Reviewer: Mark De Wolf-Ott
Venue: Temple Theatre
Even if you were not a Pink Floyd fan, you would have been amazed at the talent displayed during “The Machine Performs Pink Floyd” concert Jan. 18 at the Temple Theatre.
These folks have been doing this for a long time and it shows. The original members Joe Pascaarell and Tahrah Cohen have been onboard for 30 years. Joe’s guitar skills and Tahrah’s drum abilities are impressive. Yes, the drummer is a woman! One of the best.
Long-time bandmate Scott Chasolen was remarkable on keyboards and vocals. Dylan Kekehan, the newest band member, was great on bass.
Pink Floyd was an English rock band that formed in London in 1965. They were distinguished for their philosophical lyrics, lengthy compositions, sonic sounds, psychedelic music` and elaborate live shows.
They became a leading band of the progressive rock genre. They produced 16 albums. Some critics say Floyd reached its peak in the early ‘80’s.
The Machine, a New York-based quartet, performs a variety of Pink Floyd popular and obscure hits. The audience was encouraged to sing some of the favorites, like “Brick in the Wall,” “Money” and “Wish You Were Here.”
Later in Pink Floyd’s career they became popular for laser light shows as part of the concert. The Machine did not disappoint. The technology has improved since the ‘80’s and it really showed. The stage also included a rear projection screen that showed some of the group’s quirky 1960’s videos.
The crowd large, considering there was a Spirit hockey game across the street. The audience gave a standing ovation at the end of the first set, after the band played a not so popular tune from the “Animal” album.
People were dancing and playing air guitar in their seats.
The last set ended with “Dark side of the Moon,” followed by a two-song encore. The show lasted nearly three hours.
On a scale of one to five of my “How Do You Like Those Apples” rating, I’d give it 4 apples because of the band’s skills and the wild light show.
There were a few glitches, but if you concentrated on the artistry and technology they were hardly noticeable.