Ian Waller enjoys an evening of Pink Floyd nostalgia at the Komedia, Bath
With more and more of the great rock and pop bands destined never to tour again, with the ticket prices for the remaining few often way too expensive for many fans, it’s left to the ever-growing band of tribute acts to fill the gaping holes that are left. The latest of these to make its way to Bath was The Darkside of Pink Floyd, who visited Komedia last week with their covers of later-era Floyd classics.
Komedia is a great venue for music and comedy, and over the years I’ve seen so many excellent bands here, including a fair collection of tribute acts, and I’m glad to say that most have been really impressive. The good news here is that The Darkside Of Pink Floyd kept that momentum rolling on, with a performance full of great songs and top drawer musicianship.
Of course, the gig started with Shine On You Crazy Diamond, Floyd’s traditional opener and a tribute to the band’s founder Syd Barrett, and immediately it was evident that this was an impressive homage to one of the world’s greatest bands. Lead guitar and vocalist, Mike, is clearly a Floyd fanatic, mimicking the style and techniques of the great Dave Gilmore to impressive effect. Yes, the voice is inevitably different and no of course it wasn’t a pin-point perfection copy of the great man’s playing, but then how could it be? What it certainly was hugely enjoyable and just about as close as you’re going to get to Gilmore without having the man himself on stage.
Throughout the rest of the band were excellent. This wasn’t an act that takes on each of their roles to be as close a copy of the originals as possible, but even so, the drums and saxophonist in particular were particularly impressive, with the backing singers also handling their parts with aplomb.
And to add to the whole atmosphere, from the start, the full band and backing singers are supported by a light show and video imagery to make the aura of a Floyd show that little more realistic.
With Mike explaining that the gig would cover Floyd tracks right up to their later offerings, the enthusiastic audience were treated to album tracks including High Hopes from Division Bell, Run Like Hell and of course We Don’t Need No Education from The Wall and of course Wish You Were Here from the album of the same name. With the exception of the last of these, which just didn’t work with only one guitar and the keys taking on the second role, each was superb… no, clearly not absolute Floyd but really well performed and adapted versions that had the audience gripped and singing along.
Special comments have to go to the backing musicians Chris – who combined his singing roles with taking on the role of the skeletal teacher from The Wall, as well as various other parts.
Of course, just as all later Pink Floyd gigs started with Crazy Diamond, so they must end with classic Comfortably Numb and with it, that stunning guitar solo on which all cover versions will be compared and judged. And top marks to Darkside, it was a fitting end to a hugely enjoyable night out for the largely middle aged crowd at Komedia.
For details of upcoming gigs at Komedia in Bath, click here.