Roger Waters Presents ‘The Dark Side of the Moon’

On the moonlight night of Oct. 10, I was one of the few thousand fortunate fans swaying mesmerized to the music of Roger Waters, the mastermind behind some of the most emotional rock music ever conceived. His schizophrenic live performance was riddled with those perfect moments you wish would never end, where through the haze of insanity and international politics everything becomes clear and somehow you know it is all going to be OK.

If you missed it, too bad. There is no way to describe the intangible welling of pain and spirituality that ascends from the soul and becomes lodged in the back of the throat, forcing you to sing along in an effort to shed your sorrow, and then to share in the joy of relief from your dark hauntings. Indeed, for a few hours the shoreline amphitheater had become one giant psychoanalyst’s couch holding what could be considered the largest group therapy session ever.

I’d like to describe the precision of the themed video projections with the music, the power of the compositions, and the depth of what are widely regarded as some of the best guitar solos in history, but if you are a fan you already know, and if not, you won’t care.

I will say this, witnessing Roger Waters perform Pink Floyd’s entire “Dark Side of the Moon” album was a once in a lifetime event that will remain indelibly etched in my mind. Not just because he is one of my favorite composers and lyricists (his voice was unbelievably flawless, by the way), but because that album is so unique it has become one of those pieces of pop-culture everyone remembers. Like the lunar landing itself, we all recall exactly what we were doing the first time we heard it.

Hundreds of years from now, our descendents will marvel at the mastery of his music the way we wonder on Mozart, Beethoven, or Bach. As a composer, Waters has written work that will stand the test of time, and that’s why the only part of the show I didn’t like so much was his new song, “Leaving Beirut.”

It is supposedly the story of an Arab family who treated him with extraordinary kindness when he was down and out in the Middle East, yet it contained direct messages that apply particularly to our current political climate. Roger, please continue doing what you do best, make undying music, and leave the politicking to the pundits.

His anti-war message has always been implied through the narratives embedded in his lyrics, and lends itself to any conflict without unnecessarily overt statements. Take for instance the encore, a perfect rendition of “Vera”, “Bring the Boys Back Home” and “Comfortably Numb”. Damn, I am still crying.

I can’t depart without noting the “Shine on You Crazy Diamond” tribute to original Pink Floyd guitarist and lead singer Syd Barrett, which bore significant meaning as he recently passed away, after decades of lunacy. To Syd and all those who have left us behind, we wish you were here.
Roger Waters played the entire "Dark Side if the Moon"
album for his concert at the Shoreline Ampitheater
Photo Illustration by Jason Barr

Originally published in the Express, October 13, 2006.