Live Review: Crowded House
Dreamers Are Waiting Tour on Friday 25 November 2022 at Kings Park & Botanic Gardens, Perth
Review by Angela Frodsham
Photos by Erica Lorimer Photography
All photos were taken from the “Front of House” (Audio booth).
—
Few locations match the atmospheric intimacy and magic of one of the world’s largest inner-city parks, confirmed on Friday night when music icon Neil Finn proclaimed it one of the most beautiful places in Australia to play a show. While several thousand rugged-up concert goers of all ages tucked into their picnic baskets, American indie rock artist Cat Power started weaving a spell that by night’s end that would leave the audience totally entranced. Elegantly attired in black and accompanied by her keyboardist/guitarist, Cat Power’s haunting stage presence and unique vocals set the scene perfectly. Reminding the crowd how special their venue was, she simply said “how lovely, you have this every day”. Performing original pieces including one about meeting Bob Dylan, her covers of the likes of Billie Holiday’s I’ll Be Seeing You and Jackson Browne’s These Days were interpreted through her own melody line, making them special experiences. Cat Power’s vocal range and innovative style was impressive, and as the set list progressed an added bass line helped build up audience anticipation for the main act — Crowded House.
As darkness descended and the crew readied stage and instruments, the Antipodean theme was set with the Church’s Under the Milky Way ringing out into the star-filled clear and cool night. Although formed in Melbourne in 1985 and nearly a national icon, Crowded House is a both a New Zealand and Australian phenomenon, and current keyboardist and producer of the group’s first three albums Mitchell Froom an American.
As if from a Distant Sun, the band appeared on stage. Band leader, songwriter and ever youthful Neil was resplendent in a blue velvet jacket, and bassist and fellow original band member Nick Seymour sported a formal jacket and black kilt. As if greeting old friends, Neil told the exuberant audience Crowded House was so glad to finally be back in Perth. After shows scheduled for April 2020 as part of the first national tour in 10 years were cancelled courtesy of COVID-19, the fans roared their approval. Australia has only seen the band tour three times over the past 15 years.
Launching into the World Where You Live, the band’s emphatic mastery of their craft and their clear joy at playing together already announced the obvious loud and clear -— they ARE back! Nick pranced energetically around the stage with his bass guitar, and Neil’s sons Liam Finn on guitar and vocals and Elroy Finn on drums completed a new line up to recreate the heart and soul of Crowded House into a new era.
Hitting their straps after tours this year of New Zealand, the UK and Europe, the band is in fine form. Perth is the current tour’s last stop and next May the band will embark on a month-long tour of the US — their first in 12 years. On offer is the extensive repertoire of a hugely successful band now in its third incarnation, with its original line up separating after a farewell concert in 1996 on the steps of the Sydney Opera House playing to around 200,000.
Liam has great energy, jauntiness and vivacity, throwing his head back with his powerful vocals. Just when the audience thought the song had ended, Neil drew the audience back with call and response that eventually would culminate in a mass sing-along. The audience didn’t need any encouragement to join in these non-official national anthems they knew by heart. By song’s end, Neil told them “you’ve got your voices”.
Behind the band bright patterned visuals swirled and whirled on a giant screen — colourful, exuberant, and beautiful. Reminiscent of the group’s well known album art, costumes and stage sets (which the artistic Nick was often responsible for), the background was peaceful and soothing, a contrast to jarring and unsettling visuals all too frequently used at concerts. It wasn’t that kind of night, and Crowded House isn’t that kind of band.
Then came To the Island, one of the singles from the band’s comeback 7th studio album Dreamers Are Waiting, released in June 2021 and giving the tour its name. Against floral background visuals, the song showcased the melodic vocals for which the band is famous as well as Neil and Liam’s guitar prowess.
Neil spotted the venue’s famous Pioneer Women’s Memorial statue, and some fun banter ensued as he mused over who or what the statue was. Deciding it diplomatic to move back into music and reaching again into his jewel box of endless hits, out came clear crowd favourite and romantic classic Fall at Your Feet. Liam tenderly harmonised his father’s vocals, and the crowd was totally enthralled.
Bouncing back from the romantic, Pineapple Head and its kaleidoscopic background imagery saw all three front men in voice, followed by another song from the new album with the expressive Show Me the Way.
A seemingly nondescript upright piano then appeared on stage, not as grand as one Elton would play. Neil was straight onto it with the divine 1983 Split Enz ballad Message to My Girl. This proved the first of two songs from New Zealander Neil’s days with the band formed by his brother Tim Finn, who for a time joined him in Crowded House and contributed to its songwriting. Neil’s perfect voice and the simple piano was all that was needed to deliver a mesmerising performance, the seriousness of the mood broken by Neil’s playfulness with the piano notes.
After another gentle classic with Into Temptation, When You Come exploded, cranking up the pace and confirming the power and euphoria of the band amidst impressive lighting effects. With all guns blazing for a feverish crowd singing the chorus, Neil’s energy translated into some of his classic twirls. Elroy on the drums came to the fore, strutting his stuff with a masterful and eruptive solo display.
With the audience left stunned, Greek acoustic four-piece band Maistrato was welcomed on stage, who Neil befriended and jammed with in Greece. Private Universe gave the bouzoukis — Grecian, long necked lutes — and guitars of Maistrato the chance to shine. It was clear from their smiles and enthusiastic vocals that the musicians were delighted with playing on stage with Crowded House to such a large and receptive audience all singing along.
Four Seasons in One Day saw Elroy up front and centre, playing a snare drum with brushes alongside Maistrato. Throughout the night Nick was often seen in front of Elroy enjoying playing in sync with the drumming, and his energetic pacing of the stage led Neil to remark he would have “at least 7,000 on his Fitbit”! New Zealander Paul Taylor was introduced as the band’s percussionist, and it was a pleasure to watch him add important touches to the band’s sound.
Sister Madly saw Maistrato leave the stage (Neil promised they would be back!) and the audience was treated to a display of Liam hamming it up with his guitar, showing a zany, comic and fun side reminiscent of father Neil and uncle Tim Finn in their Split Enz days. Banter amongst the band reflected their obvious pleasure at the chemistry between them and their love of music.
It’s Only Natural was yet another classic hit, followed by the most prominent single from the new album with Whatever You Want, with Liam leading vocals. In concert, new material doesn’t always mesh with the old, but here the fresh and catchy new songs held their own against old favourites.
Don’t Dream It’s Over then flowed into the evening, the song that in 2019, Neil stood on stage in Perth and sang with Stevie Nicks as a touring member of the legendary Fleetwood Mac. It was apparently during his memorable time with Fleetwood Mac that multi-generational devotion to classic songs became evident to Neil and made him contemplate a return of his own band, Crowded House. After getting his two sons as well as Nick and Mitchell on board the rest, as they say, is history.
The multi-generational character of the night and the tour stood out, both within the audience and on stage, with Neil and his very talented and independently successful sons. As with that of Fleetwood Mac, a younger generation was raised on the music of Crowded House. On Friday some enjoyed it live for the first time in a joyous coming together of all ages singing of the timeless themes of the human condition: love, loss, insecurities and the wonders of life.
The hits rolled on with Mean to Me and Something So Strong, then the band were saying goodbye for the night. The ever vivacious Nick departed, holding his hands together to the side of his face suggesting he needed sleep, but the crowd wasn’t having it. Very loud calls for more brought the band back for an encore, with the crowd rewarded with Chocolate Cake. Neil was back on his piano, and Liam again made his guitar sing.
As promised, Maistrato returned for Weather With You, their bouzoukis perfect for the song’s famous guitar refrain. Liam enjoyed playing alongside Maistrato, and Neil encouraged Mitchell on keyboards to “fly…like an eagle”. The celebratory mood led Nick to perform some ballet leaps, Neil pointing out the truth that “not many men can rock a kilt at his age!”. Homage was paid musically to Australian greats such as John Paul Young with the entirely appropriate Love is In the Air, then John Farnham’s You’re the Voice. The incredibly modest Neil said how good it was to have “songs to sing” and that it was a blessing to be there, thanking the audience.
Better Be Home Soon is well known as a farewell song,and sensing the end of the night the entire audience seemed to be singing as one, not wanting the magic to end. But the band disappeared again, and content with one encore many did start to head off home. Some would still not accept a conclusion, and loud stomping led to an incredulous second encore with another Split Enz classic of 1980’s I Got You, which brought fans running back towards the stage. This old classic sent the reviewer (and perhaps some more mature audience members) back in time to Split Enz concerts in the early 80’s at venues such as the now gone Perth Entertainment Centre and Orchestral Shell at Supreme Court Gardens. Although 40 years had passed, the song showed the same vim and vigour of that night. The band also seemed reluctant to leave and finally was allowed to go, but not before Neil as a final word thanked and praised Cat Power as their Special Guest for the night. That’s just the sort of guy he is…
—
About the Author & Photographer:
Angela Frodsham
Angela is a music lover who has enjoyed live concerts with sister Erica and friends since the early 1980’s. A career in Government economic development and transport policy followed a Bachelor of Economics majoring in the Japanese language. More recently, Angela’s love of writing and history has led her back to UWA to study Classics and Ancient History, including the Latin language.
Erica Lorimer
Erica is a freelance photographer who loves capturing images of live music and travel photography. She enjoys shooting film with vintage cameras and making prints in a home darkroom. She has lived in Japan, the UK and Nigeria. Erica holds a Bachelor of Arts (Hons) from the University of Western Australia (UWA), majoring in English Literature and Economics, and a Certificate IV in Design.
Sheldon And Media would like to thank Live Nations Australia and Nicole from Revolutions Per Minute for the Press Accreditation and great seats. Finally, it was a great honour to have sisters Erica and Angela to cover Crowded House for SAM!
