Live Review – Pseudo Echo Turns Brisbane Into Funky Town At The Triffid – March 2026

All words and Images: Mert Tyson Media

Pseudo Echo Take Us Back to Funky Town, 40 Years Later and We’re Still Trying to Nail the Dance Moves! Brisbane 13.03.2026 The Triffid.

“Nah nah nah na nah… na nah nah nah NAHHH… take me to… FUNKY TOWN!”

And that’s exactly where Pseudo Echo dragged the Triffid Brisvegas last night, kicking, spinning, and grinning the whole way like we’d cracked open a time capsule stuffed with leg warmers, eyeliner, and pure 80s joy.

Back to the Groove Machine

Formed in Melbourne in 1982, these synth pop trailblazers helped define Aussie new wave, all swagger, sparkle, and more keytar per square meter than science can explain. Fast forward to 2026 and the crew, yep boys and girls now, are tighter than your jeans after Christmas lunch.

When Brian Canham strutted out, the room nearly levitated. Still rocking that gravity defying hair, he sounded flawless, a rock’n’roll time traveler leading us into Stranger in Me and His Eyes. From the first note, it was clear the man hasn’t lost a single watt of energy since the Countdown days. Charisma, off the charts. Cheeky grin, still lethal.

Sparks Flyin’ and Synths Cryin’

Then came Destination Unknown and Don’t Go, and in between those shimmering synths, Andrea Krakovská stepped up and absolutely shredded. Smiles for miles, solos hotter than a solarium in summer, she lit that stage up like a neon firework.

And holding it all down, Danny Amar the synth bass sorcerer of Funky Town. His lines didn’t just hum, they vibrated your memories. Tight, punchy, and fat enough to rattle the fillings out of anyone near the subs.

By the time Eye of the Storm rolled in, A Beat for You had the whole room swaying. That “darkly erotic” 1984 anthem had everyone trying to look cool while remembering their hips have warranties now.

Tales from the Keytar Jungle

Michael Kasif deserves a medal, and maybe a chiropractor. The man didn’t just play the keytar, he owned it. Twirling, grinning, throwing synth solos that could melt an arcade machine. Every Gen X bloke in the room suddenly regretted ditching piano lessons in Year Nine.

Meanwhile, Elliott Orban on drums kept it all thundering. That solo before the encore, absolute chaos. Beer down, hands up, “GO ON, SON!” chaos. The man plays drums like he’s powered by espresso and sheer joy, flawless, fast, and loud enough to wake your inner teenager.

Nostalgia Mode: Engaged

Living in a Dream and Love an Adventure rolled out next, two glittery flashbacks to a simpler time, no internet, no TikTok, just music, mates, and mysterious hair products. Then came Send Me an Angel, and the crowd went full choir. Arms raised, eyes closed, everyone baptised in glorious synthpop.

Brian took a breather to share some insane tour stories, Elton having a joint with Bernie, touring with Siouxsie and the Banshees, and trying to carve space for synths in a world full of guitars and mullets. You could feel the love, the laughter, and the “bloody hell we made it” energy.

Then came Listening, their breakout hit, pure spinetingling perfection. The lighting crew nailed the moment, it felt holy. Seriously, credit to The Triffid techs, unreal production all night.

“Won’t You Take Me To…”

And then, that bassline. Talk about it… talk about it… talk about itttttt!
Funky. Bloody Town. (no need to add “bloody,” but it just fits, doesn’t it?).

The place exploded. Half the crowd dropped ten years and gained it back in dance moves. The pit, let’s call it the mobility pit, erupted with grooving, shimmying, and gleeful wheezing. Even I was going for it up the back, don’t worry, no one saw, I checked.

The encore was wild, a cheeky AC/DC tease, a killer drum solo, sliding straight into Black Night, and wrapping up with Ultraviolet. Everyone left sweaty, smiling, and dangerously low on electrolytes. Leather was sticky the hairspray moved, the windsor smith’s and those heels you haven’t worn wince 1986 blistering… But the atmosphere was electric and so very appreciative. Brisbane Gen Xers (and others) you were amazing!

Parting Words and Hairspray Thanks

So, here’s to Pseudo Echo, the pioneers, the dreamers, the perfectlycoiffed gods of Aussie electrorock. You’ve still got it and then some.

Massive thanks to Here 2 Zen Magazine for the hookup, the Triffid crew for flawless sound and lights, and the awesome band management and promotions team for having me and letting the 80s live again, louder, brighter, and twice as sparkly as we remember.

We came, we danced, we talked about itttttt.
And for one magic night, we were all right back in Funky Town.

See ya in the front row, or at the bar – Mert

#funkytownforever #pseudoecholive #genxgrooves #neonvibes #keytarkings #andrearocks #briancanhamlegend #bighairdontcare #synthpopsurvivors #sendmeanangel #loveanadventure #hear2zenlegends #supportliveaussiemusic #triffidnights

Pseudo Echo – Live at The Triffid, Brisbane (2026 Tour)

Setlist:

1. Stranger in Me
2. His Eyes
3. Destination Unknown
4. Don’t Go
5. Eye of the Storm
6. A Beat for You
7. Over Tomorrow
8. Living in a Dream
9. Love an Adventure
10. Nutbush (Valentina Taylor vocal feature)
11. Send Me an Angel
12. Listening
13. Funky Town, Medley: AC/DC, Drum Solo, Black Night
14. Ultraviolet