Roger Waters’ superpower is the ability to open difficult conversations through his music, and he knows it. The former Pink Floyd mastermind’s catalog is so wholly beloved by rock fans of all ideologies that many will tolerate disagreement with the outspoken artist’s longstanding views on human rights, fascism, Israel’s Palestine policies, and war rather than miss a chance to hear evergreens like “Another Brick in the Wall, Part 2” performed by their author. Tuesday’s concert at United Center began with a wry, pre-recorded caveat: “If you’re one of those ‘I love Pink Floyd, but I can’t stand Roger’s politics’ people, you might do well to f- - - off to the bar.”
Waters’ “This Is Not a Drill” tour arrived two years following a planned but pandemic-delayed 2020 date. The ambitious presentation was fractionally less caustic than 2017’s “Us + Them” concerts, omitting the polarizing image of Donald Trump affixed to Pink Floyd’s famous inflatable pig prop. Waters’ new show was nonetheless pointed. Circling the arena Tuesday evening during “In the Flesh?,” the pig was freshly emblazoned with the cheeky anti-establishment message, “Steal from the poor. Give to the rich.”
