“So ya, thought ya, might like to go to the show.”

What can I say that I haven’t already said about The Floyd? I’ve been covering their shows since 2014, and have never been disappointed. The combination of Vincent Gates (guitars, bass guitar, lead vocals), Dean Rossi (drums), Curt Mitchell (guitars, slide guitar, vocals), Lisa McCuiston (bass guitar, guitars, tambourine, vocals), Rob Lawrence (keyboards, vocals) and Jeff Laakso (keyboards, saxophones, guitars, vocals) is hard to beat when it comes to recreating the iconic compositions of Pink Floyd.

These are songs that are so recognizable that you can’t fudge on a drum fill or guitar lick (maybe a little bit) without being called out for it. To pull it off, you have to learn the material inside out — and that’s what they have done. The personal touch can’t help but emerge during solos, and Curt gets personal with his blistering guitar solos.  They are breathtaking. As are Lisa’s vocals, and Dean’s rhythms, and Jeff’s … and Vince’ s… and Rob’s … You get the message. Everybody is over and above.

There is no shortage of production or theatrics in a show by The Floyd, either. From Jeff Laakso starting the night off in character as “Pink” (from The Wall) complete with a Pink Floyd military cap and aviator glasses on,  to perfectly synched authentic Floyd video clips on the round screen and sound effects, this is as close to a Pink Floyd experience as you will ever get. Included in all this is thousands of dollars in professional lighting and lasers that are choreographed to the music.

I took my 31-year-old son with me to this one on Saturday night at the Bob Boldrick Theatre in Carson City. He has been aware of The Floyd through me for the past several years, but had never attended a show. He was absolutely blown away. He had no idea of the size and scope of the shows, how professionally they are put together, or how awesome the musicians are. Now, he will be telling his friends about them, and the crowd will get bigger. That’s how it works.

Part of my mission on sharing these stories and photos with you all is to get more people out to enjoy live music in our community. It’s amazing how much homegrown talent there is in our community. Additionally, The Floyd and Lisa McCuiston have both taken home Forte Awards for their talent. Plus, we have vast opportunities to see national touring acts without having to drive three hours. We are blessed.

 — Nick McCabe