PHOTOS: Australia does Pink Floyd

In the midst of a world tour that has them covering North America and Europe, The Australian Pink Floyd (TAPF) dropped into The Silver Legacy’s Grande Exposition Hall and put on an amazingly accurate show. By any measure, it was a spot–on replication of Pink Floyd’s own performances. It was as clean and powerful as any other I’ve seen and heard. To pull off such a show you not only have to have the musical chops to do it, you have to have the stage show to support it.

TAPF’s visual show included all the lighting you could expect from a ‘Floyd’ show including multiple lasers, overhead lighting, backlighting, spotlights, and floodlights showering down dramatically on players as they soloed. Although their arsenal of visual delights included multiple blow-up characters (circa, “The Wall”), and the obligatory large round screen, these props were too big for the room, but they were hardly missed.

Not enough can be said about the skills of the musicians. The guitar and keyboard sounds of David Gilmour and Rick Wright were faithfully executed, as were Roger Waters’ bass and the drums of Nick Mason. They even have three lovely and talented backup singers belting it out and swaying to and fro, just like the real thing, and they each had their moment to shine on “The Great Gig In The Sky.”

Midway through the show during “Money” we were treated to a light hearted presentation of a saxophone solo by Mike Kidson decked out in fancy garb and gyrating about while knocking out the solo on his pink sax.

There was no shortage of enthusiasm in the audience. Dancing, screaming, arm waving, picture taking… it was all in great supply. Pink Floyd has had such a huge impact on the world of music that their fans are still filling theaters and arena’s to experience their music as performed by a handful of incredibly talented tribute bands from around the world. Within the space of only a couple months Reno has been blessed with Brit Floyd, TAPF, and coming very soon, our very own local heroes, The Floyd will be performing locally.

These tribute bands, and others like them give an opportunity for new audiences to experience what it’s like to be at a Pink Floyd show. I’ve been to multiple Pink Floyd and Roger Waters’ shows, and I can attest to their quality and value. I see a wave of new tribute acts being born to support legacies of other worthy performers and bands that are no longer an option to see in the flesh, and I believe that’s a good thing.

But, prerecorded holographic performances of artists who have passed on? I don’t know about that one!

THE BAND

Steve Mac – Guitar, Vocals
Jason Sawford – Keyboards
Paul Bonney – Drums
David Domminney Fowler – Guitar, Vocals
Ricky Howard – Bass, Vocals
Chris Barnes – Vocals
Lorelei McBroom – Vocals
Emily Lynn – Vocals
Lara Smiles – Vocals
Mike Kidson – Saxophone

SET LIST

Obscured By Clouds
In The Flesh
Another Brick In The Wall, Part 2
Wish You Were Here
The Great Gig In The Sky
Money
Shine On You Crazy Diamond
Learning To Fly
Time / Breath Reprise
One Of These Days
Run Like Hell

Comfortably Numb