This was my second Nick Mason experience, having previously seen Nick and his band Saucerful of Secrets at Newcastle City Hall a couple of years earlier. Nick is, of course, drummer of Pink Floyd fame, and has assembled a band of fine musicians to go out on the road and play a wonderful set of early Pink Floyd classic songs, many from the Syd Barrett era. This time the tour was entitled the Set the Controls Tour, indicating that the band had moved forward from the Syd Barrett era, from which they previously drew their repertoire.
“Nick Mason’s Saucerful of Secrets are an English rock band formed in 2018 to perform the early music of Pink Floyd. The band comprises Pink Floyd drummer and co-founder Nick Mason, bassist Guy Pratt, guitarists Gary Kemp and Lee Harris, and keyboardist Dom Beken. As many fans had discovered Pink Floyd with their bestselling 1973 album The Dark Side of the Moon, Mason wanted to bring their earlier material to a wider audience.” (From Wikipedia). Bassist Guy Pratt was a member of a later incarnation of Pink Floyd and Gary Karen was, of course, a founder member of 1980s band Spandau Ballet.
As before, the stage was set out with Nick Mason in the centre (very much the star of the show and the evening), surrounded by his band of musicians. Behind, and around them, was a very appropriate backdrop of psychedelic liquid lens images, setting the scene for an evening of early psychedelic rock.
The first half opened by taking us right back to the start with the classic guitar-based tune “Astronomy Domine”, one of my favourite early Pink Floyd tracks. We were then treated to more Syd Barrett era songs including my favourite “See Emily Play”. I loved that tune so much in the early 1970s when it was played constantly at Sunderland Locarno (with everyone running onto the dancefloor, except me, to do crazy hippy dances). “Remember a Day” is also a favourite song of mine.
The closing song of the first set was, as promised by the tour title “Set the Controls for the Heart of the Sun” a song written by Roger Waters, taking lyrics from a Chinese poetry book, and features a wonderful drum part by Nick Mason played with timpani mallets. “Set the Controls for the Heart of the Sun” is a standout track from A Saucerful of Secrets, the Floyd’s second studio album, released in1968. The mental health of Syd Barrett deteriorated during recording, so guitarist David Gilmour was recruited. Barrett left the band before the album’s completion.
During the interval I purchased a T-shirt and a pint of Guinness. Soon it was time for the second set which returned to Barrett era songs: “The Scarecrow” and “Lucifer Sam”. The concert ended with “Echoes” a lengthy haunting tune which comprises the entire second side from later period Floyd album Meddle.
But that is not the end. The audience gave the band a standing ovation and they return to play “One of These Days”, a throbbing, rhythmic classic song which opens the afore mentioned Meddle. The final song is the title track from A Saucerful of Secrets. Many of these songs feature the drums of Mason at the heart of their rhythmic structure.
So, we have been treated to a mix of early Pink Floyd music, performed by the drummer whose percussion, use of timpani and gongs lay at the heart of their rhythm.
Happy days. Many thanks to Jackie for the photographs and Chris for manipulating the site.
Setlist: Set One: Astronomy Domine; Arnold Layne; See Emily Play; Remember Me; Obscured by Clouds; When You’re In; Remember a Day; If; Atom Heart Mother; If (Reprise); The Nile Song; Set the Controls for the Heart of the Sun.
Set Two: The Scarecrow; Fearless; Childhood’s End; Lucifer Sam; Echoes.
Encore: One of These Days; A Saucerful of Secrets.
Vintagerock's Weblog. 
Posted by TerriersFan on August 11, 2024 at 4:06 pm
Another excellent review, thank you, Peter.
They really are a great band and are flying the flag for the early Floyd material.
Roger 🤘👍
Posted by vintagerock on August 11, 2024 at 4:14 pm
Hi Roger yes they are true to the early Pink Floyd legacy Peter
Posted by lawson1830 on August 11, 2024 at 7:00 pm
which I was there!
Posted by vintagerock on August 12, 2024 at 11:57 am
It was great! Best wishes Peter
Posted by Peter L on August 11, 2024 at 11:44 pm
Hi Pete, Hello again, I too was at this show, and I have to say I really enjoyed it. But can I ask you a question ?….were you seated in Box 1 East ?…I was in this box and I can remember a gentleman and his carer just about 3 seats away from me, I was more further towards the stage if that makes any sense. I had an empty seat next to me because my niece, once again, let me down at the last minute and decided not to go ! She did the same to me for The Residents at the Boiler Shop which I also know you attended. So was that you and your carer in Box 1 ?, of course I never gave it a thought at the time, but now, when I realise you were there, I’m putting 2 and 2 together. What a missed opportunity if it was you, I would really have liked to have a chat with you. I suppose now I have an idea of what you look like ( if it was you ), I can look out for you at future shows and venues and come and have a chat, I think you and me have a lot in common with gigs from the old days. Keep up the good work and keep gigging ! Kind Regards Pete Lambert.
Posted by vintagerock on August 12, 2024 at 11:53 am
Hi Peter
It won’t have been me in a box. I find them a little difficult to manoeuvre in my powered chair so I tend to sit right at the back of the hall. Yes we have a lot of common interests. Keep it up my friend Peter
Posted by John Johnstone on August 12, 2024 at 7:20 am
Hi Peter, I saw them in Manchester this time (last time was in Newcastle) and thought that they were excellent. The band seemed to be at the top of their game and it was wonderful to hear the early Pink Floyd songs again. I really hope they tour again.
Posted by vintagerock on August 12, 2024 at 11:48 am
Thanks John yes there are tremendous Peter
Posted by ciarant1step on August 22, 2024 at 10:05 am
Thanks for the super review. Unfortunately I’ve never seen Nick Mason’s Saucerful of Secrets, but I’d love to see them sometime. Great to be reminded of how good early Pink Floyd were.
Posted by vintagerock on August 22, 2024 at 11:06 am
Thanks Ciaran yes Nick does justice to those Pink Floyd classic songs Peter