Show sure to leave fans of Pink Floyd comfortably numb
Victoria-based band to perform selections from rock band’s catalogue Saturday as part of Canadian tour
When Josh Szczepanowski discovered his voice was similar to David Gilmour’s, the Pink Floyd tribute band Pigs was born.
Pigs started 2018 with the second leg of a 12-week, 45-date Canadian tour including dates in 17 cities in B.C., Alberta and Saskatchewan.
The band will perform selections from the entire Pink Floyd catalogue, including a few special surprises from solo records by members of Pink Floyd, at the Rotary Centre for the Arts’ Mary Irwin Theatre at 7:30 p.m. on Saturday. In addition to classics from legendary albums such as “Dark Side of the Moon,” “Wish You Were Here,” “Animals” and “The Wall,” the band will showcase material that has rarely — if ever — been performed live by Pink Floyd.
Tickets can be purchased at the door, in person at the box office at 421 Cawston Ave., by phone at 250-717-5304 or online at rotarycentreforthearts.com.
“Every show on this tour has been amazing. We’ve been honoured to share our love of the Floyd with so many fans,” said Szczepanowski, the band leader who plays the role of lead guitarist/vocalist David Gilmour. “The crowds have been great and really loved what we are doing.”
In an interview with The Daily Courier, he answered the oftasked question: Out of all the rock bands in the world, why Pink Floyd?
“They just happened to be the songs we jammed that fit our voices the best. And having similar singing voices is one of our best assets,” he responded.
“I didn’t really grow up with Pink Floyd though they were my father’s favourite band. The first album of theirs I heard was “Atom Heart Mother,” and I was 24 at the time. I get a lot of satisfaction from sharing such wonderful music with everyone night after night. It’s always an exciting challenge. People always say you should find a job you love, and we really love what we do.”
Having won the hearts of Pink Floyd fans coast to coast in Canada, Pigs will soon head to the United States as well as tour Asia and Europe, a torrid pace with an average of 100 shows a year.
Every night of the tour has different songs and visuals to accommodate fan requests. Up to 12 guitars and basses are available to band members. Szczepanowski jokes the band must have played “Echoes” for a cumulative total of 15 hours over the course of the tour. Pigs welcomes the challenge, and finds it keeps shows fresh, dynamic, authentic and exciting for their fans, he said.
At a number of stops, Pigs invited local youth choirs to join them on stage to sing “Another Brick in the Wall, Part 2” from “The Wall.” Collaboration with the choirs was a real treat for the audience and a great experience for the kids as well as one of the most memorable tour moments for the band.
“The crowds went crazy whenever the kids started singing,” said Szczepanowski. “We love the concept of inviting the local community into our show and on stage. We all get a real boost watching the kids perform.”
In Kelowna, a 17-voice choir from the Kelowna Community Music School will join the show.
Formed in 2008 in Victoria, Pigs: Canada’s Most Authentic Pink Floyd Tribute has spent 10 years meticulously trying to get everything right to re-create the live sound and concert experience of Pink Floyd in the 1970s. Band members not only have the voices and the sound but the mannerisms, authentic gear, lights, lasers and the glow of a giant circular Mr Screen.
“Our new high-end lasers really add sparkle and colour that take the show to the next level,” said VJ Photon, a.k.a. Erik Nortman, one of Canada’s premiere visual artists and Pigs’ visual artist since 2009.
“The crowd never knows what to expect when they first see us,” said Szczepanowski, “but I think from our opening song, the audience knows they are in for a really great show.”