About
80s Enuff is an 80s cover band for hire in Melbourne, VIC.
Simmons electronic drums, genuine 80s sequencing gear and gloriously loud period costumes. 80s Enuff have been recreating the decade since 1995, always with live vocals rather than backing tracks, and their corporate list shows how busy Melbourne has kept them: the Australian Open, the Australian Cricket Team, Crown Casino's Palladium NYE party, Telstra, the AFL and Woolworths among many others. The standard line-up is a four piece, but they scale from a duo right up to a show with dancers, backing singers and guest vocalists from the era itself, including Brian Mannix of Uncanny X-Men and Brian Canham of Pseudo Echo. The setlist runs from Midnight Oil and Divinyls to New Order and Culture Club.
The show
The gear is the giveaway. Simmons electronic drums, real 80s sequencing technology, and vocals sung live rather than mimed over a track, which puts them in a different bracket to most retro acts. Costumes are loud and the humour is deliberate. There is craft under it too: each show is shaped by the musicians plus a theatre director, a choreographer and a costume designer. They have been going since 1995, long enough to become a Melbourne fixture across corporate work, private events and long pub and club residencies. Past guests and members read like a roll call of the era, from Brian Canham of Pseudo Echo to Brian Mannix of Uncanny X-Men.
On the day
If you supply production, the 4 piece needs a desk of at least 16 channels, three foldback sends, decent monitors, front of house speakers with subs that suit the room, and proper lighting with an operator on each. A stage plot goes to your provider in advance. Channels run to 4 vocals, kick, snare and toms off the electronic kit, hi-hat, overheads if wanted, keys, guitar, and an iPad carrying bass, keys and percussion. They can bring their own sound and lighting around Melbourne instead. A secure dressing room with seating, a table and drinks is needed.
Performance options
The standard is a 4 piece, but it moves in both directions. They'll play as a three piece or even a duo if the room is small or the brief is quieter. Going the other way, you can add a female singer, backing vocalists and dancers. And for a real centrepiece, guest singers from the era itself can join the show: Brian Mannix of Uncanny X-Men, Brian Canham of Pseudo Echo, David Sterry of Real Life, Scott Carne of Kids In The Kitchen, Dale Ryder of Boom Crash Opera, Sean Kelly of The Models and Paul Gray of Wa Wa Nee.
Song list
102 songs
Abracadabra - Steve Miller Band
All Night Long - Lionel Richie
Always Something There to Remind Me - Naked Eyes
And We Danced - The Hooters
Ant Music - Adam & the Ants
Beds Are Burning - Midnight Oil
Bizarre Love Triangle - New Order
Blue Monday - New Order
Boom Boom Boom - Paul Lekakis
Boys in Town - Divinyls
Break My Stride - Mathew Wilder
Ca Plane Pour Moi - Plastic Bertrand
Call Me Al - Paul Simon
Can't Stop the Music - Village People
Centrefold - J Geils Band
Come Said the Boy- Mondo Rock
Computer Games - Mi-Sex
Counting the Beat - The Swingers
Crazy - Icehouse
Dancing on the Ceiling - Lionel Richie
Do You Really Want to Hurt Me - Culture Club
Don't Change - INXS
Don't Stop Believin' - Journey
Don't You Forget About Me - Simple Minds
