing singers Amanda Belair and Shanay Johnson. He was also joined by guitarists Jonathan Wilson and Dave Kilminster, Jon Carin on keyboards and guitar, Gus Seyffert on bass, Robert Walter on keyboards and Joey Waronker on drums.
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The highlight of set two featured the entire back half of “Dark Side of the Moon,” played straight through and complete with laser lights that formed triangles above the stage. Guitar solos ascended throughout the room and the band combined to form a wall of sound, creating a colorful sonic experience that’s classic but still modern, relevant and vibrant.
After letting the dust settle on that blast from the past, Waters took a between-songs opportunity to pose a question, or maybe several.
“Why don’t we start talking to leaders of other nations?” he asked. “They’re unbelievably expensive, nuclear weapons … And they should be spending money on baby formula.”
A Roger Waters performance might find some fans feeling unsettled, but that’s part of this drill. In these times, when critical thinking can be hard to come by, Waters dishing out food for thought proved refreshing and vital, even if uncomfortable.
Still, the musician took the opportunity to thank his fans for their support.
“I can’t tell you how much this means to me,” Waters said. “Thank you for being such a great audience and giving us your love.”
Find me @PConnPie on Twitter and Instagram or send me to email: pconnolly@orlandosentinel.com. For more fun things, follow @fun.things.orlando on Instagram, Facebook and Twitter.
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