Several Species is the ideal tribute band.
“We don’t think we’re Pink Floyd or act or dress like them,” says Drummer Matt Zoll. “That’s not what we’re about. We give people what they paid for. We have one big Pink Floyd party and let it all out.”
“A lot of the music we play Pink Floyd has never played live and never will,” Zoll continued. “People love to see [Pink Floyd’s songs] live and loud.”
Beyond Pink Floyd’s sounds, Several Species re-creates the experimental rock group’s impressive laser, video and lighting spectacles.
On Saturday, expect the 11-member group to come out hard and then take you on a roller coaster ride, Zoll said. “Then we’ll get mellow before ramping everyone back up for even harder and more cosmic parts.”
Zoll, who has played with two other Several Species members since they were 13 years old, says part of the band’s enduring enthusiasm is their limited show schedule. Several Species, which formed in 1996, only performs about four times a year to sold-out, packed venues.
While other tribute bands regress to impersonator status, ride the coattails of the inspiring band’s successes and focus on making money, Several Species remains Pink Floyd fans who love to play Pink Floyd’s music, Zoll added.
“We’re not in it to make money. Everybody has day jobs. We just have a great respect and admiration for the music. And I think the crowd can get a sense of how much we enjoy it. All the money we make we turn around and put it back into the show.”
“I love the spectacle of [the show]. I’d love to sit in the audience for this show, and I use to before I joined them 11 years ago,” says front man Marc Davis.
[email protected]
IF YOU GO
Several Species — The Pink Floyd Experience
- Venue: Pier Six Pavilion
- 731 Eastern Ave., Baltimore
- When: Gates open 6 p.m. Saturday
- Tickets: $25 to $42.50
- Info: 410-783-4189, piersixpavilion.com
YOU CAN’T BE SERIOUS
Several Species’ name comes from the song “Several Species of Small Furry Animals Gathered Together In A Cave And Grooving With A Pict,” off the Pink Floyd album “Ummagumma.” The song features noises resembling cave animals chirping and squealing while Pink Floyd bassist and songwriter Roger Waters performs stanzas in a Scottish brogue.
