Back in June of 2022, MV saw Crowded House for the first time and reading through the review I wrote that night I am struck by a phrase I used then: “This is a much less choreographed show than most arena rock gigs”.
Likewise, here, it follows none of the normal rules. There is no bombast. No light show to speak of. No chest beating. No antics. And if we are honest, a rather pleasing lack of structure. All of which means there is only one way that Crowded House have got to do this at this level for so long.
Simple: you ready?
They have got a load of fantastic songs, that people connect with.
Confident enough to start with one. “Weather With You” could have easily been to the encore, but isn’t, and and perhaps nothing sums them up better.
One thing has changed though in the two years since they were last here and in the summer, they stu
ck out, the “Gravity Stars” album, given that they play almost half during the couple of hours set.
“Teenage Summer” and the likes have fitted in well too, although it is difficult to imagine I credit house song not fitting in. I have such a lovely warm laid back way about the music.
That is reflected too, in the older ones, like “World Where You Live” but also in their nature themselves. It’s a rather freewheeling set, unscripted, and there’s a feeling that whilst the songs may not differ much, No two shows would be the same. For example here there is much talk about bass player nick Seymour’s trousers.
Occasionally a song breaks out. And here, they shine. “Either Side Of The World” turns into a jam, and the one song they play from the days when Neil Finn was in Split Endz, “Message To My Girl” shows his versatility perfectly.
They are a wonderfully unconventional band. “Fingers Of Love” is emotional, while the one-two punch of “When You Come” which is almost prog and the gentle way they do “Four Seasons In One Day” is a gorgeous contrast. In between drummer Elroy Finn joins his dad and brother Liam for “Private Universe” “(we’re a folk trio now” offers snr) and the atmosphere is summed up.
There is a Latin influence throughout and Elias Dendias and Tryfon Batsis – the men responsible – get their chance on “Misirlou” and the closest it gets to anything like a crescendo is “Don’t Dream It’s Over” and “Distant Sun”.
A relatively lengthy encore – the one concession, perhaps, to “rock star” takes in “Chocolate Cake” – given a rare outing -, new one “Some Greater Plan (For Claire)” (although even here there’s a vote on whether Finn should play it on acoustic or piano), before “Sister Madly” and “Better Be Home Soon”.
For the latter, the arena is lit by mobile phone torches. Loads do this, of course but here, it appears like beacons of calm amongst the turbulence in the outside world.
The whole set has felt like that in truth, and that’s why Crowded House have been welcome guests for almost 40 years
