The final set of Day 1 of Newport Folk Fest was brought home by Roger Waters, his first performance at the festival. As if getting to see Waters perform wasn’t enough, I got to see him backed by My Morning Jacket, as well as Lucius, Saturday Night Live band leader G.E. Smith, as well as guest appearances from Amy Helm, and Sara Watkins. Indeed it was larger than life, as a performance from a member of Pink Floyd should be.
It started to rain just as the set began, but even that couldn’t dampen everyones shared excitement about the historic moment that was set to unfold in front of us. Waters delighted the crowd with Pink Floyd favorites, as well as solo cuts, such as the live debut of new song “Crystal Clear Brooks,” which Waters used to open the set. It was a thing of beauty, as well as somewhat odd, to see the members of My Morning Jacket playing alongside Waters, looking somewhat tame and in disbelief while they fleshed out covers of Pink Floyd with Waters himself. They handled it as well as you’d expect, serving as the ideal backing band of such an icon.
Waters paid his dues to the man who went electric in ’65, finishing with a cover of Bob Dylan’s “Forever Young.” It was a perfect finish to an unforgettable, once in a lifetime sort of performance that will go down in the history books.
Setlist:
1. Crystal Clear Brooks (live debut)
2. Mother (Pink Floyd)
3. The Bravery of Being Out of Range
4. Hello in There (John Prine Cover)
5. Wish You Were Here (Pink Floyd) (w/ Sara Watkins)
6. Wide River to Cross (Buddy Miller Cover) (w/ Amy Helm)
7. Amused to Death
8. Brain Damage (Pink Floyd)
9. Eclipse (Pink Floyd)
10. Forever Young (Bob Dylan Cover) (w/ Sara Watkins and Amy Helm)
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