Pink Floyd is at once one of the best bands I’ve ever seen in concert–A Momentary Lapse of Reason tour in St. Louis in the late 80’s (with tickets won in a college radio contest…a great night)–and the worst–when a Texas storm pummeled us in Rice Stadium and blew them off stage, abruptly stopping the open air show (plus car problems on the way home…a less than great night). Regardless of that drenched experience, they remain one of my favorite bands of all time, with so much fantastic, innovative music spanning decades. So, when a friend suggested we see Brit Floyd last week, I was ambivalent–sounded fun, but it’s hard to mimic greatness. It was my first time enjoying the relatively new Smart Financial Centre in Sugar Land, southwest of Houston, an excellent venue with excellent acoustics, even up in the Club level. Sure, it was quite a drive there and back from the Clear Lake area, but the show turned out to be well worth it. Calling Brit Floyd a Pink Floyd tribute band is like saying Disney World is an amusement park–technically true, but the experience is so much more.
Brit Floyd’s musicianship was top notch as they adeptly covered the best Floyd songs from the early 70’s through the mid 90’s, with the most focus on The Wall and The Dark Side of the Moon, of course. Perhaps more importantly, their vocals were just as great. Two frontmen, Damian Darlington & Ian Cattell, traded off songs, depending upon whether they wanted to sound more like Roger Waters or David Gilmore. They’re not exact matches for either, and that’s OK, as they both sing very well. A true highlight was the woman who belted out the female vocal solo in The Great Gig In The Sky…wow! In fact, all three female backup singers knocked it outta the park.
Brit Floyd’s stage production values might not match a real Pink Floyd show–nor should they–but still included very impressive and familiar theatrics and tech: lights, lasers, circular video screen above, glowing-eyed pig, and even some video and reenactment of The Wall scenes. Alternately entrancing and energizing, it was a high end rock show, visually as well as aurally.
Brit Floyd took the stage shortly after 8pm, exploded into The Wall with In the Flesh?, and left nearly 3 hours later, including a 20-minute intermission. Their choice to end with a slow, acoustic song was odd (I took that opportunity to beat the crowds to the restroom)…they should have ended on the earlier encore peak with the driving Run Like Hell. Regardless, if you get the chance and like Pink Floyd, definitely check out Brit Floyd, a top shelf “tribute band”.
Moonday 