Band tackles Pink Floyd catalogue

CALGARY FOURSOME BRINGING SHOW TO AVERAGE JOE’S

Ashow that’s been two-and-ahalf years in the making hits the stage at Average Joe’s on July 15 when Calgary’s Pink 4reud unveils its tribute show here for the first time.

Pink 4reud is a Calgary band that includes Lethbridge native and bassist Johnni Sin who was known when he attended Catholic Central High as John Sinclair. It tackles the technically challenging music of Pink Floyd using only four players.

That lineup explains the “4” in the name, according to band founder Greg Cox, who will be known to Lethbridge audiences for his band Steeler which performed here often in the late 1980s and ’90s.

The idea for a Pink Floyd tribute act came after strong audience reaction to a cover tune done by Steeler. While most tribute acts have six to eight members, Cox wanted a leaner lineup for a variety of reasons, including affordability to venues.

And “a lot of the stuff is overproduced,” he said in a phone interview from Calgary with Sinclair.

For two-and-a-half years, the band has been rehearsing and Cox, who plays guitar and does vocals, said he feels energized after every practice session.

“With this band we can go into rehearsal for six hours and as tired as we are, I’m elated after we finish,” said Cox.

“John and our drummer are fantastic singers and our keyboard player is also a sax player.”

Cox has high opinions of his band’s musicianship.

“Mr. Sinclair was the first guy I called,” he said, adding his keyboardist and sax player Kelly Cameron is “spectacular on both instruments.”

Drumming to Pink Floyd music is a different beast, he suggested.

“It’s all about discipline, the meter, holding back and not over-playing.”

The band will play the most well known songs from the Pink Floyd catalogue when they hit the stage at Average Joe’s, which Cox, drummer Mike Gilhooly— a pilot — and the band’s lighting tech will fly down to scope out the stage in advance.

“Lethbridge is almost like a showcase for us,” said Sinclair, who performed here several years ago with his Iron Maiden tribute band, Edward the Great.”

After all the years he played here, Cox has a strong affinity for this city where his grandparents spent their honeymoon having a picnic under the high level bridge.

“Lethbridge is really dear to me. I’ve got a lot of friends there and it’s really important to us that we do the show right.”

Showtime starts at 9 pm. Tickets are $10 in advance at Average Joe’s or $15 the day of the show.

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