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Nick Mason In Concert
As Pink Floyd's original drummer and co-founder of one of the most iconic acts in music history, Nick Mason was on the scene when psychedelic rock first took shape in the late 1960s in London. While his band ventured in many other directions over the following decades, the paths they blazed in their early years remain some of the most thrilling. That's why there's so much excitement around the drummer's latest venture.
Named after the second of Pink Floyd's albums, Nick Mason's Saucerful of Secrets revisits the songs that helped forge this trippy new sound. According to Mason, it's not a cover or tribute act. It's an effort to "capture the spirit" of the psychedelic era, which reached its first peaks of intensity and imagination in the music the band created with its first singer, Syd Barrett.
Mason renewed his connection to those times when he curated the Pink Floyd box set ‘The Early Works: 1965-1972' in 2016. No wonder he was so receptive when former Ian Dury and the Blockheads guitarist Lee Harris suggested he return to the stage with a new band to perform these songs. The prospect was all the more enticing because much of this material was never played live by Pink Floyd at the time, due to their troubled frontman's forced departure before the second album's release in 1968.
Teaming Mason and Harris with ex-Spandau Ballet singer Gary Kemp, longtime Pink Floyd touring bassist Guy Pratt, and keyboardist Dom Beken, Nick Mason's Saucerful of Secrets made their live debut in London in May of 2018. The rapturous reception led to a new series of performances, marking Mason's first concert tour since his final shows in support of Pink Floyd's ‘The Division Bell' in 1994.
Mason and his collaborators are equally adept at performing hypnotic rockers — like "Astronomy Domine" and "Set the Controls for the Heart of the Sun" — and the sunny-yet-sinister psych-pop of "See Emily Play" and "Arnold Layne." They make Pink Floyd's psychedelic breakthroughs feel just as vital and revelatory to audiences now as they did a half-century ago.
What a fun show! Nick and the boys played a fantastic concert. Great selection of pre Dark Side songs. They even did some of Celestial Voices from Atom Heart Mother. I think what I loved most was the energy and enthusiasm they brought to their performance. They just seemed to be having so much fun. Guy Pratt is adorable! And of course, they sounded brilliant. Well done, boys. Thank you for a memorable evening.
No spoilers, but: the songs that Nick Mason chose to play with this band blew my freaking mind. As much as I'd hoped for some obscure old songs, I never imagined I'd get such awesome deep cuts and even non-album tracks. It was a true gift to the serious fan. However, anyone coming to hear Pink Floyd's greatest hits was likely disappointed, even allowing for a focus on their earlier period. The light show was nearly perfect: not exactly a stadium tour extravaganza but plenty of cool and apt stuff going on; if anything the lighting could have been even darker and more wispy, ethereal: a bunch of old guys lumbering around on stage doesn't make for great visuals, but their sheer joy in performing together was palpable and appreciated. Still, I didn't always love the SOUND very much. They keyboards were digital, not vintage, and either too low or otherwise playing parts that didn't match the original version well. Most problematically, the drums were turned WAY up, but not otherwise improved. They were all attack-sounding, and none of that 70s warmth. Still, it was nice to hear 5 guys sounds like "Saucerful"-era Floyd, instead of 9+ people on stage, like Floyd in the 90s. We didn't get any PF members guest staring (like in NYC!), but it was the last night of the American tour so the band was chatty and fun. I loved hearing Guy Pratt talk about "The Nile Song" and other stuff, plus the other guy telling us when/where Nick was last in town. Nick was funny, charming, and modest. His drumming was basic, but it always has been. We should all be playing so well when pushing 80 years old. The venue is nice with comfortable and easily accessible seats, but good luck parking. It was a great, if not perfect, show that I would never have missed and was glad to have attended.
It was just really great to see Nick Mason and his band playing the old stuff, and really doing it right.
Very good concert but would have been much better with David Gilmour and/or Roger Waters.
I had no idea what to expect....it's not like Nick is a steal the show with his drumming skills type artist. I could not be more wrong. The early Pink Floyd music was great and he could not have a better backup bank. They killed it. Hope there's a follow up DVD and CD. This was there last North America show, if you weren't there all I can say is "Wish you were there"
Great concert! Great theatre! One of the greatest NYC concerts in 50 years.
SSIA but I loved this show and would go again if they came back.
As a huge Pink Floyd fan, I've always found their early catalog to be very under-appreciated. Everyone loves Dark Side of the Moon, Wish You Were Here, and The Wall which are great albums. Even the last 2 albums that don't feature Roger Waters get more respect than their early catalog which played a huge role in skyrocketing them to success. This band formed by Nick Mason does a great job at bringing these under-appreciated hits to the modern stage. The band plays them very well, and Mason did great at arranging these classics. I hope they come back to New York soon! It was also great to see Roger Waters share the stage with them. I got to hear so many songs I would've never expected to hear unless they were being performed by a tribute band.
Nick puts on a great show, but don't expect a Pink Floyd retrospective. He plays some of the songs you know and love, but delves into an unrecorded/released library and drums/space like jams pretty quickly. Band is tight and you can tell they enjoy playing together. Older crowd, show starts on time. A must-see if you are a huge fan, but a pass if you're really just a Floyd fan.
This was one of the best concerts that I’ve ever been to. Nick did such a good job taking us back in time to the psychedelic roots of Pink Floyd music. Starting with all the sound affects and weird noises that are so familiar to all Pink Floyd fans and continuing to transform us back in time to the summer of love. I never imagined that I would get to experience (live) the wonders of Green is the colour, childhoods end and obscured by clouds! I feel extremely privileged to have been in the audience to Remember the Day and relive the intense and powerful time in our music history. The sound was good, the venue was beautiful and the show was outstanding! I am considering a road trip to ‘do it again!”
Perfect simpler stage to highlight the spectacular music and performance that transcend time and space. Don't miss a chance to see Nick Mason.
The music was awesome. Great stuff from the pre dark side of the moon era, with songs from Umagumma, Meddle, Saucerful of Secrets, etc. It was a thrill hearing that original great music live again! This music was also amazing on head phones because of the special musical effects. That being said, i remember back-in-the day, when the 360 degree sound enhanced the special effects of this music to make it a very special concert experience. That's the only suggestion I would make, to bring back some of those special musical effects that made the live music such a memorable experience.
Loved every second of it. An absolutely amazing show. Heard songs I never in my wildest dreams thought I'd ever hear live. Got to see a once in a lifetime thing when Roger Waters showed up to sing & play a song with the band. The Beacon Theatre is an amazing place to see a show. So small & intimate you feel like you're right on top of the band. The acoustics are great too. Wish he had played a third night at the Beacon.
Awesome show that was topped off by Roger Waters coming out for Set the controls
Throughly enjoyable to go back in time with one of the pillars of my (musical) youth. Recalled much more than I thought I would
The music was too loud you could barely hear their voices. I’m not sure if it was the venue or their sound people. Other than that I love the show it was the older music I wanted to hear.
Unfortunately we went to the one where Roger Waters wasn't, so there's that... Amazing anyway!
Never dreamed I'd get a chance to hear older Floyd music, especially so much by Syd-See Emily Play, Lucifer Sam, Bike, etc. Plus Point Me The Sky and so many others. A real psychedelic experience that only got more exciting when Roger Waters walked out on the stage to sing an extended Set The Controls to the Heart of the Sun. The band was great and the atmosphere was incredible at the Beacon Theater.I could have listened till dawn. And it was so respectful to keep Syd's music alive. Please come again soon, Nick.
Nick Mason keeps the early Floyd sound alive, with a terrific setlist and a great band. A lot of songs I did not expect to hear live, and a well crafted band. I enjoyed the concert way more than I imagined, and it was amazing to hear how important is the drums style for the early Pink Floyd. If you like Pink Floyd, this is a concert you must see!
I never thought I’d have a chance to hear this material live but this show was amazing! They get huge sound from just 5 players and Nick is stellar both a composer and a performer. Beautiful tribute to Syd!
