Brit Floyd: The World’s Greatest Pink Floyd Show
Oven’s Auditorium, Charlotte, NC
August 22, 2021
World Tour 2021
Brit Floyd knows it and they want you to know it too. They are the best Pink Floyd tribute band around and quite humble about it too. This isn’t your regular run-of-the-mill tribute band, which typically performs for their local fans at local venues. No, Brit Floyd is the crème de la crème, when it comes to tribute bands. They tour the world spreading the passion they have for music created by the original Pink Floyd band. This band was formed in 2011 in Liverpool, United Kingdom, hence the name “Brit” Floyd. The mastermind behind the band, Damian Darlington, previously was a part of The Australian Pink Floyd Show for 17 years prior to the formation of Brit Floyd.
After a year delay due to Covid-19, the originally scheduled North American 2020 tour had to reschedule dates, in which a few new stops were added while putting together the new schedule. As far as I can tell, Charlotte was not on the original tour stop for 2020, so it is a treat for Brit Floyd to have stopped in Charlotte as part of the World Tour 2021. The last time Brit Floyd was in Charlotte was in April 2019 at the same venue and also in June 2016. You would have had to catch them in Durham, NC for the 2018 tour. The Charlotte stop this year is smack dab in the middle, so if you want to catch Brit Floyd before the North American portion of the tour ends, you have 15 more dates to choose from, all of which are on the east coast.
When it comes to Brit Floyd’s live performance, figuratively speaking, they have a bit of OCD. They really hone in on the details of giving a spectacular performance, whether bringing it through the musical talent on stage or the visual performance throughout the evening. I even overheard a fan giving the sound tech a compliment on how well the sound was. The show they brought to Charlotte this evening was no different. If one has any appreciation for the arts, you really walked away from this show in awe. I would have to guess from taking a look around the venue, many of the fans probably were lucky enough to see the actual Pink Floyd band in person at some point in their lives. (Pink Floyd stopped touring as a full band in 1994, with a short one-off performance given with Roger Waters in 2005. Otherwise, Pink Floyd fans have been able to see Roger Waters live in concert over the past few decades.) Other concertgoers in the crowd were probably introduced to the music of Pink Floyd by their parents, as multiple families with younger children were seen together in the audience.
When Brit Floyd took the stage at 8:00 pm at the Ovens Auditorium in Charlotte, NC, the crowd was optimistically enthusiastic with a few hollers being heard as the lights further dimmed as the first band member took the stage. As Covid caused cancellations and reschedules for many tours last year (and even this year), the concert was probably a first in a while for many in attendance. Seats were mostly filled on the main floor with most patrons sporting their face masks. The 22 song setlist commenced with the instrumental piece, “Cluster One” as musicians took their places, and moved onto “Learning to Fly” from the 1987 album ‘A Momentary Lapse of Reason,’ utilizing three backup singers on stage left. Bassist, Ian Cattell, took vocals as the band played the third song on the setlist, “High Hopes.” The instrumentals throughout this song are particularly mesmerizing, with a slide electric guitar being played in the second half of the song. Fast forward a bit, and “Time” changes the pace of the show with a bit more upbeat melody. Among the setlist, even non-Pink Floyd fans could point out hits on the setlist, such as “Another Brick in the Wall, Part 2,” “Wish You Were Here,” “Money,” and “Comfortably Numb.”
I won’t give away all the play-by-plays of the concert, but encourage anyone wanting to reminisce on the sound of Pink Floyd to get to a show. Brit Floyd is definitely the closest you are going to get to the real thing. Take a look at the remaining North American dates and see if you can fit one in. It is definitely a great show and I recommend seeing this band perform the next time you can, even if you aren’t a huge Pink Floyd fan.
