Hailed as “The World's Greatest Pink Floyd Show” Brit Floyd kicked off the first night of their tour with its publicity describing it as “Its most ambitious and best production yet”. It was a very special 40th Anniversary retrospective performance of progressive rock group Pink Floyd's iconic rock opera, 'The Wall'. Released in November 1979, a semi-autobiographical concept album from the mind of Pink Floyd founding member Roger Waters. The Wall remains one of the biggest selling albums of all time, and an important moment in Rock music history. As well as performing a host of musical highlights from The Wall, Brit Floyd performed classic gems from The Dark Side Of The Moon, Wish You Were Here, Animals and The Division Bell. Faithfully recreating the scale and pomp of the final 1994 Division Bell tour, complete with a stunning light show, large circle screen and arch plus moving lights, lasers, an inflatable pig and theatrics.
Without an introduction the performance started dramatically with a sound and light show which replicated the experience and magnificence of a live Pink Floyd show. Searchlights lit up the arena to the sound of a pounding drum beat and a brilliant guitar solo from Damian Darlington, lead guitarist and Musical Director.
The brilliant “Mother” (The Wall, 1979) followed telling the story of Pink, an embittered and alienated rock star. As told through the song "Mother", part of Pink's sense of alienation comes from being raised by an over-protective single mother, who’s become paranoid and delusional from the loss of her husband in World War II. Brilliant animation videos by Gerald Scarfe were depicted on the back drop as Brit Floyd performed, which added to the suspense and enjoyment.
“Time” (Dark Side Of The Moon, 1973) followed accompanied by the dazzling chiming clocks video. “Time” kicks off with a cacophony of clocks but then shifts into a two-minute drum solo which was greatly appreciated by the audience. Next came “The Great Gig In The Sky” (Dark Side Of The Moon, 1973) otherwise recognised as “Woman Screaming Song” performed superbly by Eva Avila (backing vocals) which brought the house down with rapturous applause at the end and a standing ovation supplemented with whistling and clapping. “Sheep” (Animals, 1977) followed which is the final segment of the dense, monolithic Animals and the third component of Waters’ bleak Orwellian concept, where he callously divides up the human race into dogs, pigs and sheep.
Psychedelic images on the backdrop screens added to the atmosphere and excitement in the arena as Brit Floyd’s lead guitarist's haunting vocal electronic noises filled the arena giving way to a saxophone solo before a short break which was preceded by Damien Darlington’s first acknowledgement of the audience with a brief “Good Evening and Welcome to the first night of our tour celebrating 40 years of The Wall album”.
The second half opened accompanied by retro footage from film clips on the backdrop screen and commenced with “Young Lust” (The Wall, 1979), followed by the popular “Shine On You Crazy Diamond” (Wish You Were Here, 1975). “Shine on You Crazy Diamond” opens with the white noise of an AM radio, its signal eventually settling on a lonely guitar track that sounds as if it’s reaching out across the void. Deliberately written as a final tribute to the fallen Syd Barrett, “Shine On You Crazy Diamond” sums up the influence and importance Barrett had on the Pink Floyd members’ musical vision mourned by Waters of the mental breakdown of his long-time friend and creative hero Syd Barrett, a breakdown that daunted the band as they tried to find their sound without him, then haunted them after they reached superstardom. Damien Darlington once again stole the show with his guitar solo and achieved the loudest response of the night by a captivated audience.
The next track “Hey You” (The Wall, 1979) was delivered whilst showing the poignant “The Wall” video which 40 years later still has a mystical and eerie charm to it and showcased Brit Floyd’s killer guitar solo. One can easily forget that Pink Floyd have their roots in blues music, in fact their name is derived from not one but two blues musicians, Pink Anderson and Floyd Council and a tender ballad like “Hey You” is a pleasant reminder of this fact.
Next came one of my favourites, “Comfortably Numb” (The Wall, 1979). Die hard fans of Pink Floyd not only think this is the greatest song by Pink Floyd, but hail it as one of the greatest songs of all time. Why, though? A quick and easy reason is Gilmour’s solo, which has been rightfully lauded by just about every publication that has ever written about guitars and Damien Darlington did it commendable justice and received a standing, clapping ovation.
Of course as the show came to an end, fans wouldn’t let Brit Floyd off the stage and they repaid them with a commendable encore of four more songs accompanied by theatrics.
The Brit Floyd show is widely regarded as the world's greatest live tribute to Pink Floyd and their show really is as close as fans will get to experiencing Pink Floyd songs at their best as they are transported through an articulate, emotional journey from Pink Floyd's progressive rock catalogue of work.
Brit Floyd are a multi-talented collection of musicians and performers incorporating talents on guitars, a lap steel, keyboards, drums, saxophones, percussions and vocals and do Pink Floyd the theatrical justice they deserve. The show is a must for Pink Floyd fans and witnessing fans of 70 years plus dancing in the arena was the icing on the cake.
Reviewer - Anne Pritchard
on - 28/2/19
Nice review. This band is indeed excellent.
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