Callum Pickard 2019

Callum Pickard 2019

By Pete Clemons

July 2018 and, after seeing them play live at the Old Grammar School, they left me feeling convinced that it was only a matter of time until Callum Pickard and the Third Look would gain a far wider audience and get far greater attention.

However, within weeks of that gig and to my disbelief, the band were no-more, and it was all over for the Third Look.

But now, after several months away, Callum Pickard has re-emerged and is playing live once again. Gone is the dreamy pop and in comes a whole new direction. The improvisation has been replaced by planned and more premeditated, but not predictable, song structures.

For this new venture Callum has built a new band around the familiar faces from each of his previous bands. And it is clear he still enjoys hearing some brass in the mix. Although this time the band make a greater use of programming and sequencing.

From the Third Look you have the familiar faces of Laurence Pettit - Synths, Acoustic Guitar and backing vocals and Jon Pudge - Flugelhorn and Trumpet.

Then, from his earlier band, the now ironically named ‘For Absent Friends’, you have Chris Lings on Drums, Matty Wishart, Guitar and Dan Grealy on Bass. Completing this exciting new septet is Bill Cameron on Saxophone.

In his time away from the live scene Callum has not been idle. Far from it in fact. He has, for at least the last six months, been busy immersing himself in an album which still has some way to go until it can be released. As I understand, though, the album will comprise of new songs and reworkings of old ones. But with guest appearances by members of ‘War on Drugs’ and ‘The 1975’, this alone should certainly focus some attentions when it does see the light of day.

Additionally, Callum has been increasing his skill set by adding drums to a growing list of instruments he is prepared to improve upon.

For Sunday’s Sound: in bloom gig ‘an evening of brand new music’ held at The Tin, Callum and the band more than rose to the occasion by presenting four new songs. Bar Key, Follow the Sign, Time Lies and Translated Radio. And how well they came across. To these ears at least the band felt comfortable, they appeared to enjoy themselves and any rehearsals had certainly paid dividends as the music flowed effortlessly.

And this new-found confidence may also yield a spin off as there is also some talk of resurrecting ‘For Absent Friends’ for a one-off gig. The dusting off, of some old tunes, just for old time’s sake.