The south of Tenerife is full of tribute acts, so when a new one comes along, old hands could be forgiven as they attempt to stifle a yawn. After all, how many Elvis Presley wigs and sunglasses can one man take?
But every now and then, something comes along to wake up jaded palates, especially of those who live here.
One such is Pink Wall, a Pink Floyd tribute band, which has pulled out all the stops to pay tribute to one of the greatest bands of their era.
No miming, no backing tracks, no silly wigs.
In fact, no real attempt to even resemble the original band is part of what makes seeing this band, a refreshing and enjoyable experience.
Oh…and of course the fact that they can all play and sing really well.
OK I have a confession to make.
I don’t care much for tribute artists and I was never a great fan of Pink Floyd.
So when I got a phone call from my other half telling me she had won two tickets on Power FM to go and see a Pink Floyd tribute band at Pleasure Island in Las Americas, my heart sank.
My mind was racing, as I tried desperately to think up an excuse not to go. But to no avail, I was trapped.
So off we went to Las Américas. Dinner at a wonderful Chinese restaurant then off to Pleasure Island for a drink before the show.
Drink served by pretty smiling attentive waitress to whom nothing seemed too much trouble. Things were looking up, I was actually enjoying myself.
Time for the show.
Incidentally, Pleasure Island has undergone several transformations in its time but, for me, the present incarnation with its more open, airy feel is the best yet. Check it out for a drink if nothing else.
Into the show in the re-designed 200-or-so-seater lounge, where we were shown to our seats and again the service could not have been better, with yet more attentive smiling staff on hand.
So on came the band and within minutes, my opinion of tribute acts was beginning to change.
Almost as if to prove they weren’t trying to parody the original Pink Floyd, the six-piece band had a female keyboard player and a female backing vocalist.
Along with sax, Guitar, bass and drums, this outfit made a great sound and the light show was terrific.
Now as well as their music, Pink Floyd were famous for playing huge venues with more equipment than anyone else in the galaxy.
So for this mob to recreate that atmosphere in a relatively small, intimate venue is no mean feat and I take my hat off to them for the huge amount of hard work that must have gone in to making it happen.
Pink Wall played two sets and even for a “non-fan’ of Floyd like me, the first set seemed like it was over too soon, a sure sign your having a good time.
During the interval, I went to the bar and happened to bump into the guitarist. “Great show,” I said. “Thanks,” he said. “Can you do ‘See Emily Play’?” I said. “Too old”, he said. “Not as old as me.” I said.
On with the show.
The second set was dedicated to The Floyd’s record-breaking Dark Side Of The Moon, which is considered by many to be Floyd’s defining album, selling 40 million copies and spending 741 consecutive weeks, 14 years, on the American Billboard 200 chart.
Dark Side Of The Moon is considered by many music critics to be one of the greatest albums of all time, so any attempt to recreate it is a daunting task.
But Pink Wall really pulled it of, their version of ‘Money’ being particularly memorable.
Two encores and the band left the stage to a well deserved standing ovation.
If other tribute bands are that good, I’m a convert.
If you see no one else here in Tenerife go to see Pink Wall.
It’s a trip down memory lane in the company of some very accomplished musicians and a must see for everyone.
Pink wall appear at Pleasure Island, Monday to Thursday every week starting at 10pm. Go get a ticket. More information here
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