Australian Pink Floyd expects to bring an intergenerational audience to Fantasy Springs

It's been almost three decades since the progressive rock band Pink Floyd played its last tour. Aside from a brief reunion for a 2005 charity concert and to finish an album released in 2014, there are no plans to reform.

The tribute band Australian Pink Floyd has been filling the live experience void ever since and delivers the original's live experience from the '60s to the stadium tours of the '80s and '90s featuring first-rate production of magnificent visuals with light and lasers, video animation, high resolution and LED screens and giant flying inflatable animals.

Since forming in 1988, the band has sold over five million tickets and performed in 35 countries.

Australian Pink Floyd will take the stage on Aug. 19 at Fantasy Springs Resort Casino. The band will perform "Dark Side Of The Moon" in its entirety in celebration of the album's 50th anniversary, along with a mix of songs from the early years to the David Gilmour era.

Chris Barnes, who joined the group in 2015, told The Desert Sun there are many songs to choose from across so many periods, it's difficult to create a broad setlist.

"(Pink Floyd) isn't a rock band, space rock band or a psychedelic rock band. They played everything from pop songs to stadium rock to modern rock music. Pink Floyd needs its own category (of music) where they're the only ones in it," Barnes said.

Fostering an intergenerational audience

When describing the ages of people in the audience of shows, Barnes said "8 to 80 years old" and a mixture of fans who were fortunate to see Pink Floyd perform live in the past and want a taste of the experience again and a younger audience who never got to experience the live production.

Barnes described himself among the latter, but saw a 2006 concert by vocalist and guitarist David Gilmour and keyboardist Richard Wright, and several performances by former bassist Roger Waters.

He said both younger and older audiences are now coming together to "quench their thirst" for Pink Floyd in a live environment.

"I've noticed the audiences are a lot younger in the United States than other territories we play, which is nice to see. (Pink Floyd) does appeal to all generations, and I think as much as parents bring their kids, my oldest daughter and her friends discovered Pink Floyd through social media. We would have discovered it through the radio or someone else having the record," Barnes said.

Keeping an 'Australian flavor'

Even though Australian Pink Floyd is a cover band, the members have incorporated some "Australian flavor" in the presentation, including an inflatable kangaroo.

Barnes said all of these things were in place when he saw Australian Pink Floyd perform in 1999, and it's become more "amplified" as technology advanced.

“Some of the videos on the screen have Aussie imagery involved in them, and the branding on our merchandise has Australian flavor to it, because that’s what the band has built its reputation on over the last 35 years and become known for,” Barnes said. “But at the the heart of everything is the music, and the music is treated with extreme respect. It’s an honor to play this music because it’s so good.”

The original band's perception

Tribute bands are typically started by fans — who are also musicians — who emulate the original group in appearance and/or sound. The good ones become just as popular as the original and go on international tours. Some have earned praise and respect of the bands they emulate.

What do the members of Pink Floyd think about their Aussie counterparts?

At least two members are fans. Frontman David Gilmour invited the band to perform at his 50th birthday celebration in 1996 and drummer Nick Mason said in a Yorkshire Evening Post article that "they're probably better than we were."

"You couldn't ask for a better compliment from the people whose music you're playing," said Barnes.

If you go

What: Australian Pink Floyd concert

When: 8 p.m., Saturday, Aug. 19

Where: Fantasy Springs Resort Casino, 84-245 Indio Springs Parkway, Indio

How much: $49 to $59

More information: fantasyspringsresort.com

Brian Blueskye covers arts and entertainment for the Desert Sun. He can be reached at brian.blueskye@desertsun.com or on Twitter at @bblueskye.

This article originally appeared on Palm Springs Desert Sun: Australian Pink Floyd to bring intergenerational audience to Indio