Fifty years of popularity in the music industry is a stunning feat in this day and age of instant gratification that favors the latest and greatest. Few bands see their albums remain extraordinarily relevant and still consistently churning new fans a half century past the initial release. This is certainly the case for Pink Floyd's Dark Side of the Moon, which celebrates fifty years as an album this year, and continues to be a shepherd for new fans into the classic rock genre.
Pink Talking Fish, the jam rock cover band that features the work of Pink Floyd, The Talking Heads and Phish, decided to elevate the fiftieth anniversary festivities by playing this iconic album in it's entirety at shows during 2023. The first such tribute occurred last Friday, February 17, 2023 at The Vogel in Red Bank, NJ for a packed house of fans. Psychedelic funk rockers Fungkshui, from neighboring Asbury Park, NJ, provided their support.
The Garden State quartet Fungkshui took the stage first, and lead the music on a experimental, genre bending journey into jam rock and funk. The band consists of guitarist and founder Jack Reed, guitarist Max Vitale, Drummer Kyle Donovan, and Bassist Jon Scheps.
After a quick break, Pink Talking Fish emerged from shadows to dive head first into Dark Side of the Moon. The first three songs, "Speak to Me" > "Breathe" > "One the Run," were woven together well. It was perhaps at this point that those who has not heard realized that the band was covering the famed Pink Floyd album. The band breezed through "Time," "Great Gig in the Sky," and "Money." The band closed out the set strong with "Us and Them" > " Any Colour You Like" > "Brain Damage" > "Eclipse."
The band returned for a second set mix of classic PTF combinations. This began with Phish's "The Curtain" > The Talking Head's "Girlfriend," which tastily transitioned into part of "The Curtain With." "Young Lust" by Pink Floyd and "Nothing But Flowers" by The Talking Heads followed, and transitioned into Phish's "Run Like an Antelope." The band was joined on stage by none other than Phish lyricist Tom Marshall, who resides in New Jersey and sang the famed lyrics that he helped write many years ago.
This fun and enjoyable set rolled on with "Astronomy Domine" by Pink Floyd into a high energy "Cities." The set wrapped up Phishy with a dark but delightful "My Friend My Friend" into 2001. The crowd was on their feet and thirty for more, which the band obliged via The Talking Heads with Remain in the Light's "Once in a Lifetime." This flowed into an "Eclipse Reprise," and ended the show on a very high note.
Pink Talking Fish is heading to the West Coast as part of their 2023 Winter Tour. They are up next in Bend, Oregon on February 22, 2023 at the Middletown Ballroom. Tickets are available here. Head on over to their tour page for more details about the rest of the tour.
Check out more photos of Fungkshui and Pink Talking Fish from the show!
Fungkshui
Set: Didn’t Know Anything, Vested* > Blue Rat Bastard, Ante Up, Ready To Go, Orange Cadillac, That’ll Do
Notes: * First Time Played
Pink Talking Fish
Set One: Speak To Me > Breathe > On the Run, Time, Great Gig in the Sky, Money, Us and Them > Any Colour You Like > Brain Damage > Eclipse
Set Two: The Curtain > Girlfriend is Better > With, Young Lust, Nothing But Flowers > Run Like an Antelope*, Astronomy Domine > Cities, My Friend My Friend > 2001
Encore: Once In a Lifetime > Eclipse Reprise
Notes: *-w/ Tom Marshall on vocals
