Crowded House

Brisbane Entertainment Centre

14.11.24

Crowded House brought their Gravity Stairs tour to a close in Brisbane on Saturday night. Neil Finn acknowledged that show number ‘sixty-nine’ was an auspicious number. As David Bowie’s ‘Five Years’ faded from the in-house PA, Crowded House took to the stage and kicked off with their debut single from June 1986, ‘Mean To Me’. Those opening lines are a call to arms every time Crowded House plugs in … ‘She came all the way from America/She had a blind date with destiny’. 

Much has changed in the Crowded House ranks since ‘Mean To Me’ was released. Neil is still out front with trusted lieutenant Nick Seymour on bass, while the rest of the band comprises Liam Finn on guitar, Elroy Finn on drums and Mitchell Froom (who produced the first three classic CH albums) on keys. The band is rounded out by a percussionist. And, of course, everybody in the venue sings. 

As ‘Mean To Me’ fades, the band roll into ‘Teenage Summer’ which Finn Snr is on record as saying the tune is’ ‘the most “‘Crowded House song they’ve recorded in thirty years.” Next come two songs from the top shelf, ‘Fall At Your Feet’ and ‘When You Come’. 

‘Fall At Your Feet’ alone displays Finn’s credentials as one of the great pop songwriters of his generation. One wonders what an artist does when they’ve scaled a metaphorical Everest? In Finn’s case he seems more interested in pushing forward than looking back. Obviously baulking at the idea of a pure greatest hits set, the band devotes some serious stage time to exploring the current album Gravity Stairs (2024), playing ‘Night Song’, ‘Oh Hi’, ‘The Howl’ and aforementioned ‘Teenage Summer’. We also get ‘To The Island’ from 2021’s Dreamers Are Waiting LP. 

The backdrop and stage set was conceived by Noel Crombie from Split Enz and it reflects the dreamlike and psychedelic mood of the new music. 

Early in the piece the band performs Liam Finn’s ‘I’, while Elroy’s recently released ‘The Other’ is beautifully co-opted into a Crowded House song. 

Alongside Neil’s obvious gifts, the band is as powerful as its floating parts. Froom is masterful on keys, Liam is dynamite on electric guitar and Elroy on the drum kit drives the band all night and shines in the encores. At the heart of it all is the stage-prowling Nick Seymour who hypnotises with some of the most melodic bass lines you’ve heard this side of Revolver. 

As with any Crowded House show, there’s always room for improvisation. Tonight we’re rewarded with a jam that could be called ‘Sympathy For Elroy’. Elroy thought he had tripped in private backstage, but his Dad has now told 15, 000 people about it. Earlier, at the keyboard Neil attempted John Paul Young’s ‘Love Is In The Air’. It was tentative with flashes of brilliance. 

A paper plane made its way to the stage to request ‘Fingers Of Love’. A sublime ‘Message To My Girl’ was delivered by Neil at the piano. The room then shifted gears as Finn & Co took us to those ‘etherial heights’  with a stunning take on ‘Private Universe’. 

From there it was ‘Four Seasons In One Day’ and ‘Weather With You’: both twenty four carat pop sing-a-longs capped off with gold standard lyrics. 

A raucous ‘Locked Out’ was followed by ‘Don’t Dream It’s Over’ and ‘Distant Sun’ to close the main set. A clock on stage let us know we were lurching towards curfew. ‘But we don’t give a fuck about curfew’ said Neil as support act Vera Ellen and band were brought back for the encore. 

In a four song arc, Crowded House put it all on show.  ‘Chocolate Cake’ was raucous. The only place to go after the mania of that was Split Enz’s ‘I Got You’. Talk about a roof lifting chorus. Next was a wistful ‘Not  The Girl You Think You Are’ before the night ended with ‘Better Be Home Soon’. 

What a night!

Sean Sennett

Photo: Aaron Lee