8 June 2022 - The Roundhouse (Chalk Farm, London)
The wait to see Crowded House again lasted 28 years in the end (it would have been only 26 if it wasn't for Covid). Neil Finn has been my favourite songwriter for the best part of 35, years, with a consistent output of supreme pop songs for over 40. While pop sensibility has always been at the heart of that, he has never been afraid to add elements from other genres, to mix it up. So, given that, would the concert live up to my expectations and do justice to all those memories?
Of course it would.
The band tonight, playing the last of four nights at the beautiful Roundhouse, are on good form. Somehow, they are both tight and loose at the same time; tight because they play with the confidence of the musical abilities; loose because they are so fluid and relaxed, making it look so effortless.
My memories of that last time at Manchester Apollo in 1994 have dimmed, so I'm not going to try and compare then and now - that wouldn't be fair on Mark and Paul, or the current line-up.
I will say that there are comparisons I have long made for similarities with the Beach Boys and particularly those gorgeous layered harmonies, but also much of the current album (Dreamers Are Waiting) adds to this Brian Wilson / Pet Sounds comparison. But, the analogy is even more pronounced now, as Crowded House are even more of a family band than ever. Neil is now joined by sons, Liam (guitar) and Elroy (drums) and Nick Seymour on bass, had played with Neil for so long, he could be considered the uncle. Mitchell Froom (keyboards) rounds out the line-up and as producer of the first three Crowded House albums, is perhaps the godfather.
Either way, the vocals seem better than ever, Neil's voice sounds as good as it did forty years ago and the harmonies they hit collectively are phenomenal, perhaps enhanced by the architecture of the venue.
Anyway, here are some thoughts of the night - on the set, the musicality and my emotions at being back in their presence. Apologies in advance, as I may use the word 'soar' or 'soaring' multiple times. You have been warned.
They open with Distant Sun, swiftly followed by Nails In My Feet and we hit the ground running. To The Island is the first of the new songs on show, before Not The Girl You Think You Are brings the tone down and a slight hush descends. By this point, 15 minutes in, I have already had tears in my eyes, chicken-skin up my arms and no doubt, a cheesy grin spread across my face.
But then we are at Fall Out Your Feet and the crowd steps up to the plate. It is a strange thing; many bands have their best singalong moments in the quick songs, but for Crowded House, it seems to be the slower ones that draw out the heartiest responses. By the end, the music has faded away and the crowd, 3,000 strong, pretty much finishes it off - generating applause from Finn - "you guys should get together more often."
The tunes roll by, old and new - Pineapple Head, It's Only Natural, When You Come, Start Of Something - the melodies soar into the curved rafters of the old building and I am rapt. The banter remains between songs, maybe not quite like it was when dear old Paul was with us, but still enough to bring a smile to our faces. There are even the inevitable meanders from the set list, as audience interaction leads to impromptu, and slightly alternate takes, on Mean To Me and Chocolate Cake.
Private Universe is perhaps the best example of a song that builds from low to high. It starts with almost nothing, Neil and his acoustic, but drives on towards a massive swirling cacophony - more and more guitar, incessant rolling drum riffs, vocals getting louder and louder - and then it ends and we are spent.
Don't Dream, Four Seasons and Weather With You provide plenty more opportunity for the crowd to let loose - as you can see in this little snippet I took - and in the blink of an eye, we are almost at the end of the set.
Something So Strong finishes it off in bounds of joy - 'Something so strong, could carry us away'. But not to worry, a few minutes later and they are back with a bang, which is amply provided by World Where You Live. Elephants is perhaps a surprising track for an encore, but it brings us down and tees up the epic end.
How such a gentle, bittersweet song such as Better Be Home Soon came to be the perfect end to a night, I am not sure, but it works so well. It lifts the crowd up and soars back up into those lofty rafters - the band and us in perfect harmony, somehow.
And there you have it. A two hour masterclass on taking a 40 year set of near perfect pop songs and demonstrating how to perform them with passion, energy, humour and most importantly, heart. I think that is what connects us to this band. It is more than just the sum of Neil's incredible lyricism, the perfectly woven instrumentation (played by musicians on top of their game) and the soaring melodies they pull out of the ether.
I sincerely hope I do not have to wait 28 more years to experience this feeling that I have so inadequately described here.
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