My Homework Assignment for the Pink Floyd Tribute
I’m driving five hours next month to visit old friends in Ypsilanti, MI. Not that we should need an excuse to gather, but we like to have one. This time, we’re playing sets at a Pink Floyd tribute concert at the Savoy. Since I can often play bass and sing simultaneously without falling over, I get to be Roger Waters for the night. I guess I should start the evening by alienating my guitar player. Until then, I’ve got less than a month to memorize a load of material I’ve never attempted previously.
Pink Floyd – “In the Flesh?” from The Wall (Captiol)
I wasn’t keen to choose much of anything from The Wall, but my friend Eric (David Gilmour) thinks it’s an obvious opening number. I suppose he’s right. Oh, wait – I’m Roger. I meant to say, that prat’s never had a good idea in his life and doesn’t know what he’s talking about. I refuse to do it, and will play “Birdy Hop” by Syd Barrett instead.
Pink Floyd – “Fat Old Sun” from Atom Heart Mother (Captiol)
I got to choose three songs for the set with no argument from the guys. This was my first choice for that list. I never spent much time with Atom Heart Mother, but I got to see Gilmour perform “Fat Old Sun” (with the late Richard Wright on keys, no less) on his last tour. It’s a charming tune, and I fell for it.
Pink Floyd – “Us and Them” from Dark Side of the Moon (Captiol)
Here’s my third-place “no arguments” selection. I think I was expected to go for the super-psychedelic extremes of Syd’s material, but I always thought this tune was a beauty. I and eleventy-billion other record-buying fans can’t be all wrong, right? I love the saxophone solo from Dick Parry. I hope we’ve got a stand-in for him at the gig.
Pink Floyd – “Have a Cigar” from Wish You Were Here (Captiol)
My second “no-argue” choice. This is as close to dirty funk as Floyd got. We should have plenty of help with the line, “oh, by the way, which one’s Pink?”
Pink Floyd – “Pigs (Three Different Ones)” from Animals (Captiol)
John from Ann Arbor’s Mumble is singing this one with every mote of dripping sarcasm at his command.
Pink Floyd – “Set the Controls for the Heart of the Sun” from A Saucerful of Secrets (Captiol)
I’d better make sure we’re not following the roadmap from the live version on Ummagumma.
Pink Floyd – “Nobody Home” from The Wall (Captiol)
I’m expecting everyone in the room to do the Gomer Pyle bit.
Pink Floyd – “Careful with that Axe, Eugene” from Relics (Captiol)
Apparently, since I’m Roger, I have to figure out how to do those eerie shrieks. They sound painful, but no guts, no glory.
Pink Floyd – “Comfortably Numb” from The Wall (Captiol)
It’s either this or “Run Like Hell.”
Pink Floyd – “Eclipse” from Dark Side of the Moon (Captiol)
How could you finish with anything else?
