The Australian Pink Floyd Show is bringing their 'Set the Controls' Tour to the Mesa Arts Center on Sept. 25. The 10-person strong band, often cited as being the best tribute band on the planet, will perform favorites like “Comfortably Numb,” “Another Brick in the Wall,” “Wish You Were Here” and a variety of surprise tracks and singer Lorelei McBroom, who toured with Pink Floyd and appeared in their videos, will be along to handle the female lead vocals. Jason Sawford, the keyboards player for TAPFS, spoke exclusively with AXS.com via email, answering a few of our questions about the band and their return trip to the Phoenix area.

Take me back to that day when you decided, “Hey, let’s play some Pink Floyd!” What were the first songs you started covering, and how are you able to play them differently these days?

I was introduced to the music of Pink Floyd by a friend back in the late ‘80s and she mentioned that she had seen an advert in an Adelaide music shop that was from a guy who was trying to form a Pink Floyd tribute band. I was intrigued and I had just bought my first synthesizer, so I went along and it so happened that guitarist Steve Mac also joined the same day. I was still learning to program the synth and it became apparent that I needed more than one keyboard to play the music so I borrowed a synthesizer from Steve who happened to have one also and later I bought a Hammond organ to complete my set up. The first song we attempted was “Shine on You Crazy Diamond" and then a few other songs such as “Money,” “One of These Days” and “Dogs.” It was an ambitious first set! We had no light show in those days and we just lugged our own gear in whatever vehicles we had available and tried to recreate sound effects by building a 'bell machine' out of telephone parts, and doing what we could acoustically. Now of course, after so many years we have a full light and laser show. Our equipment has changed and become more intricate and up to date (although we still may use the occasional 'vintage' piece) and technology has advanced a lot since those days and we embrace whatever technology is available to put on the best show we can.

What were the most difficult songs for you to master, and why?

I remember when we first tried to learn "Echoes" we wrote all the chords and details on a blackboard and we went through it bit by bit; it was a long song to learn although not overly difficult to play. Its length meant we had to spend a lot of time getting it together. When we did “Dogs” I remember that Steve locked himself in a room for a week and practiced the solos nonstop. But for me personally, I think “Sheep” was a tricky song to get right because there's so much going on and a lot of sections where I have to really concentrate to hear my cues.

Your favorite interaction with a member or members of Pink Floyd?

We've met David Gilmour on two or three occasions. He saw us play a show in London in 1994 and we went backstage at Earls Court after seeing them perform on the “The Division Bell” tour. A couple of years later we played for David Gilmour at his 50th birthday party and I'll never forget when Rick Wright came to the front of the stage and very politely asked me if he could play the Hammond. Of course I was delighted and when he got on stage he said to me, “Now you play the synth and I'll play the Hammond” and together we played “Comfortably Numb” with the rest of the band.

Do any of you also play in other bands?

Yes, some of us have other projects that we get involved with on the side but TAPFS is our main project and takes up the bulk of our time. I'm currently working with our guitarist Dave Fowler and some other musicians in a band called Audial in which we are working on some of our own music which Dave has described on our Facebook page as alternative prog rock. I spent a few days rehearsing with them last week.

I know you’ve played the Phoenix area multiple times in the past. Have you gotten a chance to get out and explore the area at all? If so, what did you do?

I love the Phoenix area. There's something very distinctive about it. The heat, the desert, the look of the city; it’s got a character that appeals to me. It seems to be a creative place, great for the arts, but I don't have much time to get out much during the tour. But I often have a bit of a walk around or look around if I can. The main street along Mesa is great with all the street art and sculptures and I once went to some history museum in Phoenix (just can't remember the name of the museum at the moment!) and met some old guy there whose family had been in the city for generations. I'm certainly looking forward to coming back and seeing the place as well as playing some great music to the Floyd fans over there!