Live Review – Echoes of Pink Floyd
The Gov – Saturday 10 December 2022
Words – Geoff Jenke
Photos – Robert McArthur
Local band and perhaps Australia’s best Pink Floyd tribute act, Echoes of pink Floyd, played the last of their 40-date trek around Australia at the Gov. It was a fitting homecoming with the Gov packed with obvious Pink Floyd fans, and judging by the age of many, they would have been at the 1988 Pink Floyd concert in Adelaide. I know, I was.
Being in a tribute band for such an iconic act is probably harder than it looks. You are playing to an audience who like the music, but are they fanatic Floyd fans who will criticize what you don’t play or are they just dark Side of the Moon casual fans who will criticize what you do play? I have to admit falling somewhere towards the first option.
Rule 1 from the Rule Book for Pink Floyd tribute bands is, you must commence the show with Shine on you Crazy Diamond, which the band always did in their later days. Starting with just five musicians on stage, all in black, the band did a faithful rendition of the song and it gave them the chance to slowly introduce other members of the band, also all in black, during the song, sax player, backing singer and vocalist Matt Goodluck. However, at the end of the long song, (it does go on a bit) I felt they could have played 2-3 other Floyd songs, or taken the bull by the other horn and did some of the song Echoes, instead of playing it safe.
First surprise for the night was the inclusion of Arnold Layne. Other Floyd tribute bands I have seen ignore anything pre–Dark Side of the Moon (except maybe One of These Days). This song bought a smile to my face.
Happiest Days of Our Lives/ Another Brick in the Wall bought a resounding big cheer from the faithful in the audience, as did Money, the first of the Dark Side of the Moon songs played this evening.
Rule 2 from the Pink Floyd Tribute Band Rule book is, do not play anything from the Animals album. Echoes broke this rule in set one with a stirring version of Pigs on a Wing, with the majority of the song only played with Matt on vocals and some great acoustic guitar playing from Mark Macnab. At one stage guitarist Daniel Hunter joined in with some magnificent electric guitar.
Have a Cigar was played under a single pink light for the majority of the song and the set finished in fine style with One of These Days.
Set two started with Breathe, Time and a sensational Great Gig in the Sky. When Pink Floyd went on the road, they had 3 girls to sing the “vocals” for the song, (originally done by Clare Torry on the album), tonight we had one girl and she was every bit as good as I have seen live with Floyd or Rogers Waters. Magnificent.
“Here’s one for all the hard-core fans” said Matt, introducing Set the Controls for the Heart of the Sun and judging by the response after playing the song, the band could take more chances and dig deeper into the Floyd catalogue in future.
Another highlight of the night was Pigs (Three Different Ones) from Animals. A true Floyd classic, done perfectly by the band. During the set Matt put on a pig mask, which is as far as any special effects went for the night. The light show was fantastic but there were no video’s projected behind them. The band let the music do the talking, so no complaints about lack of “effects”.
Wish You Were Here and the obligatory set closer (Rule 14?) Run Like Hell closed out an almost perfect set two.
The encore had to include Comfortably Numb, possibly the greatest rock song ever released, but the surprise was Brain Damage/Eclipse played before it in near perfection to the original. In fact it was so good, it should have closed the show as Comfortably Numb was found a little lacking after it. The dying heartbeat at the end of Eclipse would have just made the perfect ending to the show.
I have seen a few Pink Floyd tribute bands over the years and have to admit this is probably the best one I have seen. The band took a few chances in song selection for the hardcore fans, while still playing it safe for the casual fans. Probably cannot ask for more than that.
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