Crowded House also possesses a knack for improvisation. Crowded House features four dynamic performers who are each capable of driving the jams (thanks in part to the recent addition of drummer Matt Sherrod). Transit Lounge, one of the best songs from the band’s most recent albums, turns quickly from a mellow pop song into a snappy piano-driven interlude. Frontman Neil Finn’s work on both the guitar and Fender Rhodes really propels his bandmates’ playing to great heights throughout the recording.
One of the better parts of this show comes towards the end in a segment titled “Chicago Jam.” Finn and the boys were having a bit of fun with the crowd and asked them to start clapping at any rhythm they wanted. The band created a song from scratch with the help of the crowd’s rhythm. Neil freestyled some lyrics on the spot about playing in Chicago, and while Eminem doesn’t have anything to worry about, Finn did a nice job incorporating crowd participation into the show.
While Don’t Dream It’s Over and Something So Strong got the biggest applauses of the night, a funky She Called Up and the gentle How Will You Go were the best played songs of the night. She Called Up, my favorite song of the summer, started with a nice call and response segment between Finn and Mark Hart before exploding into the catchy verse. How Will You Go, another tune off of Woodface, shows off a more serious side of the band.
For the last song of the encore the band treated the audience to Sister Madly. After working their way through the song Finn started singing A Day In The Life, and his bandmates quickly followed his lead. That’s right, Crowded House likes to tease songs and play covers just like many of your favorite bands. What can’t these guys do?
Crowded House treats their crowds to a unique experience every time they take the stage. Hopefully they will return to the States early next year after they finish Australia and the UK. For now be sure to see what all my fluffing is about on January 5th when they make their debut on Austin City Limits.
- Download Crowded House at the House of Blues in Chicago from August 19th
- Previously on HT: The B List: Brothers In Arms, The B List: Songs of Summer ’07 and Crowded House Returns to New York
- Crowded House’s She Called Up video
Crowded House
August 19th, 2007
House of Blues
Chicago, IL
Set: Locked Out, There Goes God, Transit Lounge, English Trees, Fall at Your Feet, Don’t Stop Now, Pineapple Head, People Are Like Suns, She Called Up, Distant Sun, Something So Strong, When You Come, Chicago Jam, Italian Plastic, Weather With You
Encore: Whispers and Moans, How Will You Go, Better Be Home Soon, Sister Madly > A Day In The Life
4 Responses
Scotty,
Thanks for the comments back on The Weight. I completely agree about what you said re: Crowded House and it was a thrill to see them on their psuedo home turf. The trip TO Australia was surprisingly easy…probably due to adrenaline and the excitement of being away for two weeks. The flight home is a different matter and I haven’t fallen asleep before 4 am in the last couple days.
The first thing I said to my brother at the Crowded House show was that it was not “cookie cutter” at all. It seemed completely spontaneous, the band was bantering with the crowd and each other, and the music was (hell, I’ll say it) joyous. The music soars and cascades, the band is obviously extremely talented, the “pop” sound is pretty deceiving as there is a complexity to every song, and it certainly felt like a jamming show.
It was interesting to have the Aussie crowd seated pretty much the entire time. And oddly, “Don’t Dream It’s Over” was hardly the most applauded or cheered song of the night . That was reserved for “Something So Strong”. Maybe Don’t Dream was just their biggest song in “The States”.
Definitely go to Australia if you get the chance. I would move to Sydney tomorrow if it wasn’t so damn far away. Think New York City: only cleaner, less dense, more friendly, and add pristine beaches and harbors as far as you can see. And palm trees. You could call your music site Hidden Koala Tracks….or Outback Track. You get the idea…
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