Venue – The National Stadium, Dublin.
Date – 26th of November 2007.
In the midst of so many high profile band reunions this year the return of Crowded House has been overlooked to some extent. While many other bands seemed to come back purely for financial reasons Neil Finn and Nick Seymour came back with an album fit to stand alongside their classic “farewell” album Together Alone. Time On Earth is drenched in melancholy dealing in detail with the suicide of troubled drummer Paul Hester. After a strong appearance on a rainy summer’s day in Marley Park this was a chance to see up close whether the band had gelled again, were still enjoying it as much as ever and whether in fact they had simply still got it.
Known as a band that blossomed live the new incarnation of Crowded House had set their own bar pretty high and after seeing their appearance on Later With Jools Holland a couple of weeks back I was a little nervous for them as the lights dimmed and an expectant hush fell upon the crowd. Looking healthy and relaxed the band began what in my opinion rivals the Dave Matthews solo show and Feist as the gig of the year. This European leg follows a successful American tour and the tightness of the band could not be faulted. The setlist was varied, placing newer songs alongside older classics as if to prove their metal. The band still seem to enjoy playing the older songs as much as ever which may be partially down to new drummer Matt Sherrod who is discovering these songs for the first time having admitted at his audition to not being a Crowded House fan. Hearing him drag the slow burning opener, Private Universe, to crescendo set the tone for the whole night.
A lifetime’s worth of hook filled songs makes great ammunition for any live act and thankfully the banter between the band bodes well for this being a long term comeback. Highlights included a speeded up version of Don’t Stop Now, the first single from the new album, a frenetic Locked Up, a tender Better Be Home Soon and a stunning Four Seasons In One Day squeezed in just before curfew at 11pm. At one point Finn asked if there were any requests and the result was an improvised Lester sandwiched between Recurring Dream and Everybody’s Talking. The highlight of the two-hour set though was the yearning and tragic ballad You Are The One To Make Me Cry that had Finn’s voice cracking and the Stadium quiet as a vacuum. The fact that a new song was the highlight says everything.
Date – 26th of November 2007.
In the midst of so many high profile band reunions this year the return of Crowded House has been overlooked to some extent. While many other bands seemed to come back purely for financial reasons Neil Finn and Nick Seymour came back with an album fit to stand alongside their classic “farewell” album Together Alone. Time On Earth is drenched in melancholy dealing in detail with the suicide of troubled drummer Paul Hester. After a strong appearance on a rainy summer’s day in Marley Park this was a chance to see up close whether the band had gelled again, were still enjoying it as much as ever and whether in fact they had simply still got it.
Known as a band that blossomed live the new incarnation of Crowded House had set their own bar pretty high and after seeing their appearance on Later With Jools Holland a couple of weeks back I was a little nervous for them as the lights dimmed and an expectant hush fell upon the crowd. Looking healthy and relaxed the band began what in my opinion rivals the Dave Matthews solo show and Feist as the gig of the year. This European leg follows a successful American tour and the tightness of the band could not be faulted. The setlist was varied, placing newer songs alongside older classics as if to prove their metal. The band still seem to enjoy playing the older songs as much as ever which may be partially down to new drummer Matt Sherrod who is discovering these songs for the first time having admitted at his audition to not being a Crowded House fan. Hearing him drag the slow burning opener, Private Universe, to crescendo set the tone for the whole night.
A lifetime’s worth of hook filled songs makes great ammunition for any live act and thankfully the banter between the band bodes well for this being a long term comeback. Highlights included a speeded up version of Don’t Stop Now, the first single from the new album, a frenetic Locked Up, a tender Better Be Home Soon and a stunning Four Seasons In One Day squeezed in just before curfew at 11pm. At one point Finn asked if there were any requests and the result was an improvised Lester sandwiched between Recurring Dream and Everybody’s Talking. The highlight of the two-hour set though was the yearning and tragic ballad You Are The One To Make Me Cry that had Finn’s voice cracking and the Stadium quiet as a vacuum. The fact that a new song was the highlight says everything.
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