Saturday night at the Teragram Ballroom in Los Angeles, CA, East coast mash-up band, Pink Talking Fish came strong with the deep cuts from the bands they represent (Pink Floyd, Talking Heads, Phish). Don’t call this a cover or tribute band because they’re something more than that, weaving in and out of all three bands music during a show to create a proggy musical tapestry that you can’t help but give mad respect to.
All you have to do is look at the first set and see that the LA show was unique. No “greatest hits”, no “fan favorites”, just a whole lot of deep cut delight. “Flesh>Alumni>Jimmy Page>Psycho Killer>Jimmy Page>Alumni>Astro Domine>Nothing But Flowers” without a stop, seamlessly blending the three bands together beautifully. For the un-indoctrinated, that would be Pink Floyd-Phish-Phish-Talking Heads-Phish-Phish-Pink Floyd-Talking Heads. The set ending with “Root Down” and “Fight For Your Right to Party” by the Beastie Boys, done incredibly well, I might add and certainly riled up the near capacity crowd for second set.
02/01/2020- PTF, Teragram Ballroom, Los Angeles, CA
Set 1
- In the Flesh>
- Alumni Blues>
- Letter to Jimmy Page>
- Psycho Killer>
- Letter to Jimmy Page>
- Alumni Blues>
- Astro Domine>
- Nothing But Flowers
- Reba>
- Root Down
- Fight For Your Right To Party
Once everyone had time to wrap their heads around what they just witnessed during the first set, PTF came out and delivered something a bit more familiar for the ancillary fans of the body of music. Phish’s “Split Open and Melt” to kick it off certainly woke up anyone that was not yet on board. The familiar Pink Floyd classic “Shine On You Crazy Diamond” coming out of Talking Heads’ “Found A Job” kept that going.
Special guest of the evening, Josh Eckhaus, from LA’s own Phish tribute, Great Divide, sat in on the next tune, “Llama”.
One of my favorite Talking Heads songs to hear is Naive Melody. I love it when they do it, Phish does it, anyone. It’s just a great song so when PTF busted out those first few synth notes that are so familiar, I busted out my video setting. Judging from the people all singing along, I’m not the only one with this opinion.
They closed out the set with Pink Floyd’s “Run Like Hell” into Phish’s “2001”, a counterpoint to the first set Beastie Boys closer. But, as they say in the infomercials…there’s more. The crowd wouldn’t let them leave without one more and the band literally walked off the stage, turned around and came right back for a nice rendition of George Harrison’s “While My Guitar Gently Weeps”. A nice way to end the show.
Set 2
- Split Open and Melt
- Found a Job>
- Shine on You Crazy Diamond
- Llama
- This Must Be the Place (Naive Melody)
- Run Like Hell>
- 2001
E: While My Guitar Gently Weeps
I would be remiss if I didn’t mention the 5th member of PTF, their Lighting Designer and all around bad ass, Vin Pugliese. To say that Vin crushed the visuals on Saturday night would be a gross understatement. Good job Vin! Please keep your eyes (and ears) peeled for an upcoming interview with Vin taking a look behind the curtain at what make the LD from PTF tick.
Los Angeles based Alligators, opened up the night. They play tribute to Grateful Dead keyboardist, Ron “Pigpen” McKernan and his catalogue of music.
Special thanks to Spin Cycle Presents for giving SN.com access!
