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Post by martine on Aug 19, 2010 15:50:17 GMT -8
I know eh. Exactly this week a year ago. I sure wish I was there now.
If the mo is GONE, then I'm up til 9 your time, I will require a phone call!
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Brian
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Post by Brian on Aug 19, 2010 23:01:34 GMT -8
Appearing relaxed and refreshed after a two-week break in their North American tour, Crowded House played a 40-minute set for a few hundred fans at Amoeba Records in Hollywood Thursday evening: - Amsterdam
- Either Side of the World
- Fall at Your Feet
- Twice If You're Lucky
- Elephants
- Saturday Sun
- Distant Sun
- Locked Out (encore)
Neil Finn said that he had come to L.A. from New Zealand -- only the day before -- and bass player Nick Seymour from Dublin, Ireland, drummer Matt Sherrod from Nashville, Tenn. and multi-instrumentalist Mark Hart from "five miles up the road." (Indeed, Anni and I walked in the front door right behind Mark.) Most of the time, Mark sat behind the electric piano set up front and center on the little stage, although Neil played two songs there. Neil also used some kind of synthesizer on a tall stand when he wasn't playing guitar. The band was inspired and their performance virtually flawless. Between songs, Neil plugged the album, Friday's show downtown at the Nokia, recorded music in general and Amoeba especially, saying he might trade in his CD's for vinyl before it was too late. When a guy shouted his admiration for him -- it might have been the notorious L.A.-based but internationally known heckler Scott -- Neil replied, "How very analog of you." Fans stood three deep in front and lined both rows of new and used CD's from ZZ Top to the Beatles. We leaned on the Middle Eastern documentary DVD's, where no one wanted to browse, and enjoyed great sound and a complete view of all four musicians from the mezzanine. The boys were due back to sign autographs -- the new CD only, and no photos allowed, according to the store announcement -- but we had a table with pastrami and matzo ball soup waiting at Canter's.
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anni
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Post by anni on Aug 20, 2010 11:01:14 GMT -8
Most of the time, Mark sat behind the electric piano set up front and center on the little stage, although Neil played two songs there. Neil also used some kind of synthesizer on a tall stand when he wasn't playing guitar. The band was inspired and their performance virtually flawless. Fans stood three deep in front and lined both rows of new and used CD's from ZZ Top to the Beatles. We leaned on the Middle Eastern documentary DVD's, where no one wanted to browse, and enjoyed great sound and a complete view of all four musicians from the mezzanine. The boys were due back to sign autographs -- the new CD only, and no photos allowed, according to the store announcement -- but we had a table with pastrami and matzo ball soup waiting at Canter's. ;D ;D ;D ;D ;D ;D ;D ;D ;D ;D ;D ;D ;D ;D ;D ;D ;D ;D ;D ;D ;D ;D ;D ;D ;D ;D ;D ;D ;D ;D ;D ;D ;D ;D ;D
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Brian
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Post by Brian on Aug 21, 2010 1:53:22 GMT -8
Crowded House officially kicked off the second half of their two-month North American tour Friday at Club Nokia in downtown Los Angeles, playing for nearly two and half hours: - I Feel Possessed
- Saturday Sun
- Fall at Your Feet
- Don't Stop Now
- Either Side of the World
- Amsterdam
- Whispers and Moans
- Pour Le Monde
- Twice If Your Lucky
- Message to My Girl
- Four Seasons in One Day
- Isolation
- Archer's Arrows
- Hole in the River
- Don't Dream It's Over
- Distant Sun
- In My Command
- When You Come
Encore:
- Locked Out
- Weather With You/Once in a Lifetime (Talking Heads)/She Called Up
- Elephants
- Better Be Home Soon
What a confident, loving and mind-expanding performance, particularly the psychedelic jam ending "Hole in the River" from their 1986 debut album. Dressed in fashionable dark suits, except for Matt in his vest, tie and black short-sleeved shirt, the band was joined by Neil's wife Sharon, who sang two songs, keyboardist Paul Jeffrey and the lead singer of opening band Lawrence Arabia for the astounding "Weather With You" encore, which Neil dedicated to his brother Tim. And he composed a funky new song on his synthesizer with Matt's help while guitar tech John overcame the first of many equipment glitches onstage. This was our first time at Club Nokia, and despite its "Blade Runner" setting outside and the five-story climb to our seats in the balcony, it provided the best sound and sightlines we've ever enjoyed in our lifetimes in Los Angeles, not Los An-gel-leez, as these New Zealanders keep saying. Martine sent me an e-mail tonight: Neil is coming back here to play the Largo the week after the tour ends.
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Post by martine on Aug 21, 2010 8:27:12 GMT -8
Very good reportage, Brian, thank you.
Great setlist, very similar to the ones we got on the Ontario/Quebec leg of the tour I'm thinking excluding Archers Arrows and Isolation.
The band we got in 2007, looking back on it, seemed a bit ragged around the edges, obviously played ok...but there is something else present this time which I can't put my finger on exactly.
It just seems more joyous and I can't tell which side of the stage lights that's emanating from.
Even I don't know if I could go to Largo after seeing CH 6 times in a two week period, it might be overkill but I'm sure when that weekend rolls up I'll be out of sorts and a bit sad not to be there as I have felt like a member of a secret society for having had the luck and good timing to see Neil at Largo last summer.
And the MOST IMPORTANT thing you didn't even mention, Brian---THE MOUSTACHE IS GONE! !
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Post by martine on Aug 21, 2010 8:32:24 GMT -8
More observations from Bobsetz via TITM:
It was like Taylor Swift for adults.
You know how you go to Taylor's show and all the little girls sing along? It was JUST LIKE THAT, only everyone in attendance had reached puberty.
A chill went up my spine as they started to play. This was genuine music, Neil Finn in his skinny tie and jacket, taking his job seriously, wringing the notes out of his guitar as he emoted into the microphone.
It was truly shocking, how fucking great they were.
Oh, they did "Hole In The River". And "Amsterdam". And even "Message To My Girl"! Hearing that made me feel completely whole, like there was nothing wrong with me, like it was fucking great to be alive and I'm gonna live forever, even though it's fine if I die tonight.
There were illuminated plastic ducks and trolls on the edge of the stage. The players stood atop rugs. It was all homey without being quaint. You see this was serious business, musicians working out.
They played for two hours and fifteen minutes. I had no desire to check my phone, needed no e-mail connection or Twitter feed, because the music was so alive, so vibrant.
And so modern.
Usually, when you see the codgers, it's nostalgia. But Crowded House played most of the new album, and the act felt more alive than that of the twentysomethings performing to hard drive. This is what it was like in the days before recordings, when you had to go to the show to get it.
And in the dressing room, Neil was like a guy you went to high school with. Chipper, adrenalized since he'd just had a great show, but with no airs whatsoever. He was normal. But so upbeat, I had to ask him, did he ever get frustrated, ever get depressed? He rolled his head back and laughed...it's part of being creative, the despair creeps in and you've got to create to get out of the space.
He's excited about playing. Gonna record a bunch of stuff and release it right away, not worry about complete albums and release cycles. Hell, on his next project, he's playing the drums!
That's the life of a musician. He's not doing the same thing every day, he's constantly experimenting, constantly innovating, constantly taking chances, otherwise you die inside.
And the show rocked hard enough at times that James Hetfield could smile.
Then again, there were moments when it was just Neil and his keyboard, completely sweet.
But he loved to play. He kept changing guitars, changing sounds, we were viewing a master at work.
Ah, remember the seventies, when you had to go to the show to get it? When you felt being there, drinking up the sound, was the height of life? THAT'S EXACTLY WHAT IT WAS LIKE! It was alive, not dead. No one was going through the motions. It was the essence. It's why I'm a believer.
And I thought love was only true in fairy tales...
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anni
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Post by anni on Aug 21, 2010 17:52:00 GMT -8
And the MOST IMPORTANT thing you didn't even mention, Brian---THE MOUSTACHE IS GONE! ! To tell the truth, Martine, we were too far away to see if the 'M' word was in tact OR he left the nose hair trimmers at home OR everything had returned to handsome and clean shaven. Tomorrow we'll be in the center second row AND I'm bringing my camera...no more cheap cell phone attempts. It don't work. Love the Brian review and the one you shared, too.
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Post by martine on Aug 21, 2010 20:49:05 GMT -8
Yea, the mo is definitely gone based on the many many photo's documenting this humongous event all over the interwebs but mostly Facebook.
I think it was too much tequila after the Amoeba gig and shaky morning hands with the razor, that precipitated this sudden change of heart, meself.
Have a lovely lovely lovely time tomorrow, you guys...I think you're in for an awesome awesome time
;D
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Post by Brian on Aug 22, 2010 22:17:48 GMT -8
I'm posting from the lobby of Humphreys Inn after the Crowded House concert on San Diego Bay while the band parties two suites down from ours. I'll have a review in 24 hours -- tonight, just the setlist: - Mean to Me
- World Where You Live
- Saturday Sun
- Fall at Your Feet
- Distant Sun
- Silent House
- Either Side of the World
- Even If
- Private Universe
- Hole in the River
- Don't Dream It's Over
- Archer's Arrows
- Isolation
- She Called Up
- Four Seasons in One Day
- Falling Dove
- In My Command
- It's Only Natural
Encore:
- Locked Out
- Weather With You
- Better Be Home Soon
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Post by Sharon W on Aug 23, 2010 9:51:58 GMT -8
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