TVD Vinyl Giveaway: Gordon Withers,
Dark Side of the Moon on Cello

The cello, a member of the violin family, is the second-largest bowed string instrument in the modern symphony orchestra. DC Cellist, Gordon Withers, takes the traditional orchestra instrument and transforms it into a highly sought after sound for a modern-day rock band. Much like the bowed string instrument, Gordon Withers, has established himself as a desirable addition, anchoring and transforming a band to a higher musical level.

Gordon’s successful solo career has opened many new doors for the cello, including being the cellist and guitarist for Dischord Records‘ Office of Future Plans. Other notable collaborations include cello/ arrangement for We All Inherit The Moon, cello for Woodworkings, BELLS≥, The Pauses, Peter Maybarduk, Rotary Club NYC, and others.

Gordon has been playing cello for over 25 years, starting as a child in the fourth grade and playing in rock bands growing up. A role model for the younger generation, Gordon makes the cello cool, proving that the cello isn’t just for recitals and concert halls anymore. “It only keeps getting better as you continue to learn. In the beginning it’s really about learning the vocabulary. Once you learn the vocabulary, it gets more fun because you can play more and better music. I still find myself learning new things even 25 years later.”

Gordon’s latest solo project Pink Floyd’s Dark Side of the Moon on Cello, released in November of 2012, stems from when a family member requested a cover of Pink Floyd’s “Mother.” He quickly became fascinated with the possibility of a whole Floyd album on cello stating that “Dark Side seemed like the obvious choice, since it’s a classic, and arguably their best work. It’s also the riskiest, since so many other tribute versions and acts already exist. There are already classical versions of Pink Floyd, and this is not one of them.”

Dark Side of the Moon on Cello features avant-electronic musician Bishonen Knife (aka Stephen Swift) on the second track, “On The Run,” which contains elements impossible to replicate alone on cello.

With the success of the electronic version, Gordon started a Kickstarter to release The Dark Side of the Moon on Cello on vinyl. Pink Floyd’s eighth studio album, originally released in 1973, sold over 50 million copies worldwide which explains the enthusiasm associated with Gordon’s cello cover, surpassing his original Kickstarter campaign goal with support from all over the world.

As Gordon explained to us, “Pink Floyd’s Dark Side of the Moon was originally released on vinyl. That’s how most people at the time would have heard it so I thought it was important when I release it to have it also be on vinyl, for people to experience it the same way.

Vinyl is the pinnacle of the recording process, the ultimate thing you can do with a recording. It sounds better and warmer than any other medium, and there is such a satisfying tactile element in its bulkiness and charming awkwardness. The best part, though, is that listening to a vinyl record is such a deliberate act. You really have to commit to engaging with the album—you have to physically take it out and manage the playback, you have to use serious equipment, and you can’t walk around like you could with an iPod without missing something. Listeners engaged with Dark Side of the Moon in exactly this way when it first came out, and I hope they engage similarly with this cello version.”

We are giving you a chance to win 1 of 300 copies of Gordon’s Dark Side Of The Moon on Cello on 180-gram vinyl, pressed by Gotta Groove Records in Cleveland. If you don’t want to take the gamble, there are a few left over from Gordon’s Kickstarter for sale here—sure to sell out, as Gordon’s cover has become a sought after collectible among die-hard Pink Floyd fans.

For your chance to win a copy of Gordon Withers’ Dark Side of the Moon on Cello, tell us which album you own on vinyl that is your most prized possession. Contest ends at noon one week from today, Tuesday, 3/5. 

This entry was posted in TVD Washington, DC. Bookmark the permalink. Trackbacks are closed, but you can post a comment.
  • SUPPORTING YOUR LOCAL INDIE SHOPS SINCE 2007


  • Alternative Text Alternative Text Alternative Text Alternative Text Alternative Text Alternative Text Alternative Text Alternative Text Alternative Text Alternative Text
  • Alternative Text Alternative Text Alternative Text Alternative Text Alternative Text Alternative Text Alternative Text