Review: Crowded House at Birmingham Symphony Hall
They're not exactly AC/DC, Crowded House, but their brand of intelligent, melodic pop is so popular that they sold out the Symphony Hall two nights running – three years after their last appearance in Brum.
Crowded House
Birmingham Symphony Hall
They're not exactly AC/DC, Crowded House, but their brand of intelligent, melodic pop is so popular that they sold out the Symphony Hall two nights running – three years after their last appearance in Brum and weeks before their new album is released ('It's a pity we didn't get the timing right," admitted lead singer Neil Finn).
Some things have changed since their last visit - Finn seems surprised to learn that we won't be buying the new CD from Woolworths (still going strong in his native New Zealand) – but the band remains much the same – apart from the singer's controversial choice of moustache.
See our pictures on the right (they're not the best, frankly, so if you were there and you can do better, please send them to us here.)
The audience were much like the Crowdies' music – gentle, occasionally rocky, and a bit on the quiet side. For the first hour they clapped and nodded along to songs such as Fall at Your Feet and I Feel Possessed, but to be honest, had the band been playing in Shrewsbury Quarry the local Residents' Association would have been saying to people, 'Look, you can make a bit of noise, you know.' That's how quiet they were.
And then, after the first hour, some girls in the front row stood up and danced.
This spurred on Neil Finn: "You are allowed to stand!" he said, and people did just that – not exactly charging the stage, but politely making their way to the front to dance and sing and listen to the banter between the musicians, who seemed genuinely chuffed by the response.
They are brilliant live – completely relaxed and with the ability to make a big venue such as the Symphony Hall seem like the back room of a pub.
And they're funny, too – amiably discussing the snooker they played after last night's show, or what they had to eat, and why, despite (polite) requests from the audience for him to shave it off – Finn's moustache is staying in the band.
In short, a great night out. Hopefully they'll be back soon.
By Andrew Owen
