Everyone Is Here

My Dear Princess, Loulou and Fellows,

Tonight was Crowded House night. It was a strange, warm experience, seeing them in New Zealand. They were different, somehow.

What does it mean when
You promise someone
No matter how hard
Or whatever may come?

Caro and me had seen them before, in Edinburgh. We also saw The Finn Brothers* there. Both performances were memorable. The Finn Brothers were supported by Minnie Driver, of all people. And Tim, we recall, did a quite spectacular tambourine solo. It was kind of like he was having a musical fit.

When we saw Crowded House, it was with LB. The stage was set up like someone's front room with carpet, a coffee table, a lamp and a couch. At one point, the band all sat down for tea and cake. Neil Finn asked if anyone in the crowd was in a band. When someone at the back hollered that they were, Neil asked if they had a CD. They did (of course they did) and it was passed to the front and the whole crowd had a listen while the band had a break. 

"Yeah, they're like that," confirmed Tiger yesterday. "When I saw them, Neil Finn challenged four people in the crowd to a race around the venue."

They have always been eccentric. Their second album was called "Temple of Low Men" but that title was forced on them by the record company who vetoed their first choice, "Mediocre Follow-Up".

Tonight, they were not quite so wacky. But that sense of humour is still there. There's a lot of banter between the band, especially now that Neil's son Liam has joined. He mocked his dad for borrowing one of mum's shirts. 

Neil responded, "Well, I didn't have much time. I got to the hotel. Watched the tv and then came here."

LIAM: Great story dad.

Then the other guitarist encouraged Neil to "shake it out" after a particularly vigorous song. 

NEIL: Shake it out? Is that like an exercise thing?
GUITARIST: Nah. I mean. It's like your muse. When you write a song it's like you, shaking it out.
NEIL: (Long pause). Mate. I've got no idea what the f*** you're talking about.

Last night it was me, Caro, Tiger, Loulou, Tiger's sister and Joshua there. And a whole crowd of people who knew all the words and who LOVE these songs. And maybe that's why it felt warm and special. Try to think of your most favouritest band ever and all the words you know. That was this band to this crowd of people. 

And the band can tell. They obviously encouraged singing. "And now for the 50-part harmony," said Neil, during Four Seasons in One Day. 

I expect you know that one. I remember Crowded House being described as "the band you didn't know you liked" and that you know more of their songs than you think. That's even true of me. I hadn't listened to some of their songs from "Temple of Low Men" for a long time. But as soon as they started singing, time collapsed and past and present merged and it all came back. It was a strange, surreal, warm feeling.

It feels odd, coming adrift in time like that, and perhaps only music can do it to you. And that was why it was a special night. Who knows what the future holds for us, and where we might be in another ten years? All I know is that, at moments like this, you can reach back across decades and continents and it's like we never parted.

It means that I won't give in,
Won't give in
Won't give in
Cause everyone I love is here,
Say it once, and disappear...

S.

* If you didn't know, Neil Finn is the heart of Crowded House, and writes most of their songs. 

His older brother Tim founded Split Enz, which Neil joined after they were already famous in NZ. Tim Finn joined Crowded House on my favourite album of theirs, "Together Alone". He's had solo hits too, like Persuasion. The brothers sound kind of alike, and have a similar quirky sensibility. 

And now Liam Finn (Neil's son) has joined Crowded House. It's an absurdly talented family.