Crowded House – Thekla Social, Bristol
So this was pretty amazing – the fantastic Crowded House have decided to reform and, while recording at Peter Garbriel’s Real World Studios just outside Bath, decide to play a warm-up show in Bristol before hitting the global festival circuit (Cochella in the US and Hyde Park Calling in the UK).
Kimbo and I were lucky enough to get tickets to the show – one of possible the greatest band on the planet (certainly one of the world’s most gifted songwriters) playing to a crowd of 250 on a boat in Bristol!
To put this in context – the band hadn’t played a show together in over a decade – that final show being “Farewell to The World” on 24 November 1996 on the steps of the Sydney Opera House –one of the biggest concerts in Australian history with a crowd somewhere between 120,000and 250,000.
As you can imagine – we were pretty excited to get tickets, and the show itself was incredible. A great mix of old favorites, with a healthy smattering of new songs (from the forthcoming ‘Time On Earth’).
The band itself was in fine form – Neil Finn as charming as ever, in excellent voice and good humor. Nick Seymour was as cheeky as ever, while Mark Hart quietly swapped between guitars and keywords – although he did step-up for lead vocals on an impromptu rendition of Creedence’s “Born on The Bayou”.
New drummer - Matt Sherrod (who we’ve previously seen drumming for Beck on his last couple of shows) was excellent. He’s still getting to grips with many of the songs – but his natural style gives the material a loose and slightly modern feel – which seems to work well.
The venue itself was amazing – a permanently moored boat on the Bristol river – which has a long history as a cabaret venue called ‘The Old Profanity Showboat’ run by Vivian Stanshall of The Bonzo Dog Band.
But the real highlight was Neil Finn’s songs. I’d forgotten how incredible some of his stuff is – so it was overwhelming to hear so many great songs again, performed by world class musicians, in a tiny environment.
The new album should be a cracker – highlights for me where the Beatlesly “She Called Up”, a somber “English Trees” (which namechecks Regents Park – just across the road from us), and “Don’t Stop Now” (I agree with the heckler who commented “there’s your first single”.
Truly amazing – and despite a 2 hour drive back to London – it flew by in a hungover haze.
full setlist:
Locked out
World Where You Live
Something So Strong
Silent House
English Trees
Pineapple Head
Fingers of Love
Even A Child
Pour Le Monde
Transit Lounge
She Called Up
Love You Till the Day I Die
When You Come
Heaven That I'm Making
Better Be Home Soon
Nobody Wants To Talk About It
Don't Stop Now
Distant Sun
encore:
Fall At Your Feet
Mean To Me
Thanks to the FOTE site for the setlist and photos.
Kimbo and I were lucky enough to get tickets to the show – one of possible the greatest band on the planet (certainly one of the world’s most gifted songwriters) playing to a crowd of 250 on a boat in Bristol!
To put this in context – the band hadn’t played a show together in over a decade – that final show being “Farewell to The World” on 24 November 1996 on the steps of the Sydney Opera House –one of the biggest concerts in Australian history with a crowd somewhere between 120,000and 250,000.
As you can imagine – we were pretty excited to get tickets, and the show itself was incredible. A great mix of old favorites, with a healthy smattering of new songs (from the forthcoming ‘Time On Earth’).The band itself was in fine form – Neil Finn as charming as ever, in excellent voice and good humor. Nick Seymour was as cheeky as ever, while Mark Hart quietly swapped between guitars and keywords – although he did step-up for lead vocals on an impromptu rendition of Creedence’s “Born on The Bayou”.
New drummer - Matt Sherrod (who we’ve previously seen drumming for Beck on his last couple of shows) was excellent. He’s still getting to grips with many of the songs – but his natural style gives the material a loose and slightly modern feel – which seems to work well.
The venue itself was amazing – a permanently moored boat on the Bristol river – which has a long history as a cabaret venue called ‘The Old Profanity Showboat’ run by Vivian Stanshall of The Bonzo Dog Band.But the real highlight was Neil Finn’s songs. I’d forgotten how incredible some of his stuff is – so it was overwhelming to hear so many great songs again, performed by world class musicians, in a tiny environment.
The new album should be a cracker – highlights for me where the Beatlesly “She Called Up”, a somber “English Trees” (which namechecks Regents Park – just across the road from us), and “Don’t Stop Now” (I agree with the heckler who commented “there’s your first single”.
Truly amazing – and despite a 2 hour drive back to London – it flew by in a hungover haze.
full setlist:
Locked out
World Where You Live
Something So Strong
Silent House
English Trees
Pineapple Head
Fingers of Love
Even A Child
Pour Le Monde
Transit Lounge
She Called Up
Love You Till the Day I Die
When You Come
Heaven That I'm Making
Better Be Home Soon
Nobody Wants To Talk About It
Don't Stop Now
Distant Sun
encore:
Fall At Your Feet
Mean To Me
Thanks to the FOTE site for the setlist and photos.
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