Crowded House - Royal Albert Hall

Having seen the first show of the Crowded House show – an intimate affair on a boat in Bristol – I wasn’t particularly tempted to go to the big arena show in London. However when the announced a special last show of the tour gig at the wonderful Royal Albert Hall – that one seemed too good to pass up, so I managed to get 2^nd row seats for Kimbo and I.

It was clear from the opener “Recurring Dream” (a rarely played non album track) that this show was going to be something a bit different, and it certainly seemed like the band had as much fun as the hardcore crowd.

When compared with the very first show back in March - it was remarkable to see how much tighter and more confident the band sounded. To be fair, they didn’t sound sloppy at that first show, it’s just that after playing together for 8 months, and with full production sound behind them: the group sounded amazing tonight.

They managed to play much of the highlights from the new album ‘Time On Earth’: “Don’t Stop Now”, “Pour Le Monde”, and an excellent “Transit Lounge” in the encore (complete with Beth Rowley on guest vocals). Although sadly no “She Called Up” or “Silent House”.

In between the band mixed in a bunch of rarer material: from the opening “Recurring Dream”, a touching “Message To My Girl” (which included Neil using a mobile phone to call and dedicate the song to what everyone presumes was his wife Sharon in New Zealand), the Paul Hester penned “Italian Plastic”, and “In The Lowlands” both from the criminally underrated ‘Temple Of Low Men’ album.

Highlights from me was Neil thanking all the road-crew then, seemingly spontaneously deciding to ask the “crew band” to come out and play a song, so the members of Crowded House would have a chance to go into the audience to watch them. The crew members obliged and did an incredible version of “It’s Only Natural” – while the band yucked it up in a box half-way down the arena – before they returned to stage to take-over and finish the song.

Neil also made mention that when they’d previously played The Royal Albert Hall – they’d found the large open room very conducive to paper aeroplanes – so they provided paper on people seats, and at some stages during the show you could look up and see a dozen or so planes flying around. Impressive, though it did wear slightly thin when cheers for a particularly long flight erupted mid-song.

As I remarked about the show in March – you simple forget how many fantastic songs Neil Finn has written. Standouts for me tonight was the main-set closing “Distant Sun”. “Four Seasons In One Day” – which Neil started sans-microphone, singing from the edge of the stage only a few feet from Kimbo and I.

All in all a great night from great, great band.

Recurring Dream

Say That Again

4 Seasons In One Day

Pour Le Monde

In The Lowlands

You Are The One

Hole In The River

Nails In My Feet

A Sigh

Pineapple Head

Italian Plastic

Don’t Dream It’s Over

It’s Only Natural (first half played by Roadie band)

Don’t Stop Now

Distant Sun

encore:

Chocolate Cake

Message To My Girl

Private Universe

2nd encore:

Mean To Me

Transit Lounge (with Beth Rowley)

Something So Strong

Into Temptation

Better Be Home Soon