While the rest of Ottawa was roaming around the city in multiple venues for JUNOfest and Juno Awards weekend, TD Place was packed full for Brit Floyd's three hour Pink Floyd tribute spectacle from their Immersion Tour.
Started in Liverpool in 2011, show's musical director and vocalist/guitarist Damian Darlington initially performed with the Australian Pink Floyd tribute show for almost 20 years, before deciding to, in his own words, "start a more polished act".
The show, which has been endorsed by Roger Waters himself, includes bunch of stellar musicians and a breathtaking laser and light show along with visual arts by Media Director Bryan Kolupski.
The experience is as much about the music as it is about the effects, and most of the audience got more they had even hoped for, including myself. Instead of only playing Pink Floyd's biggest hits, the show was a nostalgic journey through time combined with psychedelic images and colorful lights.
Included between songs were haunting recordings of Syd Barret and Roger Waters' interviews, and during 'Wish You Were Here', old footage of the original members of the band.
At the beginning of each song, reflected in the middle of the screen on stage, was the year when each song was released, and as the first chords were played, the crowd went wild each time.
Darlington, and vocalist/bassist Ian Cattell provided solid vocal performances along with dueling guitars between Darlington and vocalist/guitarist Edo Scordo, supported by the strong female backing vocals trio Angela Cervantes, Roberta Freeman, and Jacquie Williams. The haunting saxophone solos and Darlington's pedal steel guitar added to the mix were all just cherry on top.
The newer Pink Floyd material that included synthesizers combined with visual effects made the audience feel like being in a bizarre futuristic space craft, until the next song would take the crowd back to the psychedelic 70's again.
The highlight of the evening was the jaw dropping and goose bump inducing vocal solo delivered by Angela Cervantes during 'Great Gig in the Sky', that got the audience up from their seats and cheering to the performance.
Brit Floyd continues their North American Tour until July 18 th. Make sure not to miss it if you want an experience of a lifetime.
Brit Floyd Immersion Tour Set ListCluster One
What Do You Want From Me
Welcome to the Machine
Coming Back to Life
Another Brick in the Wall Part 2 (Another Brick in the Wall Part 1 Intro)
Lost for Words
One of These Days
Us and Them
Any Colour You Like
Brain Damage
Eclipse
Set 2:
Astronomy Domine
Pigs on the Wing 1
Dogs
A New Machine, Pt.1
Terminal Frost
Time
Breathe (Reprise)
The Great Gig in the Sky
Money
Wish You Were Here
Shine On You Crazy Diamond (Parts VI-VII)
Comfortably Numb
Encore:
Not Now John
Run Like Hell