October 11

Nick Mason’s Saucerful Of Secrets-As Part Of The Echoes Tour@Massey Hall-Sat.,Oct.8th,2022

Posted by on October 11, 2022 in Arts, Music, Music Reviews, premiere, Reviews, Showcase | Leave a comment

It was a Saturday night at Massey Hall to see Pink Floyd’s percussionist Nick Mason’s Saucerful Of Secrets, Echoes Tour. Most people think Pink Floyd started their careers with ‘Dark Side of the Moon,’ which was their most successful album. Also with the success of “The Wall,” it catapulted them to mainstream superstardom in the music world. What about their early music before these albums were released ? That was the premise for this world tour of practically forgotten music.

The show began with a fan favourite “One of These Days.“ The tour gives audiences the chance to hear classic Pink Floyd songs live, played at a super high level. But Nick Mason’s band offered new life to music that is over 50 years old. 
The two hour plus concert was in two sets with a 20 minute intermission in the middle. There were some lost songs that made it to the set list . The song “Vegetable Man”, “Candy & A Currant Bun” Mason remarked that it was originally entitled Let’s Roll Another One, but the title was frowned upon for people who sought Pink Floyd to be a pop band.

Mason, who was always a part of Pink Floyd in its various incarnations, along with Syd Barrett, guitarist and multi-instrumentalist David Gilmour, bassist and guitarist Roger Waters and keyboardist Richard Wright. The concert introduced and reacquaints audiences with Pink Floyd’s early catalog of music. 

The Saucerful Of Secrets group was formed in 2018 by Nick Mason, Spandau Ballet guitarist Gary Kemp, who was introduced by Mason “a former New Romantic from the New Wave era and a Spandu Ballet,” former Pink Floyd touring bassist Guy Pratt, former Ian Dury & The Blockheads’ guitarist Lee Harris, and keyboardist Dom Beken. The plan from the very beginning was to play only songs Pink Floyd recorded before Dark Side of the Moon.

The backdrop psychedelic theme, colourful lighting, Japanese backgrounds with a volcano ready to erupt and some smoke swirling on stage coincided with the songs which made for some amazing visuals.

Syd Barrett is spoke of lovingly throughout the concert, and there are references to the sadly departed Richard Wright. The tributes to Syd Barrett, musically and as a friend are plentiful.  “Astronomy Domine,” “Interstellar Overdrive,”“See Emily Play” and “Lucifer Sam” from their first album Piper At The Gates Of Dawn was a standout and the band looked like they were really having a fun time performing on stage.

The three song encore began with a lively version of See Emily Play, and then the namesake of the tour Saucerful of Secrets. Finally, the song Bike closed the concert before the lights went up at Massey Hall. There are rumours that the tour will be back in January 2023 in Toronto. If you get a chance to see this tour, and you are an avid Pink Floyd fan, this is a must see concert.
The Set List:

  1. One of These Days(Pink Floyd cover)
  2. Arnold Layne(Pink Floyd cover)
  3. Fearless(Pink Floyd cover)
  4. Obscured by Clouds(Pink Floyd cover)
  5. When You’re In(Pink Floyd cover)
  6. Candy and a Currant Bun(Pink Floyd cover)
  7. Vegetable Man(Pink Floyd cover)
  8. If(Pink Floyd cover)
  9. Atom Heart Mother(Pink Floyd cover)
  10. If (Reprise)(Pink Floyd cover)
  11. Remember a Day(Pink Floyd cover)
  12. Set the Controls for the Heart of the Sun(Pink Floyd cover)
  13. Set 2:
  14. Astronomy Domine(Pink Floyd cover)
  15. The Nile Song(Pink Floyd cover)
  16. Burning Bridges(Pink Floyd cover)
  17. Childhood’s End(Pink Floyd cover)
  18. Lucifer Sam(Pink Floyd cover)
  19. Echoes(Pink Floyd cover)
  20. Encore:
  21. See Emily Play(Pink Floyd
  22. A Saucerful of Secrets(Pink Floyd cover)
  23. Bike(Pink Floyd cover)