LIVE: Australian Pink Floyd - Cardiff CIA - 22nd April 2010
Sunday, 25 April 2010
Written by Jon Stickler
“Better than the real thing” was one comment among the many overheard during the interval at Cardiff’s CIA on Thursday night. Quite an over-statement maybe but considering these guys are described as one of the best tribute acts on the planet, it could be forgiven this one time, because seriously, close your eyes and you’re there at a genuine Floyd gig.
For me, I had mixed feelings preceding this show. Having read a lot about Australian Pink Floyd, I knew we were all going to be in for a spectacular show, an assault on all of the senses. On the flip side though, I wasn’t fully convinced that a cover band could re-create the full experience that a band such as Pink Floyd can give. My doubts soon disappeared when the band took to the stage.
Plunged into darkness the anticipation is raised with the eerie thumping heartbeat of ‘Speak To Me’ from 1973 album ‘Darkside Of The Moon’. Waiting for the first opening bars and the thoughts of ‘lets see how good these guys really are’ in my head, we’re straight into ‘Breathe’ and the likeness is sensational.
Starting their UK tour in Cardiff the band sound great, pretty much like listening to the albums themselves. Also, as with Pink Floyd, the guys on stage don’t really do much except play their music really really well. There seems to be very little interaction between the musicians and towards the crowd as the band let the music and effects do the talking.
In addition to the effects, we’re drawn to a massive circular video screen placed as a backdrop to the stage above the band where the music is played out to some surreal and trippy, aussie-roots animations. With the stage set-up similar to that of the real Floyd, I was totally engrossed while a superb rendition of ‘Shine On You Crazy Diamond’ is belted out with incredible passion from the swirling mass of colour on the stage.
Steve Mac’s ‘Gilmour’ guitar is exceptional too and the ‘Waters’ vocals from Ian Catrell are perfectly matched. We’re even treated to the stunning vocals from ‘Great Gig In The Sky’ from a backing singer who recieves a thunderous applause after her performance.
We’re given renditions of most of the hits from a select few albums, songs such as ‘Time’, ‘Take It Back’, ‘Pigs’ and ‘Sheep’ are all given the cover treatment. I’m starting to wonder how I could ever doubt this band. A band which following the gig I read that are one of the best tribute acts in the world. Even having the thumbs up from David Gilmour himself.
An hour passes by and its hard to believe that I’m still in the International Arena after experiencing the euphoric sounds, amazing smoke and laser effects as well as the mind-bending, sometimes scary trip through the giant video screen. After a twenty-minute interval we’re back amongst the sea of seated people wondering what album we’re having next. The band seemed to structure the gig by playing a few tracks from a selected few albums.
What stole the night for me were the two performances of ‘Wish You Were Here’ and ‘Us And Them’, beautiful, totally captivating the audience with footage of the members of Pink Floyd on the big screen. It truly was a hair on the back of your neck moment.
Entering the last few songs of the show, the audience come to life as ‘Comfortably Numb’ screams around the arena, including a spine-tingling guitar solo. Playing an hour of outstanding covers each side of the interval this is the probably the only opportunity fans will get to see such songs performed like this. The sad loss of Richard Wright in 2008 pretty much ensuring that Pink Floyd will never reform.
The band thanks the crowd, one of the very few moments where we hear the guys speak, and exit to a thoroughly deserved standing ovation. An encore of ‘Run Like Hell’ is belted out to sign-off a brilliant night.
It is no wonder these guys have played to millions of fans over the world. An incredible show and thoroughly deserved of being labelled as the best tribute act in the world.
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