Capacity: 30,000

Concert starts: 8pm

Address of venue: 61 Savitt Way, Hartford, 06120.  MAP

Website: www.meadowsmusic.com

Tickets for this concert went on sale on March 23rd, through www.ticketmaster.com and www.livenation.com as normal.

The venue used to be known as the Meadows Music Theatre, but recently changed its name to the New England Dodge Music Center. The date also changed for this show, from July 13th, to July 10th, to accomodate an additional show elsewhere.

Our thanks to Irene & Chester Clough for sending in the ticket scan, shown to the right.

WARNING - SPOILERS AHEAD!

Do not read on if you don't want surprises to be spoilt, regarding what the band played!

One step closer to the conclusion of the tour, and another cracking show. We hear that the pig made good its escape and flew into the Conneticut skies - where it landed, we don't know! For the local viewpoint on the show, check out the Hartford Republican's review.

Just two more shows to go - Darien Lake and the Rogers Centre in Toronto.

CONCERT PICTURES - courtesy of BD contributer, Mic Hiliadis

CONCERT REVIEW - by BD contributer, Irene Clough, with pictures courtesy of Mikey Clough

This was our second show after Tampa. My husband Chester and I flew up to New Hampshire and drove down to the show with my brother in law Mike who took some great pictures on his digital. We had much better seats than in Tampa, about 10 rows behind the mixing board and almost dead center. It made a world of difference.

During Have A Cigar I was somewhat concerned about Roger's voice, but then he held the last note on "riding the gravy train" for what seemed like about 30 seconds and I knew all was well.

"Wicked Awesome" show as some say in that area of the country. A nice touch was seeing shadows of the musicians on the walls which were at right angles on either side of the stage, especially when the sax was being played. Just a quirk of the stadium.

After the show Mike wanted to get a picture of the sound board. He ended up speaking to one of the gentlemen boxing up the sound equipment and they have a mutual acquaintance from England. (Small world!)

Mike asked if there was a recording coming out of the tour and the sound guy/roadie? told us that there have been some recordings of the show along the way. After we left we could not decide if he meant DVD or CD, but he also said don't hold your breath it will take some time for the finished product. He said they would be doing more recording/filming in Canada.

I asked him if there are any plans to stage shows in smaller venues as both times our experience was seriously hindered by people getting up and down during the entire show (even during DSOTM!). He did not know of any future plans, but I asked him to pass on how much this fan would like to see the show without so many distractions (don't serve so much beer!), maybe in smaller venues.

I feel extremely blessed to have been able to see this show twice, and also to be able to share the news and excitement with the rest of the fans. Thanks.

CONCERT REVIEW - by BD contributer, Jason Ruel

I've seen Roger live 3 times the last time I saw him was in 2001. The 6 years in between was long.

I got into venue and was immediately taken back by the age range of people. You had kids with their parents, you had 60 somethings, 50 somethings, 40 somethings, and of course a group of young stoners.

On stage was what looked like a giant plane, a giant radio, a giant bottle of alcohol, an ash tray, and a glass. I wondered to myself what they heck were those props there for. After 15 minutes or so a hand came out and tuned the radio, from there were entertained by hearing mostly old standards with a funny moment when the radio tuned to Dancing Queen from ABBA. The hall gave a collective What the Hell look at what they heard, and the station was immediately changed. After 5 more minutes of this the lights dimmed and the crowd roared alive as the silhouette of the MAN glided across the stage.

The band ripped into In the Flesh. Probably the best performance I've heard of it; all the other times it seemed the pace was too quick. The last notes of the song rang out and the crowd went wild.

Roger then strapped on his acoustic guitar to lead the band through Mother. It sounded to me like his guitar was a bit out of tune at least at the beginning of the song. Roger was having trouble hitting some of the higher notes so he opted to sing down an octave, Katie Kissoon has gotten better at emoting over the years with her singing of the Mother part. Snowy did a close to album faithful rendition of Dave's guitar solo.

Set the Controls for the Heart of the Sun was a great performance, not much has changed with this since 2000, except one thing. During the psychedelic freak out portion of the song Jon Carin's dueling solo with Snowy sounded a lot like Rick's solo from Keep Talking. Coincidence because the song's key is similar, maybe, but I think Jon was giving a wink to Dave, Rick, and Nick.

Next for me came the disappointment of the night. My favorite song ever Shine on You Crazy Diamond cut to hell. The intro keyboard solo was cut by a minute or two, and there wasn't the entire first guitar solo, it went directly in Syd's theme. I know this is how Floyd performed live in 1974, but the album version with Rick mournful extended solo Dave's incredible touch with the guitar is what makes this song the best. Obviously no one can play that guitar solo like Dave, but dammit I want to hear it. The actual performance was good, and perhaps the best voice I've heard Roger sing this in since the studio version.

Have a Cigar was rocking. The guitars were more abrasive than the album version, but it really suited the song. This is where Dave Kilminster really took the forefront on lead guitar. He's definitely Roger's best David Gilmour impersonator. Really cool rendition.

Wish you were here got the crowd in an uproar. Everyone on their feet singing word for word on this decidedly country sounding version of the song. I thought Kilminster's slide work was a particularly nice touch. Roger's vocals were so-so, but then again only David sounds right singing this song to me.

Next we were treated to Southampton Dock and Fletcher Memorial Home, both were outstanding with Snowy's handling of the guitar solo in Fletcher being a big highlight of the night.

Perfect Sense was awesome as usual. P.P Arnold still has it, and opposed to when I saw Roger in 1999 and in 2001 the crowd actually seemed to know the song.

Next up was Leaving Beirut. Roger took time to explain the song, and what happened to him as a 17 year old. I heard the song once before, but this was my first real experience with it. I must admit I don't like the song that much. The instrumentation is really good, but I find the lyrics really cheesy. I think Roger can do a lot better, and the melody to me was just so blah. The highlights for the song were when Roger blasted President Bush. The crowd went absolutely wild. Andy Fairweather-Low playing in a giant cowboy hat was a great touch.

Finally, the ominous intro keyboard solo to Sheep began. This is the song I've really been looking forward to hearing live, and I was not disappointed. The guitar solos seared my soul, the bass and keyboard bridge was everything I hoped it would be. Oh, and the pig came out. The pig made the rounds, and near end of the song came the pig escaped into Hartford's night sky. Most of the crowd on the lawn just watched the pig float away as the band ripped through the end of the song.

Next came Dark Side of the Moon. The performance of the entire album was awe-inspiring. Roger's band has done a great job really capturing the album's atmosphere. Things that really stood out were Jon Carin's singing on Us and Them, Kilminster's solo on Any Colour You Like, Carin's solo on Any Colour You Like, Graham Broad's roto tom solo at the beginning of Time, and Great Gig in the Sky.

The frenzied crowd wouldn't let the night stop here. The band emerged for the encore. The lights still dim with a spotlight on Roger who introduced the band. Then the spotlights scan the crowd, the roar of a helicopter in the surround sound system, and the spotlight once again on Roger pointing and saying, "You. Yes, you. Stand still laddy." The crowd went beserk as the band played Happiest Days of our Lives and Another Brick in the Wall pt. 2. Snowy's guitar solo in Brick had some rough patches, but by the end he really shined with it.

The years have not been real kind to Roger's voice, but I think what the years have done has made Roger's voice much better for the next song Vera. The kind of tired creak in Roger's voice really better establishes the essence of this song. Really cool rendition.

Bring the Boys Back home was good, not much to say on this one, and then into Comfortably Numb to end the night.

This is the best performance I've seen from Roger's band of this song. Kilminster again really nailed the solos. Roger and Jon's singing were both great. I was pretty much speechless by the end of the night.

I really hope Roger and/or Pink Floyd come around again, but if they don't this was a good final note to see the boys with.