Photo credit: Jessica Brothers
U.S. based Pink Floyd tribute band, Floyd Nation, have released their take on the track “Have A Cigar.” The original featured on Wish You Were Here, in 1975. 50 years later, Floyd Nation recorded their version at Abbey Road Studios, where the classic album was crafted. Check it out below.
“Recording “Have a Cigar” at Abbey Road Studios gave us a real, and unexpected, boost of inspiration and focus,” shares Floyd Nation’s Brendon McDonnell. “Our take on this song is a modern, but true-to-form, version that allows us to stretch out a bit while still capturing the rawness of the original track. The experience felt bigger than just doing a cover. It felt like we were stepping into the history of it.”
The band marries vintage musicality with modern technology to keep the spirit of the original alive with an unparalleled attention to detail. They recorded the track in the same studio where Pink Floyd recorded Wish You Were Here, using period-specific instruments like the Wurlitzer Electric Piano and VCS3 synthesizer used on the original.
To coincide with the release of the new single, Floyd Nation has also announced that they have signed with Reliant Talent Agency for representation worldwide. Working with founding partner Matt McGuire, they join an impressive roster that boasts legacy artists and household names such as Van Morrison, Mavis Staples, Roger Daltrey, Everclear, John Waite, and more.
Arriving on the heels of their debut single “Welcome to the Machine,” “Have A Cigar” builds upon the work of painstakingly recreating the Pink Floyd “feel” while embodying their own original art, legacy and spirit. “Everybody brings a different perspective of the detail and ideal,” shares guitarist and vocalist Will Kaiser. “Everybody respects the way each other hears their parts, the songs, so we all make adjustments and collectively fine-tune it together.”
Recently selling out shows on their Wish We Were There Tour!, which saw them play key venues across North America and take audiences on an immersive sonic and visual journey, Floyd Nation has been proudly carrying the torch of Pink Floyd since first forming in 2021. Spending a full year working on their acclaimed live show, which delivers an authentic Pink Floyd experience complete with a custom-designed laser and light show, Floyd Nation has made waves for pushing the envelope to inject a little bit of themselves into the music while laser-focused on preserving the vibe and integrity of Pink Floyd in everything they do.
Musically and emotionally connected, Floyd Nation and its nine members – Will Kaiser (vocals, guitars), Brendon McDonnell (vocals, guitars), Jason Collins (bass), John Conrath (saxophone), Robert Harris (keyboards), Ray Nesbit (vocals, guitars), Justin Pupillo (drums), Toneisha Harris (backing vocals), Mandi Jo John (backing vocals) – are larger than the sum of its parts and operate with hearts and minds as expansive as Pink Floyd’s music.
Follow Floyd Nation:
https://www.instagram.com/floydnationlive/
https://www.facebook.com/floydnationlive/
https://open.spotify.com/artist/0QyuViVYHRZ1wMucU8eXda
https://music.apple.com/us/artist/floyd-nation/1831291971
https://www.youtube.com/channel/UCzX-eiyXZRY46SU9pohMk4Q
https://floydnation.live/have-a-cigar