After 30 years as a band it can be hard to find a new spin to attract a new demographic, unless you are Pseudo Echo, who’s sound from the ‘80s was so cutting edge and futuristic that it is still attracting masses of younger fans. This was evident after the bands 2014 release of ‘Ultraviolet.’
According to Brian Canham, the bands eccentric and pivotal front man, the new release exceeded any expectations in terms of fans reception and attracted quite a lot of younger fans who seem to find comparison between the new wave synths, and that of modern day electronic.
“I think we have been lucky in that way. Certain genres do come in and out with different age groups and different audiences. For us, it was the music of the time, in the ‘80s, but it’s definitely had resurgence with new genres of music. Music seems to do cycles and it will become ‘in’ again with a new generation. I think we have been very fortunate that style of music has become quite popular amongst the younger generation again,” Brian reflects.
With hits such as ‘Listening’ and their unique spin on the classic ‘Funky Town’, Pseudo Echo first appeared in the mainstream music scene at the start of the 1980’s, where they then blew up internationally with the rise of the ‘new wave’ sound.
Brian was first interested in this style of music after discovering acts like The Cure and The Human League on late night television broadcasts in the early 1980’s.
“I noticed a shift in genre, mainly overseas where it was kind of heading towards the new wave sound, where the rock was disappearing and it was becoming a bit more minimal and a bit less avant-garde rock. That really interested me, because for me, there was every kid on every corner. There was so many bands all doing the same thing and I just knew it was a sea of confusion,” he says.
“The biggest influence for me was when I discovered keyboard. Where I grew up everyone was playing guitar, drums or bass but never keyboard, and whenever I would listen to a record I would always notice that there was something different about these bands, then I realised it was that they had keyboards. I think when I finally found a keyboard player, that is when Pseudo Echo was born.”
Donning make-up and the hairstyles of new wave, Pseudo Echo starting hitting the live scene.
“It was bloody scary. We were notorious for having a make-up artist before we had a sound guy! But most of the agencies we worked for would try to pair us with another act that was as suitable as they could, but there were always times when we would end up at some interesting gigs!”
With now over 30 years of experience playing live, Pseudo Echo will be hitting the road with long time friends in Icehouse for the Red Hot Summer Tour 2017 before making their way down to Werribee for a once off free show alongside Happy Enchilada and Trent Hamilton for a night of 80’s family fun.
When & Where: Friday Live Series @ Station Place, Werribee – February 10
Written by Alex Callan