Art d’Ecco brings 70s swagger and 80s flare to #NONCOMM

“I’m the illegitimate son of Wayne Gretzky and Ellen Degeneres,” Art d’Ecco told the #NONCOMM audience. “Speaking of Ellen, here’s something you can try to dance to.”

This was about the energy of the Victoria, British Columbia indie pop artist’s set — slightly cheeky and self-depricating, very upbeat and fun, and very indebted to to decades: the 70s swagger of T.Rex and David Bowie and the shimmering synth pop of the 1980s.

Strutting in a plum-shaded double-breasted suit with a the combination of a white shirt-tie combo and bleach blonde hair practically shimmering off of him, d’Ecco was powerfully backed by Conor Head on guitar, Malcolm Holt on drums, Pascal Le Vasseur on bass, and Evan J Miller on guitar; where “Only Ones” and “TV God” channeled those aforementioned glam rock icons, “Sad Light Disco” was pure Gary Numan, with d’Ecco repeating a punchy hook: “everything will be all right, you and I staring at the pale blue light.”

Art d’Ecco’s new album After The Head Rush is out June 24 via Paper Bag Records, and he’s about to fly to the UK for a run of dates; more can be found at his website.