thePULSEThe Highest Level of Tribute to Pink Floyd
September 2005 – Tribute bands… sure there are plenty of them,
but what makes one stand out from the others? Granted, the ability to
replicate the sound and vibe of the original artist’s music is essential,
but some bands, like Grateful Dead tribute Dark Star Orchestra and local
favorite The Knot, go beyond that, using the original music as a framework
and then making it their own. So what should you do if your tastes just
don’t jive with those of the Patchouli-wearing crowd, if what you
really need is a major Pink Floyd fix? You should remember these two words:
The Machine.
In the mid 80s, The Machine got together in Nyack, NY and ever since
then Todd Cohen, Joe Pascarell, Ryan Ball and Neil Alexander have been
supplying the U.S. and beyond with live Pink Floyd music. “We were
all in other bands at the time, and we’d get together and play songs
that we liked in clubs. There were a few Floyd songs in the set, and the
crowd would always want more. We figured if we played all Pink Floyd,
then we could book more gigs.” Joe explains, and that’s how
The Machine was born.
The public’s love for and appreciation of Pink Floyd’s music
hasn’t dulled with time. Every year a new generation finds something
in their catalog to identify with, but given the rocky and much publicized
history of the band, it becomes less and less likely that the
original members of Pink Floyd will ever tour under that banner again.
This is why we need The Machine.
The Machine specializes in playing something from every era of Pink Floyd,
from the Syd Barrett days to the greatly underappreciated Final Cut album
to the post-Waters years. “We try to get a feel for wha the audience
is into, then we come up with the set.” says Joe, “If they
seem like they’d be into the weirder stuff and more jamming, then
we go for it.” So whether you’re into the radio-friendly hits
or the more obscure stuff, they’ll play something you can get into,
as do the crowds at all their shows. Seeing The Machine isn’t like
seeing Pink Floyd, it’s like seeing The Machine. They have an unparalleled
audience connection and every member of the band displays incredible musicianship.
Every Floyd fan will get a rush when the crowd erupts from the single
keyboard note that signals the start of “Echoes,” or when
Ryan’s signature bass solo frenzy launches the band into “One
of These Days.”
The Machine plays The Palladium on September 24, so catch Pink Floyd
the way it was meant to be experienced ~ sight, sound, and shaking floor!
(Photos courtes of www.themachinelive.com.)
Details
Who:
The Machine
Where:
The Palladium 261 Main Street in Worcester www.thepalladium.net
(508) 797-9696
When:
Saturday, September 24
Doors open at 8pm,
Show starts at 9pm
