Wizzards of Oz in the Pink at NIA
The Australian Pink Floyd Show has become widely recognised as the world's greatest tribute band. At the NIA last night they showed they truly are worthy of that honour
NIA, Birmingham
Concert review by Ian Harvey
The Australian Pink Floyd Show has spent the past 22 years recreating the whole experience of a Pink Floyd concert and in the process has become widely recognised as the world's greatest tribute band.
At the NIA last night they showed they truly are worthy of that honour, with an astonishing near three-hour show featuring a hugely impressive lookalike Floyd lighting rig, screen projections, lasers, backing singers and that old Floyd favourite, a giant inflatable pig – not to mention an inflatable kangaroo too, a nod to the band's Adelaide roots.
But let's not forget the music. You know it's not the real Pink Floyd up there but for three hours you're happily convinced otherwise, so accurate the performance. Last year the band played The Wall in its entirety but this time they were back with a "greatest hits" style package from across the whole Floyd era.
It kicked off with the entire first sides of three classic LPs – Dark Side of the Moon, Wish You Were Here and Animals.
Shine On You Crazy Diamond, Another Brick In The Wall Pt II and Run Like Hell had the NIA crowd in raptures, while an astonishing Comfortably Numb featured searing recreations by guitarists Steve Mac and Damian Darlington of David Gilmour's famous solos.
The was one glaring omission though – no room for Money, arguably Pink Floyd's signature track.
Still, there are many Floyd tributes out there but – with the real Pink Floyd sadly no more - The Australian Pink Floyd Show truly sets the benchmark.
