David Gilmour is one of a kind, a magician. With just a few guitar notes, he can give you goosebumps. His album released last year was a gem of art rock, irrefutable proof that age has not diminished his abilities on his instrument in the slightest. At the end of the year, the Briton did it again with the release of a generous 2 hour 17 minute live album, chronicling his most recent tour (which I was lucky enough to attend in New York), produced in Italy, England and the United States only, from September to November 2024.
Just hearing the acoustic start of the show, with “5 A.M.” and “Black Cat,” and you’re already enveloped in the world of this genius, this demigod who pushes the boundaries of what is possible on the guitar.
The chap is nearly 80 years old. He could be enjoying his golden years with his family, sipping tea (he is English, after all) and leaving us to listen to Pink Floyd’s discography forever. That would be quite enough, really. Instead, Gilmour bares his soul, talks about old age and performs his new songs on stage, the most mature and honest pieces in his discography. All while treating us to a good dose of his most iconic Floydian solos, such as those in “High Hopes” and “Time.”
Note the huge contrast between songs like “Sorrow” and “The Great Gig in the Sky,” which is frankly interesting to revisit in its sobriety. Of course, there is one notable absence from the setlist: “Shine on You Crazy Diamond” would not have gone amiss. But that’s really just nitpicking: the show was already perfect.
If you ever thought you’d seen it all, I invite you to see Gilmour perform the second solo from “Comfortably Numb” live. With the lasers, time stretches out. You’ll see, you won’t come out the same person. The world will be different. It will seem too dull afterwards. No one has ever matched his genius on the guitar, and no one ever will.
Long live Pink Floyd. Long live David Gilmour.
