Capacity: 2,346

Concert starts: 8pm

Address of venue: Viale dell'Innovazione, 20, 20126 Milano MI, Italy. MAP

Website: teatroarcimboldi.it

COMMENTS

When Nick Mason made comments in Italy about heading out to small venues, to play early Pink Floyd songs, few took the remarks seriously. As unlikely as it seemed, Nick was entirely truthful and in the initial announcement a set of four shows in London were announced for his new band. Due to the critical success of those shows, held in small venues in Camden and Putney, a full European tour has been announced with this date one part of this.

Nick Mason's Saucerful Of Secrets brings together some familiar names, all great musicians: joining Nick are Gary Kemp and Lee Harris on guitars, Guy Pratt on bass, and Dom Beken on keyboards. Kemp is best known for his work with Spandau Ballet, Harris as having played guitar with The Blockheads (Ian Dury's band), Pratt needs no introduction, and Beken is principally known for his work with The Orb, and Transit Kings (with Pratt). The band will be playing early Pink Floyd songs.

This is a unique opportunity to experience Pink Floyd's celebrated and significant early body of work played live including songs from albums 'The Piper At The Gates of Dawn' and 'A Saucerful Of Secrets'.

The regular sale of tickets started on FRIDAY, MAY 25th at 9am (UK time), via LiveNation.it. 

WARNING - SPOILERS AHEAD!

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

So to Italy, and Milan, for another memorable show, in front of an extremely enthusiastic crowd!

For this latest show on the tour, during his customary initial thanks and welcome to the audience, Nick said: "Well, as I hope you all know, we are not the Australian Roger Waters, we are not the Danish Gilmour, we are not the Peruvian Pink Floyd. We are Nick Mason's Saucerful Of Secrets. We're very happy to be here, and I hope you're going to enjoy yourselves as much as we intend to!"

The band's enjoyment and togetherness comes across clearly in the performance - it is a joy to hear the music performed like this, and it is definitely not a show to miss!

The tour now travels on to Zurich in Switzerland for the final mainland Europe show, before heading back to the UK for the final six concerts of the tour...

We'd love to know from those attending how they felt the concert went. How was the show for you, if you were one of the fortunate ones to attend? Let us know what YOU thought!

CONCERT REVIEW by BD CONTRIBUTOR, Alberto

There is only one word to define Nick Mason’s SOS concert at the Arcimboldi theatre: sublime. If one accidentally passed by the theatre, he wouldn’t realise that the iconic drummer was going to take stage in a few minutes. No banners, no names, simply nothing. That was a pity for everyone wanting a selfie. Nevertheless, this was a minor issue for me as the night will remain indelibly engraved in my memory without the need of any picture.

The audience stepped in the theatre at slow pace, filling it up till the last place just few minutes before the concert started. Signals that the concert was about to start were sent, right on time, when the soft introductory soundscape flooded into the hall. Everyone was triggered to take their seat and in a few seconds we were all ears & eyes towards the stage.

The band entered on stage calmly, but the first piece, Interstellar overdrive, was all but calm. We were instantaneously hit by a tremendous and unexpected energy, that continued incessantly through Astronomy Domine and Lucifer Sam. The man, in a white shirt, showed such a vigorous beat all throughout these three initial pieces that I thought he had decided to tear the theatre down. Impressive performance from all the band members, but particularly Nick was a surprise.

Online videos are a minimal reminiscence of the incredible sound we heard that night from him and the rest of the band. The set list was crafted very nicely, mixing up all the early success of the band with a firm deadline set on 1972. I particularly enjoyed If/Atom Heart Mother, but the highlight of the show for me was Set the Controls. There the band reached the absolute perfection both in terms of sound and of inspiration. During the middle part of the piece everyone was captured in the oneiric atmosphere that was re-created as in a magic time transposition to 50 years in the past.

The musicians were all in great shape. Gary Kemp: another great surprise, he was really great in giving new life to the guitar soundscapes of those early days. Guy’s monumental contribution at the bass can’t be really a surprise for any Floyd fan used to appreciate his pristine mastery, the highest moment being when he sung an incredibly energetic “Nile Song”. In my opinion the keyboards weren’t perfectly mixed since they have been hardly audible in some of the pieces and sort of too much compressed in others. Pieces were interleaved sometimes by Nick, Guy or Gary telling stories about their friendship and comments about the music.

The atmosphere was of great enjoyment on stage, you could really guess they were all having a great time together. A great time shared with all of us in that unforgettable night.

CONCERT REVIEW and PICTURES by BD CONTRIBUTOR, Roger Hunter

First saw them in 1968 at RAH. Never thought I would hear this stuff again live. Absolutely fantastic and will try for tickets for next year. Nick Mason has raised the bar, Roger and David take note !

YOUR HELP NEEDED! We want to cover Nick's concerts the best we can, to share the experience with everyone, especially those who won't be able to attend the shows. We'd love to see ANY pictures, tickets scans, reviews, newspaper reports, and anything else you come across for this show - we look forward to hearing from you!