They render the classic rock opera very well, and the crowd respond enthusiastically.

The sound tonight is excellent. Very clear, not too loud, not too weak, all instruments come out nicely. Not bad, considering the problems the organisation has faced before this show. Another tent had to be arranged at the last moment, there was not enough time for sound checking, etcetera.

Pink Noise performing Pink Floyd`s "The Wall"
In the pause between the shows some more bricks are added to the wall, and the foundation is laid. A disadvantage of having an already half-built wall is that when the band starts to play, you only see half of it. We hear backing vocals and keys, but where are the musicians? During the show, the wall is built way too fast. During “Another Brick In The Wall I” the third layer of bricks is laid and the builders start the fourth. The only thing we see now is the head of lead-guitarist/singer Harmjan. And after “Another Brick In The Wall II”, even that is gone. A major disadvantage for the audience, who like the projections shown on the wall, but would also like to see some of the musicians that make this great music.

Because great the music is. Every finesse, to the finest detail of the original Floyd music is copied meticulously. Everything is right, up to and including the samples from movie sounds, airplanes and playgrounds. The audience, by now about 700 people, are mostly amazed. How can anyone who is not Floyd make this music? The music is filled with feeling, and the singing is excellent and gives me gooseflesh from time to time, even though this is the fourth time already I’ve heard them do it. Especially songs like “Goodbye Blue Sky” or “What Shall We Use”, where two singers complete each other so they sound like echoes, are vocal highlights.

And well, we don’t see behind the wall, but we still are entertained. A miniature airplane flies burning to the stage, projections are shown on the wall and on the circle on stage (that unfortunately is also half hidden by the wall), and occasionally singers come in front of the stage to do their thing. After “Young Lust” we even get a sitting room built up in front of the wall, in which singer Ralf watches TV, before he freaks out during “One Of My Turns” and smashes the whole set, prompted by a “wife” doll. Unfortunately Ralf not only smashes his living room, but also one of the stage lights, which he knocks off stage and on the head of his younger brother who is taking photographs. But as you can see, these have not suffered from that.

By the start of the second set, the wall is complete, though a few bricks get taken out so we can see the two guitarists during “Is There Anybody Out There”. The rest is animation, and nice animations they got.

Occasionally Ralf comes in front of the wall, and he’s looking worse and worse. His eyebrows are gone and his eyes made up for that special desolate look… an excellent actor.

During “Comfortably Numb” Harmjan is projected over the entire wall, preparing the audience for his moment of major glory, “Comfortably Numb”’s great solo. As he comes in front of the wall and starts playing, people can only stare in amazement: this is what Gilmour would do, if Gilmour would still do it. And as Gilmour doesn’t, we are very fortunate that Harmjan does. And then Ralf comes up looking his scariest: in a nazi-like uniform he brings us “In The Flesh!”, adorned by flags and torches. He shouts more than he sings, adding to his nasty persona.

And then, the final Trial, and after that, the tearing down of the wall, which is not too easy…the wall is down, Pink is free, but alone… and in an eerie high voice Patricia sings the last few notes.

The crowd are by now completely convinced and going wild for more. As the encores “One Of These Days”, “Time” and “Money” are performed, we finally get to see the whole band, which is 11 people, who all deserve the attention they get for the great way they worked together to perform this masterpiece.

pics by Wout J. Reinders

The Wall will rise again one last time Friday June 6 in Roosendaal, in a LEO Events tent.

(Review & Pics: Tressy Arts)