Classic Albums Live: Dark Side of the Moon
Photos and Pen by Todd McFliker
On October 9th, Classic Albums Live brought Pink Floyd’s timeless The Dark Side of the Moon to life with a stellar performance at Stage 954, located inside The Casino at Dania Beach. Since its launch in Toronto in 2003, the concert series has celebrated iconic albums by performing them in their entirety. “We play the greatest music ever made,” the late great Craig Martin, CAL Producer, explained in 2014. “And South Florida is always receptive to the good stuff. It’s a perfect marriage.”
With hundreds of shows annually featuring a rotating lineup drawn from a core group of musicians, Classic Albums Live has been entertaining locals for years. The Canadian ensemble has performed at venues throughout the area, paying tribute to legendary artists, including the Beatles, the mighty Led Zeppelin and the Doors. “The trips to South Florida are always fantastic,” said drummer, guitarist and vocalist Ryan Granville Martin. “It’s always a treat playing down here. If I see a palm tree, that means I am far from home in Canada.”
“Dark Side was the first album that Classic Albums Live ever did,” said lead guitarist and vocalist Rob Phillips. “If you think about classic albums, the first one that comes to mind is Dark Side. It’s synonymous with the classic album. We’ve done it hundreds of times over the 23 years that we’ve been together. It’s a pleasure to be able to play it… And when we come down here, there’s no one who’s afraid to look like they’re having too much fun.”
Spanning generations, The Dark Side of the Moon is an innovative concept album examining social alienation. Recorded at Abbey Road Studios, the original record from 1973 stands as one of top-sellers of all time, having sat on the US Billboard Top 200 chart for over fifteen years. To date, the record has sold over 45 million copies across the globe. One in every fourteen Americans under the age of 50 has it in his or her personal library. And before Dark Side, crowds were silent at Floyd’s live engagements. But the record’s overwhelming success changed their performances forever. The complex album contains psychedelic songs that explore human nature with themes such as birth, time, greed, conflict, travel, mental illness, and death. “When Craig picked shows to put on, they had to have some type of cultural significance throughout the ages,” said keyboardist and vocalist Tony Exposito.
Inside the venue, the mood was relaxed, with middle-aged Pink Floyd fans gathered simply to enjoy the music. Dressed entirely in black, the musicians performed in a very Floydian manner without props or elaborate stage setups. Subtle lighting projections on the walls provided the only visual effects. From the opening heartbeats on “Speak To Me/ Breathe” many folks in the room were brought back to our childhoods, listening to the masterpiece on vinyl. A person could see how the remarkable musicians fed off one another onstage. CAL moved straight ahead into the ideal texture of “On the Run.” Audience members roared to the chiming alarm clock that Phillips held up to introduce “Time,” as well as to the piano-driven “Great Gig in the Sky.” The familiar clinking coins and cash registers supplied a long introduction to “Money.” The poignant bass led us through the single that changed everything for the band. “The sax solo in ‘Money’ is played in a 7/4 time signature. So when you are trying to recreate it, note for note, it’s a lot to handle,” said horn player Alex Bodytko. “It’s funny because my dad used to listen to this album before I even played sax.
Concertgoers were easily delighted by the gorgeous sax in “Us And Them,” the instrumental “Any Colour You Like” and the sinister “Brain Damage” before a passionate “Eclipse” closed the enduring set. Tear. Spectators were thrilled to experience another 45 minutes of bonus Floyd material, including the ode to Syd Barrett, “Shine On You Crazy Diamond.” No surprise, “Another Brick in the Wall, Part II” was a highlight of the evening. Countless supporters stood up and hollered in approval, tossing their arms in the air while chanting “Hey, teacher. Leave them kids alone.” “It’s very special to play such nostalgic music,” said vocalist Nicole Robinson. “You can see people reliving their pasts and still enjoying it.”
Sticking to the 1979 masterpiece, The Wall, “Mother” was performed on acoustic guitar. The number induced a tremendous energy from both the stage and in the seats. “Wish You Were “Here” and “One of These Days” were followed by the night’s beautiful swan song, “Comfortably Numb.” Stage 954 was filled with massive applause and standing ovations.
CAL will be back in South Florida on Saturday, December 12th to recreate Van Halen’s 1984. “The goal at Classic Albums Live is to make and celebrate great music,” claimed guitarist and vocalist Paulo Clayton.” Mission accomplished.
