By: William Clark
Earlier this month, world renowned tribute band, Australian Pink Floyd, took The King Center in Melbourne, Florida, by storm with a mesmerizing array of visual techniques and dead-on talent that left every attendee wondering if they had actually witnessed the real thing.
Performing a masterful playlist of Pink Floyd’s greatest hits and deepest tracks, the members of Australian Pink Floyd left no musical stone unturned throughout their powerful three hour performance.
Immediately after the lights dimmed, the entire theater was drowned in stunning laser lights, psychedelia, and the enthusiastic roars of every attending Pink Floyd diehard when the first instantly recognizable chords to “In The Flesh?” hit their ears.
While a series of political images were beamed upon the center stage, lead vocalist, Alex McNamara, gave a spine chillingly accurate Roger Walters impersonation that left every audience member completely stunned.
“So ya’, thought ya’, might like to, go to the show”, Alex proclaimed to the crowd, while the perfectionistic playing styles of Steve Mac and David Fowler matched the original recording of Pink Floyd, note-for-note.
Australian Pink Floyd would then shift into such classics as “Set The Controls For The Heart Of The Sun” off of Pink Floyd’s Saucerful of Secrets record, and Dark Side Of The Moon’s “Shine On You Crazy Diamond”, which proudly showcased the sensuality and the melodious strength of the band’s backup vocal section.
The angelic harmonies of Emily Lynn, Lara Similes, and original Pink Floyd touring member Lorelei McBroom added incredible amounts of depth and power to each song in the set, and even brought the entire crowd to their feet after each one of the incredibly gifted vocalists gave a riveting solo mid-set.
Throughout the entire concert I was struck by the realization that every participant seemed immersed in a momentous event, one that moves you to the core in a way that only a Floydian would understand!
The members of Australian Pink Floyd made sure to keep the entire audience completely engaged throughout their electrifying performance, between their spotless musical execution to the magnificent stage show.
One highlight of the night was the band’s powerful rendition of “Another Brick In The Wall (Part 2)”, which started off with the stage lights dual purposing, as helicopter spotlights fanned across the crowd. Then the scene was overloaded with an array of spectacular laser lights and a sinister 100-foot “teacher” who towered over the entire audience, literally bringing this classic song to life!
Near the end of their set, Australian Pink Floyd gave a touching tribute to the original band during the encore, “Wish You Were Here”, which featured pictures of Pink Floyd’s members back in the ’70s, as well as their momentary reunion during one of Roger Waters’ recent The Wall concerts in Berlin.
After the band had finished their incredible performance and started to pack up and leave the stage, we all stood up and gave a wall shaking standing ovation, which only grew stronger until Australian Pink Floyd returned to the stage for just one more mind blowing song, which just happened to be one of my many personal favorites, “Run Like Hell”, off of The Wall.
Australian Pink Floyd proved that night to be one of those acts you just have to see to believe. When they roll in to your town, make sure you go and get “Exposed In The Light”, something that happens to all audience members when they experience the world’s greatest Pink Floyd tribute band.
GALLERY
