Wish You Were Here (Pink Floyd tribute band)

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Wish You Were Here is a Cleveland, Ohio based Pink Floyd tribute band that began in 1987 under the name "The Harvest Pink Floyd Revue". Wish You Were Here is one of the longest continually performing Pink Floyd tribute bands in America.

Contents 1 Concept & Technical Presentation Elements 2 History 3 Current Members & Special Guests 4 DVD Discography 5 Accomplishments 6 External links 7 See also 8 References

[edit] Concept & Technical Presentation Elements

Wish You Were Here performs a theatrical presentation of a Pink Floyd concert experience. Wish You Were Here performs selections from the entire Pink Floyd discography. The show utilizes an 8-piece musical ensemble featuring 4 male and 2 female vocalists, original sound effects, theatrical vignettes with props & characters, and a choreographed light show complete with rolling fog and intelligent lighting. Wish You Were Here attempts to faithfully recreate a Pink Floyd show utilizing a giant inflatable pig similar to the one used for the Animals cover shoot at Battersea Power Station. They have also performed The Wall nine times in 4 cities, staging an authentic theatrical production including the building and tearing down of a wall that spanned the width of the stage, hotel room set pieces, a children's choir, video elements, and costumed characters.

[edit] History

The roots of Wish You Were Here go back to 1987, when bassist/vocalist Eroc Sosinski joined with guitarist/vocalist Jim Tigue in the Cleveland-based classic rock band HARVEST and soon began performing the "Harvest Pink Floyd Revue." The band became TIE-DYE HARVEST in 1991, toured Ohio and surrounding states full-time until the mid-1990s and recorded three original releases along the way. In 1995 the band became known as Wish You Were Here.

Keyboardist Bob Gerhard, a TIE-DYE HARVEST member since 1990, brought his considerable knowledge of Pink Floyd and vintage keyboard sounds to the project, along with original drummer Vince Broncaccio, formerly of the Midwest progressive rock band Fayrewether. Lead guitarist/ vocalist Mark Brennan and percussionist Tim Ginley, both veterans of Cleveland bands Polyphony and the Brennan/Cosma Band, were the first outside additions to the fold, lending their considerable talents to energize and update what had previously been a 4-piece combo. In 1997, sax player Bob Barno was plucked from a smoky blues bar to perform with the band, and Tim Joseph Hanculak took over the drumming position soon after. In 2001, guitarist/vocalist Scott Langston replaced founding member Jim Tigue.

As Wish You Were Here continues their 20 year career new artists join the fold. In 2006, Cincinnati musician Jamie Combs joined on guitar and co-lead vocals. The latest addition to the band is Cleveland drummer Jon Darling who joined in 2007.

[edit] Current Members & Special Guests

• Eroc Sosinski, Bass, Lead Vocals

• Mark Brennan, Lead Guitar, Vocals

• Bob Gerhard, Keyboards, Vocals

• Jon Darling, Drums

• Jamie Combs, Guitar, Lead Vocals

• Sharron McPherson-Foxx, Vocals

• Marla Brennan, Vocals

• Bob Barno, Saxophone

• Special Guest Artists: Irma McQueen, Vocals & Jim Tigue, Guitar and Vocals

[edit] DVD Discography

The DVD Release, "When Pigs Fly - Live in Cleveland" was recorded live at Scene Pavilion (now known as The Plain Dealer Pavilion at Nautica) in Cleveland Ohio on July 16 2005, featuring complete performances of Animals, Wish You Were Here, and The Dark Side of the Moon. The DVD includes:

• Three hours of live concert footage filmed by 7 cameras
• Quadraphonic audio mixed to 5.1 Surround Sound

[edit] Accomplishments

• Wish You Were Here was recognized by Scene Magazine as "Cleveland's best-drawing band". ^[1]

• May, 2002, the band was chosen by Clear Channel Entertainment to headline the FakeFest 2002 Tour, which played to thousands of fans at outdoor sheds in 6 major markets across the Midwest, where the band still regularly tours.

• Wish You Were Here is the "resident" Pink Floyd Tribute Band at the House of Blues in Cleveland (cap. 1350) and has performed six sold-out shows since their debut in January 2005.

• July 2005, recreated the 1977 'Animals' tour at Scene Pavilion now The Plain Dealer Pavilion to over 3,300 fans - with Quadraphonic sound, video projections, lasers, and the debut of their giant inflatable pig, Ziffel.^[2]

• May 2006, the band produced their biggest show ever, recreating the 1973 'Dark Side of the Moon' show at Blossom Music Center in front of over 4,300 fans. ^[3]

• Named "Best Live Act" and "Best Tribute/Cover Band" in the 2006 Scene Magazine Music Awards.^[4].

[edit] External links

• http://www.floydtribute.com
• http://www.myspace.com/floydtribute
• http://floydtribute.proboards23.com/
• Review of Columbus, Ohio Concert

[edit] See also

• List of Pink Floyd tribute bands

[edit] References