NEIL AND LIAM FINN // QUEEN'S HALL, EDINBURGH
It’s hard to believe Neil Finn’s career started more than 40 years ago. Most people will remember him as the frontman and songster from 90’s Icons Crowded House but his career started two decade earlier with quirky 70’s New Wave Act Split Enz.
NEIL AND LIAM FINN PERFORMING AT EDINBURGH’S QUEEN’S HALL - 18.01.2019
PICTURE BY: ALAN WHITFIELD PHOTOGRAPHY
★★★★☆
Tonight is part of a tour with his son Liam and follows their 2018 LP, “Lightsleeper”. Liam too has enjoyed success touring with bands such as The Black Keys and Pearl Jam as well as releasing six studio albums before this one.
Although they are touring a new album, with a dual career as long and varied as theirs, we were always going to be treated to a greatest hits show and they didn’t disappoint. Opening with “Sweet Dreams”, a song ten years older than Liam, the move seamlessly into “Back to Life” which was the lead single from last years album.
After four songs the father and son duo are joined by Neil’s younger son, Elroy on drums and his wife Sharon on guitar. It becomes very much a family affair and makes this intimate venue feel ever more personal. This is never more apparent than during “Golden Child” which is taken from Sharon and Neil’s collaborative Pajama Party LP.
Crowded House’s “Pineapple Head” is the first song they perform as a band and is the second of the half dozen songs we heard from that particular back catalogue. “Fall At Your Feet” and “Distant Sun” feature in a main set full of both Finn’s weighty joint discography.
They close the set as expected, to a standing ovation following “Don’t Dream It’s Over” which still has to be the most popular and commercially successful track that either of the Finn’s have penned.
There were times where the show ever so slightly drifted and lost a bit of focus, perhaps during “Any Other Way” and more noticeably towards the end with “Where’s My Room” but the meandering wasn’t enough to distract what was throughly enjoyable performance full of smiles, matching tracksuits and anthems.
SETLIST: | NEIL AND LIAM FINN : QUEEN’S HALL, EDINBURGH - 18.01.2019
Sweet Dreams - Split Enz cover)
Back to Life
Four Seasons in One Day - (Crowded House cover)
Anger Plays a Part
Pineapple Head - (Crowded House cover)
Better to Be - (Liam Finn song)
Meet Me in The Air
We Know What It Means
Message to My Girl - (Split Enz cover)
Any Other Way
Fire in Your Belly - (Liam Finn song)
Fall at Your Feet - (Crowded House cover)
Golden Child - (Pajama Club cover)
Miracle Glance - (Liam Finn song)
I Got You - (Split Enz cover)
Energy Spent - (Liam Finn song)
Distant Sun - (Crowded House cover)
ENCORE:
Black and White Boy - (Crowded House cover)
Cold Feet - (Liam Finn song)
Where’s My Room
Better Be Home Soon - (Crowded House cover)
Don’t Dream It’s Over - (Crowded House cover)