Review: David Gilmour’s Live LP, ‘Luck And Strange Concerts’ – A Stunning Master Class In Lead Guitar

David Gilmour, erstwhile guitarist/vocalist for the legendary band Pink Floyd, has released a new live album culled from the brief tour (21 dates) he did in support of his latest solo album, Luck And Strange. There is also a film, IMAX I believe, to go along with it but as usual for B&V purposes I’m only interested in the audio version. Coincidentally, his old bandmate and arch nemesis Roger Waters (bass/vocals) has also released a film and live album from his latest tour (which has stretched on for a few years now). Maybe because I listened to the Waters’ live album and was left unimpressed, I had low expectations for David’s competing live album. Those guys don’t get along very well, but it’s amazing how similar their solo careers have been. Over the forty some years since they finally went their separate ways, they’ve both only put out a handful of solo records. And now, at the exact same time, they’ve released concert films and soundtrack live albums to go along with it. Maybe they’re competing or maybe they just share similar instincts, I don’t know? Having spent some time with The Luck And Strange Concerts, I have to say, in a year where we’ve had a number of great live albums from Sting to the Pretenders to Sammy Hagar, this may be the live album of 2025 (Well, that’s not from the vaults). And you know how much we love live albums around here – whether double-live or single-live. Gilmour puts on what amounts to a two hour and 16 minute Ted Talk on how the lead guitar should be played. It’s sublime.  His guitar playing here can only be described as majestic. I am frankly surprised how much I loved this record.

I believe the concert film is Live At the Circus Maximus in Rome. I don’t know if this live album is strictly from that show, but the title would imply the performances were taken from several different shows. He only played New York, Los Angeles, Rome, London and Brighton. I wish I’d been lucky enough to see this but I live in “flyover country.” Gilmour has said this is the best band he’s ever played with. He’s joined by Guy Pratt (bass), Greg Phillinganes (keyboards) who used to play with Clapton, Rob Gentry (keyboards), Ben Worsley (guitar), Adam Betts (drums), with Romany Gilmour (his daughter), Louise Marshall, and the Webb Sisters (Hattie & Charley, who were with Tom Petty on his final tour) on backing vocals. I will say, most of the band sing backing vocals and a few different players sing the Waters counterpart on different Pink Floyd tracks but this is the best sounding vocals of any Pink Floyd-related solo live record I’ve heard. I would never compare Floyd to CSNY, but the three principles all sang, only drummer Nick Mason didn’t. My favorite tracks from Pink Floyd, are when Waters and Gilmour both sang, like on “Comfortably Numb,” the same way I always liked Who songs where both Townshend and Daltrey take turns at the mic. Gilmour’s lead vocals have gotten a little deeper and gruffer but he still has a whiskey-like smoothness to his singing. And I’m not sure which keyboard player is on piano, but whoever it was (I suspect it’s Phillinganes) deserves kudos for superb work.

The two supreme bands in the early to mid-70s were Pink Floyd and Led Zeppelin. If you weren’t into those bands, you simply were not cool. Zeppelin came on like a blitzkrieg. Jimmy Page and John Bonham were here to melt your face off. Pink Floyd rocked with a vengeance but they were a little more cerebral. They were going to grab the frontal lobes of your brain and elevate it into the air… maybe flip it upside down. I assume most of the guys who were older than I was in high school were all smoking pot, but I can guarantee most of the pot smokers were listening to Floyd. Much of what you hear on this album is a little laid back, but it rocks with a simmering intensity, like Floyd. It’s not mellow by any stretch of the imagination. I love the song selection here. While Waters relies heavily on Floyd tunes for his show (only a small number of his solo tracks make the setlist), Gilmour divides it pretty evenly between his solo stuff (especially between Luck And Strange and Rattle That Lock, his most recent discs) and Floyd material. I am also pleased that he plays a number of tracks from the post-Waters Floyd albums A Momentary Lapse Of Reason and The Division Bell. Although I know there are Floyd purists who think of those albums as nothing more than glorified Gilmour solo stuff in disguise. Purists… sigh.

The album starts off with a couple of instrumentals, “5 A.M.” and “Black Cat,” and I’ll admit I could just sit and listen to Gilmour play guitar all day. After a rousing version of “Luck And Strange,” we get our first taste of Floyd with the Dark Side Of The Moon tracks “Breathe” and “Time.” The Luck And Strange tunes really come alive in a concert setting, especially “The Piper’s Call.” Gilmour then goes all the way back to Atom Heart Mother for “Fat Old Sun,” which I did not remember and I suspect thrilled my old roommate Drew. Gilmour seems more willing to play those pre-Dark Side tunes than Waters. Alas, no “Arnold Layne” this time out. Gilmour then plays the instrumental “Marooned” from The Division Bell, and it’s one of my all time favorites. The guitar is so plaintive and sad. Gilmour’s playing is so distinctive – I don’t care if he’s playing on a song by Kate Bush, Pete Townshend or Paul McCartney – you know it’s him. I think “Marooned” won a grammy. It’s a true highlight.

Other highlights include the title track from 1975‘s Wish You Were Here. “Wish You Were Here” may be my favorite Pink Floyd song (and album for that matter). After the instrumental “Vita Brevis,” which features his daughter Romany on harp, she takes lead vocals on “Between Two Points,” as she did on Luck And Strange. She’s not bad – I dig female lead singers, I just posted on both Chrissie Hynde and Patti Smith – but I could see skipping this track were it not for Gilmour’s guitar solo. To me, the emotional heart of this album are the two tracks that come in just under 10 minutes and just over ten minutes. “High Hopes” from The Division Bell is a stunner. We get a little guitar/piano coda that’s perfect. The next track is the epic rocker “Sorrow” from Momentary Lapse. It’s always been one of my favorite riffs and Gilmour turns it up to 11 here. He plays the solo like he’s mad at the guitar. It’s just spectacular. It’s one of those underrated amazing Floyd tunes.

“In Any Tongue,” from Rattle That Lock, is probably my favorite Gilmour solo track. It’s an anti-war track about the damage done by warfare and when he sings, “I hear “Mama” sounds the same in any tongue,” if it doesn’t grab you there’s something wrong with you. All the back up singers take on “The Great Gig In The Sky,” which is great. There’s a great tribute section to Rick Wright, Pink Floyd keyboard player and close Gilmour friend, with “A Boat Lies Waiting,” (written about Wright) and then “Coming Back To Life,” which was originally sung by Wright on The Division Bell. “Dark And Velvet Nights” is another highlight. And of course, Gilmour ends with his signature guitar solo on “Comfortably Numb.” This may be the best live version of the song I’ve heard since Waters and Gilmour split. It’s always the perfect ender.

This is a great live album, not only for Floyd/Gilmour fans but fans of electric guitar and rock n roll. It’s a shame this tour was a limited engagement but Gilmour has reached a stage of his career where he’s no longer chasing fame or fortune, he’s already attained all that. He’s playing for the sheer joy of playing. That comes through on his guitar. I have to say, he might be right about this being the best backing band he’s ever had. This one surprised me but it’s a must have for all you rock n rollers out there. Of course, we always had a saying back in high school, “Never trust a chick who likes Pink Floyd,” they’d likely break your heart. So you might listen to this while your wife is at the market.

We’re clearly creeping up on the holidays, as there is a glut of great new stuff coming out for your Xmas stockings… I’m trying to keep up but with stuff like The Luck And Strange Concerts, I may be lingering over certain rock n roll for a bit…

Cheers!