Authenticity is integral to the Pink Floyd tribute band Pigs.
“What is the most important to us is giving the most authentic show possible,” said Josh Szczepanowski, lead-guitarist and vocalist for Pigs: Canada’s Most Authentic Pink Floyd Tribute Band.
He said each band member plays the part of one of the original Pink Floyd members. Szczepanowski performs as David Gilmour.
“I think it is incredibly rare,” said Szczepanowski. “Our approach is we essentially try to perform like the original band.”
Creating the authenticity of Pink Floyd goes beyond the band members and extends to the equipment.
Szczepanowski said that some other tribute bands are essentially a “tongue-in-cheek” performance, but the Pigs perform like a real band onstage.
“We bring a real aggressive rock ’n’ roll feeling,” he said. “We let it rip a little.”
The guitarist has listened to Pink Floyd’s music thousands of times now, he said, but when he listens to The Dark Side of the Moon, it still affects him.
“It still has the power to move me a little bit. There is still some magic in there,” said Szczepanowski.
The Pigs restrict their repertoire to music Pink Floyd made before 1983. However, the group does make an exception for the song Coming Back to Life from The Division Bell, which was released in 1994.
“It’s quite natural to do it. We did it and people in the audience really responded and it was beautiful,” said Szczepanowski.
Szczepanowski said he got into guitar playing because of girls.
He was in Grade 12 and the theatre program was producing the play Grease. When a part came up that needed a guitar player Szczepanowski said he could play the instrument.
“I wanted to play something cool to hit on the girl playing Sandy,” said Szczepanowski. “I learned to play the guitar real fast.”
Pigs: Canada’s Most Authentic Pink Floyd Tribute Band, presented by Ghostfinger Productions, will perform on Oct. 15 at 7:30 p.m. at the Port Theatre.
Tickets are $38 available in advance by calling 250-754-8550 or www.porttheatre.com.
For more information please go to www.canadapinkfloyd.com.
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