Ten years after first hitting the stage at the venue, Pink Floyd tribute band PIGS plays the Mary Winspear Centre on Sept. 6 and 7.
Formed in 2008 in Victoria, the band has spent the last decade touring locally and on the mainland, developing their skills in recreating an accurate depiction of the Pink Floyd sound.
ALSO READ: Peninsula student scores only scholarship in Canada for top music school
“A lot has changed in those 10 years. We’ve learned many new things and got a lot better,” says lead singer Josh Szczepanowski, adding with a laugh, “We certainly have a lot more lasers now and we try to get better every year. Mainly by buying more lasers.”
PIGS’ In The Flesh Tour has 40 dates in Canada, with more American gigs to be added. Fans can expect to hear songs from The Wall, The Dark Side of the Moon, Wish You Were Here and Animals, along with other classics from Meddle to The Division Bell. The tour starts in Sidney, B.C., goes to Sydney, N.S. and back, with stops in Newfoundland and the U.S.
The band gets its name from the iconic pig in Pink Floyd imagery and has played to over 100,000 Canadian fans over the years. In aiming to recreate the live experience of the 70’s, PIGS use authentic gear and play and sing as accurate parts as possible to the original. In keeping with Pink Floyd’s reputation for theatrical staging, PIGS have also invested in the aforementioned lasers, with the help of visual artist VJ Photon (Erik Nortman) to recreate the band’s live vibe.
PIGS use over a dozen different guitars and bass guitars each night and mix elements of studio and live versions of the songs. Each gig in the tour lasts almost three hours.
ALSO READ: Yellow Wolf Powwow draws dancers from across Canada
The first of the two concerts at the Charlie White Theatre features a full performance of Wish You Were Here, with the second including a full performance of Animals. Both nights will also include a variety of Floyd songs from the band’s back catalogue.
Doors open at 7 p.m. and the shows start at 7:30. Tickets are $46.50 with a 10-per-cent discount if buying tickets to both shows. Call 250-656-0275 or visit marywinspear.ca for tickets.
editor@mondaymag.com
Like us on Facebook and follow us on Twitter