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  • The Capital Times article from Oct 8, 2009

    Under the covers: Tribute bands channel the spirit and sound of the originals
    By KATJUSA CISAR - The Capital Times - October 8, 2009



    There are a lot of Pink Floyd tributes out there, but the seven-piece Eclipse out of Nashville must be the Lexus of the bunch. The band didn't chat up the audience, wear special costumes, fly a pink pig above the stage or have a crazy light show. It's just a group of very skilled musicians who play Pink Floyd straight and achingly well.

    "It's very gratifying," guitarist Tod Weidner said in the dressing room before the show. Most people think of "the fat guy in the Elvis costume" when they think of a tribute act. But for the members of Eclipse - who all play in original bands, too - it's a good way to travel around and actually make money playing music, he said.

    The 134 people who turned out to hear them got swept up into the experience. One 22-year-old guy and his father stood next to each other, transfixed. The son, wearing a Pink Floyd T-shirt, skipped his left hand along an imaginary guitar fret and flung himself against the railing in front of him. He nearly lost it at Blair Smart's sax solo during "Shine On You Crazy Diamond," gripping his head in ecstasy.

    Later, he shouted at his father excitedly, "It's almost like Richard Wright is right here, right now!"
    7:44 PM
    • Post a comment...
      • Don Avet

        I'm glad that someone else has the opinions I have about Eclipse,having seen pink floyd,and they were by far the best band I've seen live(and I have seen them all)Eclipse plays songs that pink floyd didn't play,and played them all exceptionally.I can't wait to see them again and again,and will always try to bring new fans to their shows,evryone I brought feel the same as I do,Bonnie gives me goosebumps,and Blair blows me away,and as a guitarist,I get chills watching the solos from one guitar to the other and back and forth,rock on eclipse,don avet

        3 years ago

  • Show Review - Pittsburgh 5/22/09 - by Dewey Gurall

    Current mood:thankful

    This review was written by one Dewey Gurall who attended our Pittsburgh show.  Thanks Dewey!

    ECLIPSE at the Hard Rock Cafe, Pittsburgh 5/22/09
       
        There are different ways to approach the whole tribute band thing. The extreme would be Montreal's The Musical Box, who recreate Genesis stage shows down to the lighting, clothing, even between song banter. But the live appeal of the early Genesis was so completely dependent on Mr. Gabriel's flamboyance, it's necessary for a complete presentation of that music. While Pink Floyd were famous for elaborate stage shows, it was never about costumes or personal theatrics or little else that would fit into a small club.
        Which leaves the music. And that's what Eclipse wisely concentrate on. These seven extremely talented people tackle every overdub, every sound effect and nuance of a catalog filled with them. Having three guitarists means no part goes unplayed and, most surprisingly, all three can pull off an astounding version of a screaming Gilmour solo.
        Opening with a medley from "The Wall", it becomes apparent from the opening chords of "In The Flesh" that the thing that separates Eclipse from other P.F. tribute bands is the power, energy, and just plain heaviness of this band. They also pull a cool move when they throw in most of "What Shall We Do Now" before the inevitable, "Another Brick...Pt. 2".
        The set itself didn't include any real surprises- other than "Arnold Layne", no pre-"Dark Side" material on this particular night, though I'm told they have it in their repetoire. All of the "Wish You Were Here" album gets an airing, with one of the keyboardists (sorry I didn't catch their names) beautifully handling "Shine On"s sax solo.
        "Pigs (Three Different Ones)" and a truncated but nearly metallic "Sheep" represent "Animals", and all of "Dark Side" (minus "On The Run" and "Any Colour You Like") end the set proper, with "Comfortably Numb" the encore and perfect end to a great night. Special mention must be made of the other keyboardist (sorry again but even their Myspace doesn't say who plays what) who took on "The Great Gig In The Sky". Not an easy task, and she was astonishing. Somewhere in the Great Beyond, Rick Wright was smiling.
        The best thing about Eclipse is that they do more than just re-create this classic music. They add their own touches- a little here, a little there, never too much , and never, dare I say, sacrilegious. Again, mostly it's just additional power and energy.
        The standard to judge them by, I suppose, is The Australian Pink Floyd Show, who boast the lights ( or a close approximation thereof) from the late eighties/early nineties era Floyd, and a huge cast including backing vocalists and percussionists. They are impressive. They re-create the P.F. experience precisely.
        But, for me, they lack a certain emotional core. Not even taking into consideration the enormous difference in ticket prices of the two, I'd prefer to see Eclipse. They don't play this music like it's a classical recital but like fans who love it. After all, it is, at the end of the day, rock and roll, right?
        I've always been ambivalent about the whole tribute band thing. But when it comes to prog bands, I think it's a good fit. This is music that is not being played (or rarely) by it's originators anymore and whether it's for the next generation just discovering it, or old schmucks like me who just want to hear some great live music we know and love, a good prog tribute is a great night out.
        So when Eclipse come around again, I'll be there. Besides, they promised me "Dogs" next time out.
    2:48 PM

  • Connect Savannah Interview - April 6, 2009



    April 06, 2009


    Wish they were here?


    Pink Floyd tribute act hits the Live Wire



    • By Jim Reed
    • jim.r@connectsavannah.com
    • 912-721-4385



      Eclipse (a Pink Floyd Tribute Band)


      Eclipse (a Pink Floyd Tribute Band)












       
      When I catch up with Tod Weidner, the construction worker is on a cell phone in the rural countryside near Dayton, Oh. (where he was born and raised). He’s hard at work restoring an old barn.

      However, within just a few short days of our lengthy conversation, the guitarist and songwriter will be onstage at a River St. music venue, bathed in colored lights and playing note for note solos as part of the seven-piece Nashville-based Pink Floyd tribute band Eclipse.

      Construction worker by day, rock star by night. It’s kind of like Flashdance — only with Strats and synths instead of chairs and water buckets.

      Weidner’s not the only one in this band leading something of a double life. The lineup —which is generating almost fawning praise most everywhere they go for crafting an almost eerily accurate recreation of the legendary British psychedelic rock group’s entire catalog— also contains “a nuclear medical technician, sales reps, nannies, printers and designers and coffee barristas.” Says Weidner with a chuckle, “It’s all walks of life, really.”

      Perhaps the only thing the band’s current members have in common is their deep-rooted, passionate love of all things Floyd. That, and the fact they all have —at one time or another— been involved in making their own original music.

      “That’s one of the great things about a group like this,” explains Weidner. “It’s a real challenge to get inside this music and find out what makes it tick. You come away with a much greater understanding of song structure, which hopefully you can also apply to your own work.”

      “I’m always picking up some compositional tips from the masters, and hopefully some of that will rub off on my originals.”

      For now, however, Weidner’s own tunes are taking a backseat to the job at hand: growing Eclipse into one of the world’s most well-known and respected purveyors of Pink Floyd’s infamously complex and mind-bending prog-pop. So far, it would seem that plan is going swimmingly.

      Although the group was formed in 2006 by drummer Brian Kirsch, it was only last fall —around the time Weidner joined— that the group started to generate buzz for infusing note-for-note simulations of the band’s anthemic, larger-than-life sound with the kind of enthusiastic stage presence the real Pink Floyd was not exactly famous for.

      “We treat the songs with reverence, but we project the same kind of energy we would if the songs were our own,” offers Weidner. “Like one of our other guitarists (they have three) says, ‘We play this stuff accurately — but we play it with balls.’ We play it like a rock band. We tend to move around a bit more than the actual members of Pink Floyd did. That’s partially because we don’t have all their lasers and props, but it’s also because we’re having such a ball up there!”

      Eclipse, which features both male and female vocals, guitars, bass, keyboards, drums and sax to fully flesh out the densely layered sound of their heroes’ studio albums, travels with a large array of vintage gear (“our stages are pretty full,” Weidner laughs), and a dedicated sound man who tweaks each song, adding delay and electronic effects to closely mimic the feel of a classic, middle-to-late period Floyd concert. Their setlist, says Weidner, includes most of the hits, but the group’s three-and-a-half hour long show also boasts a liberal dose of obscure, “fan favorites.”

      “We play everything from their first single, “Arnold Layne,” right up to stuff off the last album,” he enthuses. “But not in chronological order. We also include the complete Wish You Were Here and Animals LPs, plus virtually all of Dark Side of The Moon.”

      One thing they don’t do, however, is dress up like the fairly anonymous-looking members of the Floyd.

      “This band is all about the songs,” Weidner explains. “The crowds know the records, and when you hit that next chord, they go crazy.”

      Eclipse: A Tribute to Pink Floyd
      When: Thurs., 9 pm
      Where: Live Wire Music Hall
      Cost: $8
      Info: myspace.com/pinkfloydeclipse
    10:17 PM
    • Post a comment...
      • Saundra Burkhart

        Hi, I have a lot of respect for anyone who can do two things at one time and Play and enjoy the music of one of the best groups ever to be on this earth (Pink Floyd) they have my respect. So I just wanted to say I love the group as well because they sound so much like Pink Floyd, and they are very good.


        Saundra

        4 years ago

  • Nashville Music Examiner article from 2/18/2009

    Current mood:good

    Pink Floyd lovers in Nashville; you're in for a treat

    February 18, 8:24 PM

    by Ken Utterback, Nashville Music Examiner



    Eclipse at Main Street - photo by Kim Roland
    If you are a Pink Floyd fan, and like their music--actually, the sound and feel of their music--you may want to take a little ride on Saturday, February 28th, down to the club known as 527 Main Street, at that very address in Murfreesboro. The band known as Eclipse will be playing at Club 527 , as it’s also known, starting at 10:00pm, with the doors opening at 8:00pm.


    Eclipse claims to be a tribute band, performing the music of Pink Floyd. My ear tells me that they are no mere ‘tribute band’. The six musicians in the band, who all play a variety of instruments, seem to have captured not only the sound of Pink Floyd, but the very mood and soul of the songs that they play. I have heard plenty of tribute and copy bands in my day, but nothing nearly this accurate. At least not for a long, long while. (I’m right now recalling a band, back in Chicago in 1966, who did Hollies songs and harmonies so well, that it sent chills up my spine)

    Probably the thing that impresses me the most is the lead guitar playing. I have personally been playing lead guitar for over forty years, and I have great appreciation and admiration for tasteful and well-executed guitar solos. There are many lead guitarists out there, but I think the percentage of the ones that have the finesse of players like     David Gilmore, are in the minority. The lead guitarists for Eclipse do not just copy Gilmore’s playing; they do Gilmore. This band is a genuine treat for my ears. If you bop on down to the ‘Boro on the 28th, you might find that you agree.
     
    3:28 AM
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