David Gilmour debuted a gentle song about questioning spirituality and what's next for the planet, Monday night (10/14), at the historic Royal Albert Hall.
The Pink Floyd guitarist is currently on a tour supporting his fifth solo album, Luck and Strange,
Last month he live debuted a half dozen new tunes from the album, it's nice to see there are more songs he wants to play for the people.
The new tune, "A Single Spark," is the type of song you'd expect from a 78-year-old man who has traveled the world many times, amassed more money than he could have ever expected - especially thanks to being a major part of a band that never attempted to fit into popular culture.
It's a song about wondering, nervously, what's next for this world,
These days of wild uncertain times I ask the empty skies
Who will keep things rolling, who to sing Hosannas to
The temple calls but I can’t see what use my prayers will be
And will this world keep rolling with only good intentions
Gilmour, unlike his old bandmate Roger Waters, is a bit more subtle than his former bass player.
Waters has no problem telling the audience exactly what the problem and solution are. Gilmour is more pensive, thoughtful, optimistic, though the music remains so dreary and soaked in morphine.
And then of course a nice guitar solo.
This marks the last song on the album to be performed live.
The song "Between Two Points," which Gilmour performed as the second to last tune of the first set, is indeed a Montgolfier Brothers cover, but it's also on Luck and Strange.
The tune, sung by his daughter Romany, was the second single from the album and its video has over 3 million views.
Even though the thumbnail shows the guitar hero on an acoustic, there's an electric guitar solo on the song that's haunting and stark and true Gilmour.
Another glaring difference between Waters and Gilmour is their desire to use the entire stage to entertain.
Waters has built that damn wall and torn it down countless times. David, god bless him, is using the same circular video screen Floyd toured with in the '80s. This screen might be a bit larger, but it's obvious, he wants you to pay attention to the musicians.
And the songs.
Those beautifully dreamy songs.
Who wouldn't want to hear "Wish You Were Here" sung to them by the guy who really sang it and played all those guitar parts.
This is why you buy the ticket. Classic rock alive and kicking.
Would it be great to have a well-educated seasoned traveller on this wild journey dole out answers instead of asking questions?
Sure, but he told us he was numb over 40 years ago. Maybe that was his advice?
My advice is to see this legend and hear that tasty Strat live and in person, especially since he's touring with his daughter and loading up half of the set with Floyd tunes.
David heads to the US in the last week of October for a gig at the new Intuit Dome in LA followed by a trio of shows under the stars at the Hollywood Bowl.
In November he does a five night run at Madison Square Garden. Get your tickets on David's website.
