Brit Floyd is more than just a fake Floyd

Brit Floyd is not Pink Floyd, but the band is far more than just a fake Floyd, as was evident Wednesday night at Verizon Arena in North Little Rock. Performing before a rapt audience of 1,159 fans, the nine musicians poured it on and proved that Pink Floyd was not the only band talented enough to put on a superior show of Pink Floyd music.

The brainchild of the extremely talented Damian Darlington, who played guitar, steel guitar and sang, Brit Floyd made no foolish moves, moving seamlessly — and not chronologically — among three decades of Pink Floyd's music, accompanied by one of the finest light shows to have illuminated a Verizon stage.

Darlington's talents were matched by those of Ian Cattell on bass and vocals (he sang the parts made famous by Pink Floyd's Roger Waters, while Darlington sang those songs linked to David Gilmour). Bobby Harrison was equally adept as a left-handed guitarist and then there were some great saxophone solos by Carl Brunsdon and backing vocals by three swinging and swaying women.

All nine were dressed in black, as if to not distract from the visual antics going on behind them on a round screen in the midst of a bigger half-circle screen. Lasers were utilized, and even a disco ball had a cameo late in the show.

The music of Pink Floyd's legendary albums Dark Side of the Moon and The Wall were prominently featured and well received by the crowd. Songs included "Comfortably Numb," "Is There Anybody Out There?", "Run Like Hell" and "Another Brick in the Wall" from The Wall, and "Time" and "Money" from Dark Side of the Moon were highlights, as were "Shine on You Crazy Diamond" and "Wish You Were Here," from the album of the same name.

But a wide range of lesser-known material was also superbly presented, including "Set the Controls for the Heart of the Sun."

And while Pink Floyd never performed in Arkansas, Brit Floyd, who first played at Verizon in April 2013, left the stage after nearly a three-hour show (there was an intermission mid-way through) as Darlington told fans "see you next year."

There will be an expanded review in Friday's print edition.

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