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PINK FLOYD LASER SHOW |
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XTRA XTRA WEB ONLY FEATURELASER LIGHTS DANCE TO MUSIC OF FLOYD
by Ernie Thomas
Ask anyone who has ever attended a concert by the band Pink Floyd and they will likely comment first on the mind-melting visuals employed by the band as accompaniment to their psychedelic/progressive music.
The amazing custom-designed lighting effects and the heavy use of lasers are what has always set apart a Pink Floyd show from every other touring band, great or small. In terms of sights and sounds working in tandem, a live Pink Floyd concert experience is wholly unique and second to none.
While the Brooklyn heavy metal band Blue Oyster Cult were the first to introduce the use of lasers into a rock concert setting during the late 1970s, it was Pink Floyd who evolved lasers from a nifty parlor trick to an art form unto itself.
Though the band members themselves will not be on stage performing this evening, the authentic recordings of Pink Floyd will be pumped throughout the confines of Merrillville’s Star Plaza Theatre in full stereo effect as the well-seasoned crew of Steve Monistere’s Pink Floyd Laser Spectacular present a breathtaking laser light show computer-choreographed to the familiar strains of the Pink Floyd songbook.
“The first half of the show is the complete ‘Dark Side Of The Moon’ album from start to finish,” explained Monistere of the show’s structure. “The second half is what we call ‘The Best Of Pink Floyd’ show and it has a lot of the songs from ‘The Wall” in it, with some from “Wish You Were Here’ and others.”
Since Monistere first began producing his “Pink Floyd Laser Spectacular” in 1986, the demand and the audience has steadily grown larger, to the point where the show now performs outside of the U.S. and there is talk of creating a second production to enable the show to visit more cities each season.
“About ten years prior [to me doing this], a few planetariums around the country –– one in New York and the Griffin Observatory in Los Angeles among them –– had been experimenting with doing 15-20 minute laser shows using the music of Pink Floyd,” recalled Monistere. “Those were good shows, even though they were small productions. People came out every weekend, so they were on to something.”
After checking out one of the planetarium shows, the veteran event producer’s brain went into overdrive as he rightly predicting that a generation weaned on “Star Trek” and “Star Wars” would likely flock to something that utilized laser technology on a much grander scale.
“I took the laid back [planetarium] concept and produced it up into a bigger theater-style rock show. We gave it a shot in a few markets and it worked. We’ve just kept rolling with it ever since, constantly evolving and updating the show,” he said.
“Technology has improved tremendously over the last 20 years and we’ve updated and changed the show accordingly,” he continued. “ The show changes a little bit each year to keep it fresh, but then about every three to four years, it goes through a total revamping. This year we are going through one of those revamps, which should be completed by fall. So if you see the show now [at Star Plaza Theatre] and then come back and see it again around October or November, it will be completely different.”
The Pink Floyd Laser Spectacular utilizes the Roger Waters/David Gilmour-era of the band’s music and does not delve back to their early Syd Barrett years. That decision is not based on the quality of the Barrett-era music, but rather the quality of the early recordings.
“When you are pumping music through a giant, state-of-the-art concert sound system, it becomes evident what sounds good and what doesn’t. Those early recordings just don’t have the kind of quality sound we need,” explained Monistere, whose show has the blessing and permission of the Pink Floyd organization and their London management.
“We have a special arrangement through their video department where we sell and promote a video titled, ‘The Making Of The Dark Side Of The Moon’, from which some short clips are used here and there during the show itself to some extent,” added Monistere.
The arrangement works well for the band, not only in regards to their video, but also their albums. Soundscan sales tracking reports generally indicate noticeable sales spikes in Pink Floyd catalog product in cities recently visited by Monistere’s laser show.
“When we go into a market, there’s usually a rise in CD sales after we leave,” said Monistere. “What’s happening is that a LOT of young come see the show. I’m not going to say they never heard of Pink Floyd, but after seeing the show they fall in love with the music and go out and buy it.”
Out of an audience of say 1,000 people, Monistere estimates half are older than age 24 with twenty percent of those older than 35. The rest range between 15 and 24.
“While we do generally get a young crowd, this is the kind of show where you see a 15-year-old sitting next to a 50-year-old and both of them are enjoying the experience they are sharing. This is one of the few shows that you will ever see that sort of thing happen,” he crowed proudly.
Proceeds from tonight’s Star Plaza performance of Pink FLoyd Laser Spectacular will benefit The Caring Place of Valparaiso.
A United Way Agency, The Caring Place provides services and shelter to victims of domestic violence and sexual assault and their dependent children from Lake, Porter and Starke Counties.
“PINK FLOYD LASER LIGHT SHOW” performs APRIL 8th at Star Plaza Theatre in Merrillville, IN
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