Halle Münsterland, Münster, Germany20th May 2015
The Australian Pink Floyd Show
Even the “real” PINK FLOYD were once in the Halle Münsterland in 1971 and it is not the first time the AUSTRALIAN PINK FLOYD SHOW had a stop in the Westphalia metropolis. The show set for the 28th April had to be cancelled shortly beforehand unfortunately because parts of the roof were dissolving and the security of the visitors shouldn't be in danger. All damage was repaired at the surrogate date and the well-filled circles proved that such things don't impress a PINK FLOYD fan. Around 2,200 spectators followed the call of the Australian cover band which has made it their task to perform the songs of the British prog rock pioneers as authentic as possible. The average age was among the audience and on stage visibly higher than at different concerts so that one or the other in the audience might have still seen the original. http://www.aussiefloyd.com / https://www.facebook.com/australianpinkfloyd
Music & Performance
Maybe that's why one could see individuals following the AUSTRALIAN PINK FLOYD SHOW with closed eyes. This way they however missed the opulent stage show of the Aussies which was also quite as authentic as the original. The round screen was in the centre on which one could say optic games as well as diverse videos and pictures of the PINK FLOYD members. It shouldn't be forgotten what the guys from down under bridled up in the matter of light. The gleaming white light was partly almost painful but it was curbed by numerous, different colour fields, stroboscope flashes and laser light beams. All of that was of course decorative accessories for the crystal clear sound of the cover band founded in 1988 which started in time at 8pm with ‘Astronomy Domine’ from the 1967 debut ‘The Piper and the Gates of Down’. Bassist Colin Wilson and guitarist David Domminey took over the vocals at first before the two ladies Lorelei McBroom and Emily Lynn took over the highly celebrated ‘Shine on your Crazy Diamonds’ initially until finally Alex McNamara was active at the microphone.
This number was the opener for the performance of the whole ‘Wish you were here’ long-player which was released in the record stores in 1975 and hasn't lost any of its charm. It was tinkered without mercy and also the six stringers yelped occasionally while Skippy the bush kangaroo among Crocodile Dundee, AC/DC and Kylie Minogue was flimmering over the screens. The Australian marsupial was indeed omnipresent, especially as a huge, pink and blow-up doll which was naturally inspired by the PINK FLOYD pig which was to have its performance later. But at first the over-sized teacher was shown whom the pupils in ‘Another Brick in the Wall’ want to disown. Not only the world-famous of the 1979 success record ‘The Wall’ was impressive at this stage but also the optic accompaniment of ‘The Happiest Days of our Life’ and ‘Another Brick...’. Neither the video animations nor the light games left any dreams unfulfilled. Only the almost 30 minutes long break which was succeeded by this was not needed in my opinion.
This break was at least for me a tiny atmosphere killer, especially the advertisements which were spread over the screens was a bit annoying. But the praised throat pastilles were probably sponsoring the tour... However, the luscious ‘In the Flesh?’ succeeded quickly in putting the focus on the music again and ‘Learning to Fly’ forwarded with seven miles boots in the PF discography since the track came from the long player ‘A Momentary Lapse of Reason’ which was released in 1987. ‘Time’ and ‘Breathe’ from the 1973 record ‘The Dark Side of the Moon’ took over rhythm-consciously before ‘The Great Gig in the Sky’ pleased with the echoism of the two female singers while ‘Money’ brought the saxophone player Mike Kidson into the scene again. The gentleman had obviously ants in the pants and couldn't almost stand still while he worked his brass instrument. After this exhibition to the dark side the elated ‘Young Lust’ shone with sexy sounds and ‘One of These Days’ from the 1971 LP ‘Meddle’ was received enthusiastically and clapped along to while the mentioned kangaroo was lifted slowly and was jumping up and down on the stage centre.
Thanks to ‘Comfortably Numb’ one of my personal favourites was still on the set list which found its regular end at 10.15pm after the song was celebrated in all appropriate detail to which also standing ovations for TAPFS belonged to. They did it in style and gave two encores. ‘Louder Than Words’ made the beginning which came from last year's number one record ‘The Endless River’, presenting the typical PINK FLOYD sound with a shaken measure of glamour. ‘Run Like Hell’ accelerated on the finishing straight once again and was connected with the appearance of the all-too-famous pig whose eyes, glowing red, stared down on the audience. Generally, cover bands are usually a bit critical but THE AUSTRALIAN PINK FLOYD SHOW transforms the timeless PINK FLOYD songs masterfully and is without doubt superior to all doubts.
Not without reason did David Gilmour engage the live band for his 50th birthday! Since no stage reunion can be expected especially after the deaths of Syd Barrett and Richard Wright, this formation embodies a great alternative – at least when one has never seen PINK FLOYD (like me).
Setlist
01. Astronomy Domine
02. Shine On Your Crazy Diamonds (Parts I-V)
03. Welcome To The Machine
04. Have A Cigar
05. Wish You Were Here
06. Shine On Your Crazy Diamonds (Parts VI-IX)
07. The Happiest Days of Our Live
08. Another Brick In The Wall (Part 2)
---break---
09. In The Flesh?
10. Learning To Fly
11. Time
12. Breathe (Reprise)
13. The Great Gig In The Sky
14. Money
15. Young Lust
16. One of These Days
17. Comfortably Numb
---
18. Louder Than Words
19. Run Like Hell
Rating
Music: 9
Performance: 9
Sound: 8
Light: 10
Total: 9 / 10
Witten by Ulrike Meyer-Potthoff, translation by Alex UltraRiot
All pictures by Daniela Vorndran (http://www.vorndranphotography.com / http://www.facebook.com/blackcatnet)
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