Review of Crowded House – Performance in Perth much more than a traffic jam in the past | pop and rock

TThe last time Neil Finn performed on a Perth stage was in 2019 as a member of Fleetwood Mac, in a performance that included several of his own songs. He’s been modest about it, but the fact that “Fleetwood Mac: Guitarist/Vocalist” is just one of the entries on his resume speaks indelibly about his accomplishments. He respectfully brought down the gates of Buckingham Palace.

The first time Crowded House performed on a Perth stage was in 1987 at the long-demolished Entertainment Center. They were so hot in that moment; Flotsam, flotsam and jetsam in outlook, comedic and poignant and amazing, with all her vocal and instrumental skills at play. They were bringing the US to a standstill and had already broken into our hearts, with Finn at the helm, bassist Nick Seymour and the late drummer Paul Hester (and touring keyboardist Eddie Rayner). They opened with the first track from their recently released self-titled debut album, produced by Mitchell Froom, who now plays keyboards in the band. It was perfect.

Fast forward to Friday night at King’s Park in Perth and it was a traffic jam like those of the past, but with the reminder that great artists don’t wallow in nostalgia, no matter how much we want them.

Perth singer/songwriter Angie Colman had earlier immersed the crowd in the late afternoon cloudy equatorial climate. With their own local airwave hit Who Are You Now? She completed the 6 a.m. challenge to a rendition of Mazzy Star’s Fade Into You and made herself comfortable in thousands of picnic blankets after work. It’s harder than it sounds. New Zealand’s rising Empress Vera Ellen and her band were a revelation, a shimmering reminder that pop ‘n’ roll can still touch the soul.

This time, as with Crowded House’s first appearance on a Perth stage, they opened with “Mean To Me”, the first glimpse of the band’s 1986 debut LP. This “blind date with fate” they have – and all of us – come this far. It found Neil Finn and his amazing shock of gray hair in the classic Crowdies footwork tandem with bassist Nick Seymour. But you immediately felt that it wasn’t just about nostalgia, as the vocal harmonies of Finn’s sons Liam (guitar) and the beautifully shrill drumming of Elroy transported the song into the world of us and now.

Us and now. The inclusivity of this music is everything. Finn, resplendent in double blue (but not quite double denim), joked about the band camping out at King’s Park, and the elegantly elongated Seymour in black shorts indulged in musings about reptiles and playing in the spotlight. Camping is not allowed in Kings Park, but the public wanted it that way. “The World Where You Live” was a fitting conclusion to this banter, and Finn would soon honor the Wadjuk land where the gig took place, as the band began with the gently majestic “Fall At Your Feet.”

A caress, a hug, a reassurance – it was the first of many sing-alongs of the evening. “You brought your voices with you, Perth. We knew you would,” Finn said. “When You Come” from the band’s 1988 album Temple Of Low Men – a darker turn from the bright and bubbly 1986 debut – was an epic, the band leaning in and Liam’s guitar floating above and in between (also a psychedelic one Guitar entanglement between father and son). later highlighted To The Island). The pride Finn takes in having his sons perform his songs is obvious. Later, when they played the Elroy-penned “The Other”, Finn was particularly touched by the percussive participation of the audience on the hill to the left of the stage and made this known.

Finn sat down at the piano, realizing it was his first instrument, and trilled some playful classical notes. “Fortunately, Beethoven isn’t here,” he said self-deprecatingly. “He would turn around,” Seymour said blankly.

The new album “Gravity Stairs” was honored with five excellent songs – “Teenage Summer”, “Oh Hi”, “Night Song”, “Magic Piano” and “The Howl” – and even if every band in four decades has at best Given the inherent nature of Finn’s songwriting and the band’s performance, the reception was felt to be very engaging, with the songs depicting fascinating, if unfamiliar, worlds.

With Elroy leading the way on snare drum and brushes, Crowded House pushed through Four Seasons In One Day and Sister Madly, delivering mood and showbiz all in one, but the business end of the evening began with a rousing run through Split Enz’s I Got You – still crazy after all these years.

The last quarter of the show was a photo album full of hits. “Don’t Dream It’s Over,” “Distant Sun,” “Weather With You,” “Something So Strong,” and “Chocolate Cake” brought those seated to their feet and had the picnic blanket brigade cutting their rugs. A medley that began with “It Wasn’t Me” by Shaggy and extended through “Under Pressure” by Queen, “Edge Of Seventeen” by Stevie Nicks and “I Believe In Miracles” by Hot Chocolate, ending admirably with “Road To Nowhere” by Talking Heads ended, drawing enthusiastic cheers from the audience.

In a night of sing-alongs, the closing “Better Be Home Soon” proved to be one of the greatest campfire songs of all time. It was a song – and indeed a night – for the ages.

Crowded House’s Australian tour runs until December.