2003-06-07

OK, so much to write...

I think I will start with my last night.

About 10 days ago, I was driving along Insdustrial Drive in Mayfield, past the monolithic Wests-Phoenix Club. Outside the poker machine mausoleum, was a big assed sign announcing the latest sludge to pass by the club and stop in for a quick show and bistro meal. In big, black, interchangeable and removeable letters it said "Pseudo Echo $5". I got very excited and drove on - I had muchos on my mindos with the upcoming Bitchcraft tour.

So yesterday, after being rejected by my usual cheese-fiend pals, I convinced Fiona to come along with me to see Pseudo Echo. "Why would she go see them?" you all wonder....

Well, it was a cold, dark and stormy night...I was in hospital, about to have an operation on my big toe at age ten. It was my first time in hospital, and I think I was milking it for all it was worth - rather than being genuinely distressed by the situation. I think I just like presents. And as usual, Dad came up with the goods. I don't remember why, but I had told him I liked Pseudo Echo, and Dad always did listen hard to what I said I liked. That evening, during visiting hours, I was presented with a cassette version of Pseudo Echo's "Autumnal Park" album. It was my first real, serious music that was all mine! Before it had been ONJ or ABBA, or Dad's records. This was even more mine becuase it wasn't something Dad necessarily liked - it was exclusively for me!

I still have and love that tape - 20 years later. I still think it has some amazing songwriting on it, and the production must've been mindblowing at the time. I wil pay for a vinyl version, bring it on. After "Autumnal Park" came "Love an Adventure" with its cartoony cover - a theme carried over to all the 12" singles from the album, of which I have a couple. I remember not liking the 'new' Pseuds as much, they were poppier and more colourful (remember the shiny, red keyboard-guitar things?). The first draft of the band had been dark, new wave in style and the music matched. Two members left (Tony Lugton and Anthony Agiro - how's that for off the top of the head!!) and two brothers (James and Vince Leigh) joined up for the second album, which included the Top 5 hit "Don't Go" (when I was in When Robots Rule, we played with a Melbourne band that featured Anthony Agiro on drums...can't remember what they were called, but I think they were shit). I stuck with the Pseuds through this album, still trying to convince people that the Pseuds were the best band ever. However, something happened, and I never saw it coming. Everyone would, in fact, love Pseudo Echo eventually. But in a pre-pubescent tragedy, I would stop loving them at that same time. That time was "Funkytown". I bought that 7" of course, out of loyalty, but I wasn't that into it. I bought the album of 12" remixes and that was about it. You can forget the last album "Race" - I just totally lost interest as they got a lot 'nicer' looking. I much preferred the chill and sterility of the "Autumnal Park" days.

Once they played when I was a young lass in Sydney, but it was a massive New Years Eve Retro gig for people from Parramatta. Not my thing, and as pointed out in the last paragraph - I didn't like poptastic Pseudo Echo as much, anyhow.

But the $5 show 5mins drive from my house was too hard to resist. I had to JOIN THE CLUB to get tickets to this 'members only' show. So it was $12 to join (I got a silver glittery membership card tho!) and $5 each ticket. With each ticket, though, you got $5 credit at the bistro or any of the bars. So effectively it was free!

I dresssed all fun, with pink star earrings and my 80s zipper dress. Later on I would regret this decision, as everyone else in the room was dressed like my Mum - even the ones younger than me! I went and collected Fiona and we went to the club. I wasn't feeling that good, so became anxious from the start tthat I was going to fuck the night up. I was trying so hard. Upon entering the club, I was waved through at the entrance by Bob the doorman, with whom I had obviously formed a bond on my last visit, that afternoon to buy my tickets. No signing, no ID checks, nuttin'. I liked this membership thing...

Fiona and I approached the bistro and I got a plate of noodles and she got hotties and gravy. We talked about how we simply were not the biggest losers in the place...then it was time to enter the SHOWROOM for the 9pm show start.

As we approached the entrance, we were freaked out to find that the room was laid with big long tables, at which everybody sat! I panicked at this point as not only were all the tables full, but i couldn't believe they weren't standing up to see a band! So I did the next most familiar thing - stood at the bar, leaning on it and chatting to Fiona as we waited for the show to start. However, this felt really wrong as it seemed like the who room was staring at us, and to make it all worse the whole room was over 35, most it seemed were closer to 45! What had happened? When had I become the youngest Pseuds fan ever?

After a tall, 50 yr old bald man in a chambray shirt asked me and Fiona if we were looking for sex I decided I had to get to the front of the room. The lights were going down and pre-band sounds were eminating from the PA. I headed towards the stage, and a bit to the side: a traditional stand point for me at gigs. You can't see all the people checking you out and looking at you like you are a freak, cuz they are all behind you. Its a long-practised tactic for gig comfort.

They all came on and I got a bit excited - I was seeing Pseudo Echo, and it was all a bit wierd. Only Pierre and Brian remain, with other dudes on drums and keyboard. Brian looked much the same, though Fiona postulated he may have 'had his eyes done' and he was balding a little. Throughout the gig, he struck me as a really ordinary Aussie dude who was never cool and didn't really know how to play the cool pop star. He was kinda dorky, dancing like an old dorky dude. I told Fiona that I thought he should keep playng the guitar, cuz his dances moves without it were too daggy. Pierre looked EXACTLY the same, and he managed to seem cool. The other two were muso types, but the drummer did kick severe ass.

Oh gawwd!! It was just like the records! The production was really, really good the vocals were awesome and it just kicked. I loved how they played old Autumnal Park songs, like my favourite "Destination Unknown", "Fast Cars" and "No Life In His Eyes" (which Brian informed us was actually played in "Friday th 13th" as Jason cut up a girl. Well - fancy!! These were my favourite parts of the show. However "Living In a Dream" was pretty amazing too..I was pretty struck by how much they actually ROCKED. Youse can all fuck off, but they did. Some really good guitar sounds, and that drummer who kicks ass. The last song was, of course "Funkytown", but it was the 12" version - hooray for 12" versions! In the middle, when it traditionally goes to some 'extended' muso bit they morphed the song into "Blue Monday" by New Order, and "Planet Earth" by DuranDuran. It sounds cheesy in writing, but it was pretty clever and cool at the time.