For Nick Mason, Friday night’s stop in Wallingford was only his third ever in the Nutmeg state as Saucerful of Secrets performed its first of two New England shows on their current tour. New England, known for its overcast skies and foggy autumns, probably has much more in common with Nick Mason’s Birmingham and Hampstead, and Pink Floyd’s Cambridge and London, than any other parts of North America the Saucers have visited on this tour, which begged the question of how the surrounding environment and culture would play into this evening’s vibe. Time and modern amenities betray these cultural elements though, and so the band played in a venue that is a far better fit for a modern country concert in Alabama than a classic rock show in historic New England. In many ways, this was a gig better destined for Hartford’s Bushnell Performing Arts Center – but that didn’t stop the band from putting on a great show. As the lights dimmed you could sense the crowd’s anticipation on this rainy New England night – but the band’s Interstellar Overdrive was a slow burn of an opener, a reminder that Saucerful of Secrets was not intended to stir up the populist Pink Floyd fandom but to transport you to something deeper. It was during the band’s second track, Astronomy Domine, that the full audience stood up, soaking in the echoes of Pink Floyd’s last tour in the United States, The Division Bell tour – the last time (and the first time) many in the audience had seen Mason play Astronomy Domine live.
It has just been announced that next month, on April 30th, 2021, Pink Floyd Live At Knebworth 1990 will be released for the first time on CD, 180g heavyweight double vinyl LP, and digital platforms. The concert was part of the star-studded 1990 Silver Clef Award Winners performance at Knebworth House, in Hertfordshire, England, headlined by the Floyd. The concert, in front of around 120,000 fans, was a fundraiser for the Nordoff Robbins Music Therapy Charity, and also included Paul McCartney, Genesis, Dire Straits, Eric Clapton, Cliff Richard The Shadows, Elton John, Status Quo, Tears For Fears, and Robert Plant Jimmy Page. The Floyd set was performed by the touring line-up of the late 1980s, with a slight change to the vocalists – joining Durga McBroom was Sam Brown, her mother Vicki, and Clare Torry (original vocalist for The Great Gig In The Sky, resuming her role for this show, three years after doing the same for Roger Waters at his pair of 1987 Wembley Arena gigs). Saxophonist Candy Dulfer and keyboard player Michael Kamen also joined the band for this one-off show. The audio has been remixed by David Gilmour and Andy Jackson, and following its appearance in 2019’s The Later Years box set, is now available on CD or double vinyl for the first time as a standalone album. Nick Mason looked back at the concert, and remarked: “There is something special about Knebworth. We all still have fond memories of playing there in the 70’s, and this show was no different. As a North London boy this was almost a home game, but with the added delight of being the re-assembly of the band after a fairly mega tour that had lasted for well over a year. It was also an opportunity to get the wonderful Candy Dulfer to play - I had been a fan of hers for quite a while, and it was just a shame we didn’t have an opportunity to utilise her for more. We also had our dear friend Michael Kamen guesting. Michael had contributed so much to PF over the previous ten years, it’s great to have something of his playing on the recording.” To order either physical edition, you can do so from the following Amazon stores (thus helping Brain Damage with a much needed contribution towards site running costs, at no extra cost to you!): Pink Floyd Live At Knebworth 1990 – 2LP 180g double vinyl: Amazon UK (http://www.amazon.co.uk/exec/obidos/ASIN/B08Y4HCFYV/braindamage-21)Amazon.com (https://www.amazon.com/exec/obidos/ASIN/B08X7W9J2J/braindamage-20)
Amazon Canada (https://www.amazon.ca/exec/obidos/ASIN/B08X7W9J2J/braindamageon-20)
Germany (http://www.amazon.de/exec/obidos/ASIN/B08Y4HCFYV/braindamage0f-21) France (http://www.amazon.fr/exec/obidos/ASIN/B08Y4HCFYV/braindamageon-21) Italy (http://www.amazon.it/exec/obidos/ASIN/B08Y4HCFYV/bradamonl-21) Spain (http://www.amazon.es/exec/obidos/ASIN/B08Y4HCFYV/braidama01-21) Pink Floyd Live At Knebworth 1990 – CD: Amazon UK (http://www.amazon.co.uk/exec/obidos/ASIN/B08Y4RQGXJ/braindamage-21) Amazon.com (https://www.amazon.com/exec/obidos/ASIN/B08X7S43KV/braindamage-20)
Amazon Canada (https://www.amazon.ca/exec/obidos/ASIN/B08X7S43KV/braindamageon-20) Germany (http://www.amazon.de/exec/obidos/ASIN/B08Y4RQGXJ/braindamage0f-21) France (http://www.amazon.fr/exec/obidos/ASIN/B08Y4RQGXJ/braindamageon-21) Italy (http://www.amazon.it/exec/obidos/ASIN/B08Y4RQGXJ/bradamonl-21) Spain (http://www.amazon.es/exec/obidos/ASIN/B08Y4RQGXJ/braidama01-21)
Because of the pandemic, many of the regular guests for SXSW stayed home, so the attendance for the festival was lower than before. This also reflected on the Picnic, with fewer people. But the atmosphere was as it always is … Continue reading →
Ziggy D’Amato – ‘Damages’ With his previous release ‘Tina’s Nite Club’ finding huge support upon its release, fast-rising artist Ziggy D’Amato continues the support for his forthcoming EP ‘Maya Blue’ with the breezy new single ‘Damages’. Bringing back more of that rich and shimmering indie-rock swagger he is known for, his newest delight makes for …
