Pink Floyd tribute band to rock out in Port Townsend

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Few bands have reached the icon status of British rock legends Pink Floyd, known for their progressive, psychedelic tunes that distinguished the group from their peers.

Whether it was groundbreaking album “The Dark Side of the Moon,” that elevated Pink Floyd from a cult following to a household name, or “Wish You Were Here” displaying guitarist David Gilmour’s incredible guitar skills, the band is among the Rushmore of classic rock.

Inspired by the band’s innovative and truly unique sound, layered lyricism, and social commentary, local tribute band Pigs on the Wing (named after a track from Pink Floyd’s 1977 album “Animals”) will bring the band’s music to Port Townsend.

Pigs on the Wing will perform at 8:30 p.m. Thursday, July 29 and Friday, July 30 at the American Legion Hall on the Water and Monroe streets intersection. Each performance will feature unique sets, with Friday’s  show featuring “The Dark Side of the Moon” in its entirety. On Saturday, Pigs on the Wing will perform “Wish You Were Here” in its entirety. Both concerts will have a full second set of mixed Floyd classics.

Doors open at 8 with the show starting at 8:30 p.m. Advance tickets cost $25, tickets at the door cost $30, and the two-night bundle is $40, with tickets available at bit.ly/3PHEoFZ. Visitors must be 21 or older to attend.

“What I’ve noticed while playing, is being amazed by how Pink Floyd transcends generations. It’s really creative and interesting to play; people adore all of their songs,” said Bryan Fairfield, drummer for Pigs on the Wing.

“As old as we all are, Pink Floyd was around before we were born,” he added.

To be able to experience Pink Floyd’s spacey, atmospheric tunes in an intimate setting is a fantasy now, but Pigs on the Wing will turn that into reality in Port Townsend.

The ultimate compliment Fairfield and his bandmates have heard is folks who’ve been to a Pink Floyd concert in the past saying that Pigs on the Wing’s show sounded like the same performance when they closed their eyes, Fairfield said.

None are bigger fans of the work of Pink Floyd than members Eric Welder (bass/vocals), Holly Brooks (vocals), David Lindenbaum (guitar/vocals), Fairfield (drums), Matt Jones (keys/vocals), and Jason Baker (guitar/vocals) of Pigs on the Wing. And while the band approaches the material with the deepest respect for legacy of the music, they also chart a course suggesting a willingness to push the musical boundaries of a traditional tribute band. 

Tracing their roots to a one-off performance in Portland, Oregon in 2006, Pigs on the Wing has steadily developed a devoted fanbase and a reputation for delivering a high-quality, high-energy take on Pink Floyd’s music, steeped in the Pacific Northwest’s own rich musical heritage.  

Founding members Baker and Jones played gigs in the Portland music scene as part of the band Oxcart before transitioning to Pigs on the Wing.

“We hold really true to the music, we might add a jam part or extra saxophone to play into the elements … our approach is true to the music with a little bit of freedom,” Fairfield said. “Ninety five percent of the music is true to the records.”

The band focuses on 1970s era of Pink Floyd and has recently featured full-album performances of “Dark Side of The Moon,” “Wish You Were Here,” “Animals,” and “The Wall” — as well as a wide range of material from Floyd’s earlier years.

The band members are seasoned veterans of the original Northwest rock scene and balance a decidedly un-tribute-like attitude toward the music with a deep understanding of the precision and importance of Pink Floyd’s music in many fans’ lives. The result is a sound and experience both refreshing in delivery, yet true to the original – something the band believes sets it apart from other Pink Floyd tributes.