Recently we’ve been trying to only book gigs in London that are at the weekend because travel is complicated. Marylebone seems to be the only major London terminal that does not have good tube links meaning the journey to/from any venue is more complicated. However, it seemed this time was going to be complicated and we may not be able to get home. After much deliberation including whether we should drive we settled on letting the train take the strain and then getting a bus. Luckily, we’d found the #27 stopped very close to the Roundhouse and there would be one back again.

Arriving in Marylebone it was fortunate we’d decided to travel by bus rather than walk, which was possible via Regents Park, as the weather was very poor for May. The bus dropped us at it’s terminus next to the Roundhouse and we went in search of food. That fabled Portuguese chicken emporium had an outlet over the road, so we went there and were lucky enough to get a table straight away. Contrary to our last visit to this chain, service was quick despite it being very busy although we had to forgo the chicken breast as it would take a further 20 minutes (must’ve been a rush on!). We noticed others there that were also going to the gig and even 4 of the sound crew turned up. I recognised them, not personally, from their t-shirts as I work for an audio console manufacturer once owned by Peter Gabriel!

The queue to get in was quite large and the touts were wandering up and down seemingly selling tickets, but I couldn’t be sure. Behind us in the queue was a lady who wanted a ticket for her friend, but they kept telling her they’d make sure they were in by 9pm. Funny that, I thought, I think you are selling tickets so why keep them waiting? Trying to get the most money? Also, according to the website, the main act was due on at 8:30pm. We left her fretting as we entered the doors to be greeted by security. I whipped out my “no scanners” card which, to his credit, he did actually read and said I’d have to be frisked by his mate. His mate, after asking why, gave me a pat and let me through as, clearly, I pose no threat 😊

The roundhouse is an interesting venue being an old railway turntable that fell out of use when the trains got too big. Inside is still the old steel work although the turntable has gone, now that would’ve been fun it spinning round as the band played. After getting refreshments we positioned ourselves in the middle for the first band. However, we soon realised the timings were going to be off and that the touts must’ve had inside knowledge which also made our journey home tight.

McNally Waters

Eventually McNally Waters came on at 8pm and played their first song after which we were introduced to the band by Larry McNally. I’ve since looked them up and it seems they’re really a 2-piece band comprising Larry on vocals and guitar with Harry Waters on piano and it further transpires that Harry is Roger Water’s son which I suppose is the connection here and possibly why they’re on the bill. The blurb I read is very complimentary and I’m sure accurate, but I just didn’t enjoy it. At times it seemed to be forced, a bit chaotic and what on earth the drum solo was for I’ve no idea except to be filler. One song in particular was way out of key and grating to the ear. However, when Larry introduced a song inspired by New Orleans and sort of bluesy jazz, they sounded pretty good as it seemed to suit their styles well.  Overall though not for me.

My Review Score: 4

During the interval we acquired more refreshments and decided that we needed to be nearer the back to make a quick exit to get the bus for the last train home. We ended up behind the mixing desk but still had a pretty good view and, as a bonus, there was a TV monitor we could watch. This was because the show was being recorded by several camera’s positioned around the stage. The one we were closest too was trained on the drums!

Nick Mason’s Saucerful of Secrets

There was a general rustle in the crowd and the lights dimmed heralding the arrival on stage of Nick and his band. They immediately began the show with “Interstellar Overdrive” from Pink Floyds first album “The Piper at the Gates of Dawn”. This sets the tone for the evening both in terms of music and show. From the start the show echoes that of Pink Floyds heady early days, colourful, mesmeric and otherworldly. You could be forgiven in believing in Time Travel as we’re transported back to the late ‘60’s/early 70’s both visually and aurally. This first song is a lengthy instrumental introduction and the crowd is swaying mesmerised. I immediately notice a difference to most other gigs I go to in that you can clearly see, even from where we stood, the enthusiasm for the music and performance from all the band members. When the band enjoy what they’re doing it elevates the music, infuses it with an energy that is infectious, and we all catch it.

They transition almost seamlessly into “Astronomy Domine” and one of my favourite early Floyd tracks. Perhaps this is because of it’s Gregorian Chant like lyrics sung by the 3 guitarists, the word “Domine” often used in such chants. The piece builds from the bass introduction with drums joining and driving it forward as the guitars rise in prominence. If anything, I believe there’s more drum line in this version after all wasn’t a lot of early Floyd improvisation and interpretation around a central theme. By now I’ve noticed that the camera is trained on Nick and I can see his playing “up close” and it’s effortless despite his admission in interviews that revisiting these pieces he’d found how intricate and tricky they are to play.

If I have one niggle it’s that when Nick gets up from the drums to address us, we can barely hear him. However, that’s a minor thing compared to the superb music being played for us.

As with their other gig’s I’ve attended they don’t play anything from 1973 or later, that’s from “Dark Side of the Moon” and later. That’s not what they are about. What they do play though are some more obscure songs and those tracks less played, or not at all, during Pink Floyd tours of the past.

The crowd is distinctly older and that is a shame as this is superlative music that the younger generation would enjoy. Also, there are some that seem to have come just to talk! During one of the quieter moments their voices impinged on my ears. I’ll never understand why people come to a gig just to chat and not enjoy the music. A chap next to me had the same understanding and we found cupping our ears helped to drown them out.

During the show there’s a raft of Syd Barrett penned songs that sound as innocent now as they did then. Although when played live they take on a different life, one fuller of sound and colour that pack a surprisingly lively punch. “Arnold Lane” being an example of this which has many around me singing along and I wonder if they know what the subject matter is, but they probably do. This was followed by the obscure “Vegetable Man” which had the guy in front scratching his head, asking his partner who asked someone else and so on until they all shook their heads.

Roughly in the middle they gave us an abbreviated version of “Atom Heart Mother” which, in this superb venue, was a roaring surprise full of raw emotion beginning with all 3 guitarists surrounding Nick as a pack surrounds its leader. The transitions between parts are effortlessly negotiated giving a new feeling to the song. It sounded a little raucous and whilst the crowd was swaying and dancing along with a touch more oomph you could imagine a mosh pit developing.

From Nicks most favourite Floyd album and the one his band is named after, “Saucerful of Secrets”, comes “Set the Controls for the Heart of the Sun” possibly the only song that featured the 5 members of Pink Floyd. This is definitely otherworldly and always reminds me of a scene in “The Hitchhikers Guide to the Galaxy” where the “loudest band in the Galaxy, Disaster Area” crash a spaceship into a local star. It is unsurprising then to learn that Douglas Adams based “Disaster Area” on Pink Floyd and the TV scene was a reference to Floyd’s extravagant shows and specifically “Set the Controls…”. As the song reaches its climax, I can visualise that spaceship crashing into the star causing a supernova of light and sound.

Throughout the night Nick and Guy share anecdotes about playing with Pink Floyd all of which are reminiscences and affectionate musings from the “we ran out of Sid” explanation of why “Vegetable Man” was unfinished to the poignant “written by my son’s grandfather” introduction to “Remember A Day”. Oh and Nick mentioned his recent visit to a near by Palace to pick up a different type of gong.

As the journey continues through the more obscure and well-loved early music, we are treated to enthusiastic versions of more Syd Barrett songs in “See Emily Play” and “Bike”. I like “Bike” for its seemingly simple theme and almost childlike lyrics and yet it segues into one of the more visceral songs Pink Floyd, in my opinion, produced “One of These Days”.

The opening of “One of These Days” is met with whoops and shouts from the crowd and if there was any moshing this was going to be it. The song, a dig at Sir Jimmy Young, features the only vocal appearance from Nick as he intones “one of these days I’m going to cut you into little pieces”. Its loud, vibrant, raucous with an undertone of violence as we’re swept along by a thundering bass line and the screeching banshee howl of guitar. It’s this blistering performance that brings the set to a close to huge cheers and applause.

Of course, that isn’t it as the band re-emerge to begin the encore with their namesake “Saucerful Of Secrets” with it’s slow existential build up for which the sound engineer is earning his money keeping up with. Nick comes in with the drums providing a solid base for the chromatic noise to blend into before the unmistakable notes of Rick Wrights keyboards rise like a phoenix from the mix expertly played by Dom. All settles down from this “experimental” beginning into the celestial voices part which sends a shiver down the spine.

They conclude with a “lost” single “Point Me at The Sky” a very rare recording until it’s renaissance in 2016 with its inclusion in the “Early Years” box set and of course now played live by Nicks band. It’s a good song to end on as the lyrics contain “Goodbye” and as we’re enjoying the finale with the band all singing “Goodbye” we know it’s the end of the night.

As they gather at the front to bow again and we applaud my partner and I make for the exit along with many others to beat the rush. We manage to get the bus and last train home.

This is the third time I’ve seen Saucerful Of Secrets and they’ve got better each time not that the first was shabby by any means. They’re still smiling and laughing they way through like children in a sweet shop and it means we all had fun as well. This is what music is about to me an I feel uplifted and energised.

If they tour again go and see them, it is well worth it and if not then watch out for the DVD.

My Review Score: 10