Just over a year ago when COVID-19 hit, the music industry worldwide came to a halt hitting the pause button on concerts and music festivals. This had affected many in the industry forcing musicians to find other ways to perform for fans including online streaming and drive-in shows.
Now, just over a year later, concerts are starting to come back in many places but with social distancing, limited venue capacity and other restrictions.
As of April 2021, the Canada-U.S. border remains closed to non-essential travel. While Ontario, Canada is about to go on a month-long shutdown to help fight the virus, it’s a different story on the other side of the border in New York state where many venues in such cities as Buffalo and Niagara Falls are starting to host live music again.
This has been very welcoming for many in the music industry including The Floyd Concept – a Pink Floyd tribute band out of Buffalo who will be playing their first show of 2021 next week at The Rapids Theater in Niagara Falls, NY.
Jack Prybylski, who plays keyboards and sax with The Floyd Concept, is looking forward to getting back on stage again, stating the band went on a hiatus.
“We went through some personnel changes and started regrouping again around November, December of last year,” Jack said in a recent phone interview.
The band’s last show before the pandemic hit was in February 2020. Shows after that ended up being cancelled or postponed.
Last July The Floyd Concept played a drive-in show in Lockport, NY and two shows in Warren, PA last October. The latter shows were rescheduled five times. More shows will follow beginning this June.
When asked if the show itself had to have any modifications due to the pandemic, Jack said the shows will still be two and half hours long and no changes will be made as far as music and visuals.
“The shows that we did in October, we did two 90-minute shows so that they could do the reduced capacity. Our show at The Rapids Theater is going to be the full two-and-a-half-hour show. And everything that we have seen coming in for the future is still looking like the same duration, maybe limited attendance because of the required state requirements.
“We have a 10-foot video screen to show the videos. We have a laser light show and a massive light show, as well,” Jack added.
The Floyd Concept was originally called Hey You when it began in 2010 but the name changed in 2016. The current line-up also includes Tom Bender (lead vocals, guitars), Dan Bird (drums, vocals, percussions), Michael Digaetano (keyboards and only original member left), Ron LoCurto (vocals, guitars) and Paul Yates (bass).
Jack, who is an accomplished musician and producer, admits he wasn’t always a Pink Floyd fan until he joined The Floyd Concept two years ago.
“I am a big Pink Floyd fan now. I was not (before),” Jack laughed, adding, “I mean, back in their heyday, like in the 70s and the 80s, I was aware of the hits. But being a sax player, that period of time was, you know, I was more into Chicago, Earth, Wind and Fire and all the horn bands. So I did not and I had not seen them in their heyday but I have become a big fan.”
Besides playing in The Floyd Concept, Jack has also released three solo albums in contemporary jazz. He is in the Buffalo Music Hall of Fame and has won many awards. His album, Out of the Box (2010) had two Grammy nominations and featured the number one single Down To It.
“It was actually produced by two Canadians. The two guys that are Four80East, Rob DeBoer and Tony Grace,” Jack pointed out.
The Floyd Concept is looking forward to playing more shows and possibly traveling outside the U.S. once things open up more in the U.S. and elsewhere.
“We would love to come into Canada as soon as they let us cross the Peace Bridge or Rainbow Bridge. If somebody would like us, we will be there,” said Jack.
In the meantime, you can catch Jack with The Floyd Concept on April 9 at 6 PM when they play a socially distanced and limited capacity show at The Rapids Theater.
You’ll be sure to hear all of the hits including Money, Wish You Were Here, Another Brick in the Wall and beloved album cuts like Shine on You Crazy Diamond, Welcome to the Machine and more!
For tickets and more info visit www.thefloydconcept.com
You can follow The Floyd Concept on their other socials as well:
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*** WIN TICKETS TO SEE THE FLOYD CONCEPT APRIL 9 IN NIAGARA FALLS – CLICK HERE! ***
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