Set II
Learning to Fly | Have a Cigar | Time | Money | Shine On You Crazy Diamond | Let There Be More Light | Echoes | Any Colour You Like | Brain damage/Eclipse | Comfortably Numb | Run Like Hell/Another Brick in the Wall Part II/Run Like Hell

The world of Classic Rock continues to grow and change in 2011. The music is kept alive by the classic bands still willing to get out on the road for the summer concert circuit and the Native American casino stops. Other bands that are not longer touring, or even together, are seeing their music kept alive with the help of tribute bands. The most successful contain great musicians who are first, and foremost, fans of the band they are paying tribute to. Some go the distance and dress up in costume, while others prefer to let the tribute be based on one’s audio senses alone. The Pink Floyd Experience is one band that have found a balance between the sonic of sound and creative expression of visualization.

Instead of dressing up like Floyd, they prefer to have a light show that, on a small scale, contains many elements of a classic Floyd show. They stake their reputation on their ability to recreate the music, something they do well. They also replicate the background noises and conversations often contained in Floyd music by placing several speakers around the venue, creating a surround sound effect.

On this night, the band took the stage without introduction, as Howard Pattow strapped on an acoustic guitar and began the melancholy “Pigs on the Wing” from Animals. The rest of the band soon joined in and performed the classic 1977 album in its entirety. Vocally, Pattow does not do a 100% spot on Roger Waters, however, he is more than competent. The band, however, play the part to perfection. Bandleader, and guitarist, Tom Quinn has a love of Pink Floyd that runs deep in his soul and psyche. The rest of the band shares his respect of Pink Floyd, and his passion for keeping the music alive.

“Dogs,” “Pigs (Three Different Ones)” and “Sheep” are diehard Floyd fanatic favorites. While Animals did not sell as well as Dark Side of the Moon or The Wall, and was not as commercially palatable as Wish You Were Here, Floyd freaks have come to hold the album in high regard. Waters’ sarcasm was never more biting and his dark persona never more sinister. David Gilmour played some of the best guitar of his career, and it can be argued that Animals was the crème de la crème performance from keyboardist Richard Wright. The Pink Floyd Experience recreated both the subtle nuances of the album, and the bashing anger, with excellence.

After Pattow ended the set with the reprise of “Pigs on the Wing Part 2,” the band took a break. They returned with a lackluster performance of “Learning to Fly,” which was the low point of the show. They did, however, quickly redeem themselves, and recapture the crowd, with "Have a Cigar" from Wish You Were Here"  and amazing renditions of “Time” and “Money” from the classic Dark Side of the Moon. Jesse Malloy became the darling of the Wichita crowd when he took center stage and blasted out the saxophone solo to “Money.” Smiles abound from the stage as the crowd was eating out of the band’s hand.

“Shine On You Crazy Diamond” was a highlight of the show and allowed the band to flex their musical muscle. The group took the crowd way back to the album A Saucerful of Secrets and the tune “Let There Be More Light” before surprising the crowd with the classic tune “Echoes.” Next the band performed a musical trifecta of tunes from 1973’s Dark Side, from the instrumental “Any Color You Like” to “Brain Damage” and “Eclipse.”

The crowd, who had waited patiently for music from the iconic album The Wall, were rewarded with "Comfortably Numb," “Run Like Hell” and “Another Brick in the Wall (Part II)” which featured an impressive crowd participation sing-a-long on the chorus. The song segued back into “Run Like Hell” before the band took a bow and left the stage.

The Pink Floyd Experience is an example of a tribute band done for the right reason. Watching the band interact with each other was fun. Watching the precision in which bandleader Tom Quinn played David Gilmour’s guitar solos was impressive. These guys may get a paycheck at the end of the evening, but one can be pretty certain that even if money were not available, this band of brothers would be together in a basement bar somewhere doing the exact same thing.