The Forum

After the bracing night air of the Hollywood Bowl, the tour moved on to the Forum for the third LA concert. The red and white circular venue, like the Bowl, has a famous history, best know as the home of the NBA Lakers until 1999. It was designed in 1967 to evoke the Forum in Rome, so while not quite as old as the amphitheatres David will be playing this summer, it does fit the bill as a venue of ‘special historic interest’. And nothing ‘funny happened on the way’ … in fact the LA traffic was lighter than usual.

Last night’s setlist was the same as Friday’s concert, again with the popular inclusion of What Do You Want From Me, a co-write from Gilmour, Wright and Samson. The singing of Bryan Chambers, Louise Marshall and Lucita Jules, is one of the many highlights of the evening, their soaring vocals and great moves catch the eye and the ear.

The 12,000 fans cheered and roared their approval throughout the evening, both for the new songs and for the Pink Floyd evergreens. A Boat Lies Waiting is becoming a classic; the whole band comes together and sings as a choir, probably thinking of the great Richard Wright who inspired this song. In Any Tongue received a standing ovation.

Once again, Money proves to be a tour de force, with David taking new twists and turns with the solos and João Mello thrilling throughout the concert with his sax playing.

In British understatement, David asked “Are you having a reasonable time?” and 12,000 voices shouted ‘Yes’. He introduced the band and local boy, Steve DiStanislao, got an extra big cheer as did El Magnifico, Phil Manzanera.

The lasers during Comfortably Numb lit the domed roof of the Forum, making it look like a spacecraft about to land; perhaps there is somebody ‘out there’ after all.

Last night’s setlist was…

First Set: 5 A.M.; Rattle That Lock; Faces Of Stone; Wish You Were Here; What Do You Want From Me: A Boat Lies Waiting; The Blue; Money; Us And Them; In Any Tongue; High Hopes.

Second Set: Astronomy Domine; Shine On You Crazy Diamond (Parts 1-5); Fat Old Sun; Coming Back To Life; The Girl In The Yellow Dress; Today; Sorrow; Run Like Hell.

Encores: Time/Breathe (reprise); Comfortably Numb.