What happens when someone who’s not listened to Crowded House since 1991, goes to see them in 2024. Let’s find out shall we… This band really were a big deal in the early 90s, the Woodface album was everywhere, but I’ll admit I’m a bit surprised to see them in the biggest arena in the country. It’s not at capacity, the top tier is closed and the floor space is seated, but this is still a massive audience. I’ll say the same thing I said when I saw this place packed for Liam Gallagher, despite its enormous size, it feels surprisingly intimate. This works well for Crowded House. There’s a massive scope to their sound, but it’s all laced through with a reassuring warmth. Most of the set is new to my ears which is unusually disorientating for me, plus it’s a bad start. Not the band, the logistics of Coop Live. This might be a great venue, but the parking is a disaster and I miss the start. I don’t recognise the first few songs I catch and I’m in a bad mood having also been caught in the rain. I catch the end of ‘Fall at Your Feet’. Then they play ‘Don’t Dream It’s Over’ and it’s beautiful. Neil Finn’s voice is still wonderfully harmonious and he seems like a lovely bloke too, comfortably chatting between songs. Making up new songs about crew moving pianos. You don’t get this level of confidence at many gigs. I’ve given the new record Gravity Stairs a few spins and I’m happy to hear them play my favourite, the opening track ‘Magic Piano’. It’s a gorgeously lush slow pop song and I melt into my seat, or would have if half the crowd weren’t going to the bar. Things settle for ‘Oh Hi’ and it’s generally all very civilised, although when they cut loose at the finale of ‘When You Come’ they really let rip. It’s quite a contrast and bloody amazing. Finns son Liam wildly soloing on guitar as a proud dad watches on. ‘Private Universe’ pulls the same trick, albeit slightly more controlled with its tribal rhythm allowing Finn’s other son Elroy to shine. It’s a big band, players coming a going around the core, I think there’s 7 on stage for ‘Four Seasons in One Day’. One chap is playing what looks and sounds like a lute. It finishes with the crowd singing along. This is often a mess, but Crowed House fans are rather tuneful. We’re getting to the hits, ‘Sister Madly’ is a spritely thing as Finn Interjects lyrics, musing about what day it is. He really is very charming. They’re all playful, Nick Seymour on bass leading them into a ‘These Boots Are Made For Walkin’ interlude. I don’t think I’ve heard ‘The Howl’ before but it really hits the spot and ‘Locked Out’ is pretty raucous. ‘It’s Only Natural’ resets the more sedate balance a bit, before going a bit Rolling Stones at its end as it closes the set. I’m now wondering if I missed any really great songs early on and it turns out I have. Not much I can do, but it is frustrating. I’m not the only one missing songs though as loads of people seem to forget the theatre of an encore and leave before they come back on. I’ve not seen this happen since I watched a load of people wander off at a Tool gig, not realising it was a half time intermission. ‘Distant Sun’ isn’t one you want to miss either. People are dancing in the aisles. Well two people anyway. I’m half expecting them to be told to sit down, but the atmosphere is so pleasant I don’t think the stewards want to spoil their fun. A blistering rendition of ‘Whispers and Moans’ makes up for anything I’ve missed. This is one of my favourites and one of the reasons I took a punt o the ticket. Thank you to whoever that was down the front requesting it. ‘Some Greater Plan (for Claire)’ comes with a back story of older generations, war and love. It’s very nice, but I’ll admit my arse is going numb. It’s the end though and everyone’s up for ‘Better Be Home Soon’, phone lights out, arms swaying, it’s really lovely. It’s a great gig, but knowing one or two albums probably wasn’t really enough. It’s still a great venue, but its location is not the best.
Comments