Brit Floyd - best Pink Floyd tribute shows: 7/11 @ ST and 8/11 @ Madison Square Garden

When does the show actually start?

I read somewhere that the concert in NYC kicked off right at 8:30 PM, just like they had it scheduled.

Dennis Lee87 said:when does the show start?

I think I read somewhere that in Mexico City they started right at 8:30 PM, just like they planned.

In Ottawa, it looked like they kicked off around 8:35 PM.🙂

Dennis Lee87 said:when does the show start?

I read somewhere that in New York it started right at 8:30 PM, just like they planned.

On the ticket it says 8:00 PM. I'm betting it'll be running about half an hour late. Man, I can't wait. 👋

Anyone know who the opening act is, if there even is one?

Michael Hill19 said:100%?

Well, a setlist like that is pretty much standard everywhere. I actually just got back from the concert (ST, at the arena), and the setlist was basically identical.
And the show actually started on time—8:00 PM (though, naturally, there was a fucking 🙄 break)

http://www.setlist.fm/setlists/brit-floyd-73dffaa9.html

In Ottawa, the setlist said 8:30 PM, but they actually kicked things off within five minutes, so I guess you should probably show up early. 🙂 Most people stuck to their assigned seats at first, though it seemed to loosen up later on, and people started grabbing whatever spot they could find, sort of like a free-for-all. 😁
It was close to 3 hours long, including a 20-minute intermission.

Sophia Wells72 said:Most setlists look pretty much the same everywhere. I actually just got back from the ST concert—dealing with this flu, too—and the list was basically identical.
The show actually kicked off right on schedule at 8:00 PM—though, naturally, that included a fucking intermission. 🙄)

🍿

Give me the full rundown. I need all the details. 🙂

Henry Adams3 said:🍿

I'd love a detailed breakdown of the experience if anyone's willing... 🙂

Since I was actually there, I figured I’d weigh in. Honestly, I walked away pretty disappointed with the sound engineering. The bass was practically non-existent, and for me, Pink Floyd just doesn't work without that low end. The whole mix felt messy; all the instruments just bled together into this wall of noise. The levels were totally off, too—the guitar was way too loud, drowning everything else out, and at times it was so piercing you couldn't even tell what was being played...
I wasn't really feeling those little improvisational bits they threw in either. I'm about 99% sure they were just some of their own riffs, though don't quote me on that—the sound was pretty bad and I was high, so maybe I missed a few things... but I'd bet money they were just messing around with some random stuff. There were moments where I genuinely wondered if this was even Floyd or what...
The visuals were the usual mediocre quality, but that’s not really the point. The vocals were decent, especially the female singer, but overall, it was a letdown. The Australians were ten times better...

Henry Adams3 said:🍿

I would love a detailed breakdown of the experience, please. 🙂

Of course! 🙂

It kicked off with SOYCD—my only minor gripe being some crackling or static right at the start—but man, once it got going, it really hit hard. I was pleasantly surprised by how well they handled See Emily Play and Money, though I felt Another Brick in the Wall came a bit too quickly after High Hopes 😁. And just when you’re finally getting into the groove (much like last time)—boom, a 20-minute intermission (I suppose they have to replicate everything perfectly 😠). The second half was definitely superior; even the crowd seemed more engaged. They were at their peak during Wish You Were Here, when the whole arena basically erupted. I think toward the end of that song, they had that specific image projected on the wall, similar to what they did at Live 8. Otherwise, the wall features a massive amount of their iconography—classic stuff. For me, Have a Cigar, One of These Days, and Vera were the highlights since they're among my favorites, although I wasn't entirely thrilled with how These Days was executed; at times, it felt like half the instruments were muffled or just lost in the mix. Then there were the sweets at the end: the shortened version of the CN solo—which was a bit of a shame—and the madness of Run Like Hell, even if I personally think they could have handled that specific track with a bit more punch. In the second half, they do the standard "goodbye," then return to tell us we were a fantastic audience and decide to play "side three" from The Wall 😁. By the way, the venue was perfectly filled. My only regret is that Young Lust and Mother weren't included in the setlist.

It seems to me that this musical group might be slightly better than the Australian one—perhaps a bit more energetic in certain performances—but regarding the overall production, I’d give the edge to the Australians. I personally had a better time with the Aussies; the atmosphere was better and the sound quality was definitely superior. I received my tickets as a gift, so I was happy to go, but regardless, the price tag feels a bit steep for a tribute band. That said, the guys are undeniably professionals; the vocals were excellent, and you can tell they've rehearsed every single note meticulously, so they get a perfect score there. Oh, and it does seem they lean a bit more heavily toward Waters's material.

P.S. Believe it or not, the biggest round of applause went to the incredibly talented backing vocalist (the blonde one); I think she might have a Russian name, 🤔 Ola Bienkowska. There were three of them, but she absolutely killed it. 🙏

Sophia Wells72 said:P.S. Believe it or not, she got the biggest applause—that blonde backing vocalist was damn good. I can't remember if she had a Russian name 🤔. There were three of them, but man, how she tore it up. 🙏

Heh, yeah. I watched their set on YouTube, and honestly? The female vocalist on The Great Gig in the Sky sounded better than the studio version. 🤷

But regardless—they feel a bit too sterile for me, and way too expensive to bother with. Plus, I'm just not a fan of how they've simplified their artistry in their songs.

Sophia Wells72 said:...

Thanks for the deep dive. I’ll drop my own thoughts tomorrow.
Though, if the sound was trash, isn't that more on the promoters than the band? 🤷

Man, the concert was killer. If you're even considering going, just do it. I'm telling you, don't miss out.

But look, I've got some massive gripes with how this was run. It’s straight-up embarrassing. You expect 3,000 to 5,000 people to show up on time, tell everyone to be there early, and then what? You open one single entrance. They're busy doing these ridiculous, deep searches on women's purses and crap—it's not like we're at a high-risk stadium game or something—so the line just drags on forever. People aren't even getting inside until 8:30, yet the band starts playing right at 8. 🙏
And get this: as if one entrance wasn't bad enough, they only opened two gates for those eight internal entrances to the main stands. 🙏

Then, to top it all off, it took 20 minutes just to exit the arena. I’ve been to venues hundreds of times, back in the glory days when shows used to pull 7,000 or 8,000 people, and we never exited this slowly. Honestly, I don't even want to think about what would've happened if a stampede actually broke out.
We love to brag about how "only a city like this could pull this off," but yeah, this definitely falls into that category—just in the worst way possible.

Also, it's a total smoke show in there. 🙄

Here's a golden rule for concerts in this city: always just buy the cheapest ticket. These "sections" they sell you on are a complete joke. Once you're inside the venue, nobody gives a damn about where you sit or asks for your seat number. Whether it's at the local arena or a big stadium, it's always the same mess.

vjj It feels like everyone’s gone, but I’m practically living right across from 🙄. So there you have it. If anyone is looking to swap tickets, we can do two for downstairs if you give us two for upstairs 🙂

Drew Lewis2 said:Heh, yeah... I was actually just watching a clip of them on YouTube, and honestly? I think the female vocalist on "The Great Gig in the Sky" might have actually delivered a better performance than what we got on the original album. 🤷

The way she sang... I actually got chills—she absolutely crushed it!

Henry Adams3 said:I mean, when you look at the subpar sound quality, I suppose we have to ask—is that actually on the band, or is it just the fault of the promoters? It seems more likely to be a massive oversight by the organizers, wouldn't you say? 🤷

Probably. I find it hard to believe that their crew actually botched the soundcheck—especially since there were moments where certain instruments seemed to drown out everything else entirely.

I’m more than happy with how things went. The performance was flawless, the sound quality was top-tier, and the crowd density in the floor section was just right—not too packed, but enough energy to feel it. Now, look, if they had played Mother, on The Turning Away, Coming Back to Life, or Brain Damage / Eclipse... well, they could have, but whatever, let's not get nitpicky about it. Honestly though, seeing this many people—especially the younger crowd, kids straight out of high school—showing up for a tribute band really hits home. It’s living proof that Pink Floyd is still incredibly relevant today.

Catch you guys at the Waters show at Madison Square Garden next year. 😁

Andrew Roberts3 said:I suppose I am more than satisfied. The performance was flawless, the sound quality was excellent, and the crowd density in the floor section felt just right—neither too crowded nor too sparse. Now, if they had played Mother, on The Turning Away, Coming Back to Life, or Brain Damage / Eclipse... well, they could have, but I suppose there is no point nitpicking. It was encouraging to see so many people (especially the youth, high schoolers) at a tribute band show. It seems Pink Floyd remains quite relevant.

I guess I'll see you at the Waters show at the stadium next year. 😁

I am quite pleased with how they handled things. I am referring to the band itself, not the organization, which I have no comment on.

They really hit a chord with me; it didn't feel like just any ordinary tribute band, as they clearly put in the effort. Of course, I might have swapped a few songs around, but I don't write the setlist. It was perfectly fine as it was. I heard my favorites. ^^

And as you mentioned, there were all ages present, though the number of young people surprised me. I am not exactly young myself, yet I found it surprising nonetheless.

See you at the Waters show. :P

Alright, I’m gonna drop a few thoughts about yesterday. 🙂

Even at the ST show and over in NYC, things were getting pretty rowdy during SOYCD—not for a massive amount of time, but enough. One of my absolute favorite tracks of theirs was played incredibly well; that intro was killer. They absolutely nailed See Emily Play, too. Money was handled more than solidly, and US and them phenomenal. Overall, the first set earns way more than just a passing grade.

And then, FINALLY! The day actually came where I got to hear Echoes live. 🙂 They played the whole thing, both parts, and man, it was something special. 🙏 Listening to that was pure bliss. Seriously, indescribable.

One of These Days. 🙏 10+/10
As far as the light show goes, they definitely hit the mark perfectly during this one.

The Time solo was top-tier; to me, it sounded almost like the studio version. Total ecstasy in the pit and the stands.
Nobody Home—interesting stage performance there, basically imitating the music video for the song itself.
Comfortably Numb—I don't know if it's just me (probably not), but the second solo felt longer than usual. The ending wasn't your standard routine either; we got to see some really cool guitar flourishes.
Regarding Run Like Hell, I have to admit they didn't really wow me. It was mostly the crowd that pumped me up—people here and there trying to clap along to the beat during a few songs, and during the last track, even the bassist was calling for it. I don't know, maybe it's just me, but it just didn't sit right.
It would've been perfect if the light show had been better. I mean, it was good, but it didn't totally mesmerize me visually.

All in all, I'm pretty stoked.

P.S.—one more thing... Yeah, I didn't know what to look at. The screen, the drummer, the guitarists, the bassist, or those killer female vocals. Unfortunately, you can't watch everything all at once. 🙂

The music was great, but man, the light show totally fell short—mostly just because they chose to play in this tiny venue that clearly couldn't fit all their gear (I mean, why wouldn't they just hit up Madison Square Garden instead, which is way bigger?! )

Everywhere else on this American tour they had the full setup, but in the US... it was just underwhelming, honestly. Such a letdown.

Just look at how they performed Run Like Hell in Ottawa compared to what we got here 😢
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=coluZLfM_98

Sophia Wells72 said:The way she sang gave me chills—absolutely incredible!

Probably. I find it hard to believe their crew messed up, especially since some instruments sounded way louder than others at certain points.

Ola Bienkowska 🙂

Henry Adams3 said:Alright, I guess I'll throw out a couple of thoughts about yesterday... if you can even call it that... 🙂
I don't know, man... the crowd was really putting on the pressure. People were jumping in and out of the rhythm during a few of the songs—it was all very "quasi-rhythmic," if you know what I mean—and by the final song, the bassist was actually calling for it, trying to get everyone to join in. I can't quite put my finger on it, but maybe it’s just me... it just didn't sit right with me at all. It felt forced...

I don't know, man... I was clapping during Run Like Hell mostly because that's just how Waters's tradition goes—you kind of have to "look" for it or whatever... For the rest of the songs, though, I'm with you—clapping is totally unnecessary...

Honestly, everything was just... wow. A solid 5 out of 5—that concert blew way past what I was expecting...

Here are a few thoughts from my side, once I finally managed to recover from the news about July 23rd, 2013. 😁.
I went down to the Rose Bowl, and honestly, I have to say I was pleasantly surprised by the experience, even though the tickets weren't exactly cheap for what is, after all, just a tribute band. I’ll start with the positives.
- The setlist was right up my alley, though I really wish they had thrown in one more Barrett-style track plus Mother. The left-handed guitarist was incredibly good—great guitar tone (looked like a Suhr rather than a Stratocaster if I saw correctly)—and he was a super useful all-around player on percussion, sax, and keys. The bassist is a very solid singer, the girls handling backing vocals were great, and the light show was decent. As for the downsides, besides a few minor gripes I won't bother mentioning, I have to point out three MAJOR issues.
1. The drummer and the drum sound: Honestly, in several songs, I couldn't help but notice how the drummer missed some vital nuances in his playing; he played things pretty superficially, which kind of ruined them. In my humble opinion, Nick Mason is often underrated as a drummer, but this guy just didn't hit the mark. As for the actual drum sound, especially the snare (for those who aren't musically inclined 😳), it sounded terrible and was occasionally way too loud compared to everything else. That’s primarily due to poor work by the sound engineer, who clearly belongs to that breed of technicians who think miking a drum kit is the only thing that matters. Which brings us to...
2. Inadequate sound reinforcement. I was sitting in the stands not too high up, and I realized immediately there would be sound issues. No punch, no power, and absolutely no bass. It’s a shame, really—an unforgivable blunder for anyone pretending to play Floyd. Damian Darlington did a good job with his parts, but his Stratocaster sound felt unnatural, almost pre-digital. Besides, you can't play Run Like Hell without a Telecaster. Just so there's no confusion, I noticed that issue with Roger too.
3. As a keyboard player myself, I couldn't believe the keyboardist didn't have a Hammond. Floyd without a Hammond (and a Leslie) is like FC Barcelona without Lionel Messi. Okay, maybe that’s a stretch... actually, no, it isn't. Furthermore, the three synths I saw were nothing more than mediocre keyboards. They didn't even dignify the setup with a Kurzweil.
All things considered, I'm glad I went, if only for the sake of the kids who talked me into coming. To wrap up the worst part: I seriously don't understand people who can't go a single minute without their damn beer and then spend the whole night pacing back and forth. As if that wasn't enough, I ended up sitting next to some lady who wouldn't put out her cigarette and kept bragging about her beer so much that I nearly threw up a few times.
To all of you claiming to be "thrilled," come down to the Rose Bowl on July 23rd, 2013, and see what you get for a slightly higher price. I’ve been to four of Roger's The Wall Live shows (Chicago, London, and Paris), and next year you'll find me in the fan pits at the Rose Bowl or somewhere else... Vienna or Berlin, who knows... iSpartacus

edit: oh, I just remembered: I have to praise the very good performance of Time and a decent rendition of Echoes. For Echoes, they actually needed some guts just to attempt it.