15 May 2008

Can I Have Another Piece of Chocolate Cake?











Let's get this out of the way first: Neil Finn is a song-writing god. I've always thought it, but last night confirmed it. WOW - the Crowded House show at the Fillmore was just amazing, I wish I was going to tonight's show and the 2 this weekend in LA. if it were possible, I'd be there.

They played for a full 2.5 hrs, and, though they didn't get all my favorites (if they had, we'd have been there twice as long!), they did pay about 40 songs - including a 45 minute long encore. That, my friends, is how it should be done. This was our first time at the Fillmore, and it was great - it's an old hall, no seats, just boxes upstairs and a dance floor and bar on the main level. But, this worked well for us, as we were able to be right in front. I spent the entire show not more than 15 feet from the band. The pics in this post were taken with my iPhone - I wish I'd brought my regular camera - I'm sure with a zoom and all I'd have been able to get some really good shots.

I'm still waiting for the band's web site to post the set list, but here's what I remember, in no particular order:

Sister Madly
Four Seasons in One Day
Don't Dream It's Over
Pineapple Head
Love This Life
Whispers and Moans
Into Temptation
Chocolate Cake
Sacred Cow
Private Universe
Recurring Dream
World Where You Live
Now Were Getting Somewhere
Love You 'Til the Day I Die
I Feel Possessed
When You Come
Love This Life
Don't Stop Now
She Called Up
Silent House
You Are the One to Make Me Cry
Fall at Your Feet
Four Seasons in One Day
Won't Give In
Distant Sun
Locked Out
Nobody Wants To

Several brand new songs whose names I don't know

Covers: American Woman, the whole thing (and it ROCKED!) sung by Mark Hart, followed by Australian Woman - Neil's tribute to the Bee Gees sung in a hilarious falsetto right after American Woman
It's All Right (partial)
You Sexy Thing (partial)
Happy Birthday

The band was really into things and you could tell they were having a blast - as was the crowd. Poor Nick Seymour was plagued by technical woes with his amp and monitor throughout, but did an amazing job nonetheless. Fun audience participation highlights included an impromptu group music lesson in the middle of Chocolate Cake, wherein Neil made us sing scales (I kid you not!), lots of group singing, call and answer types things, etc. When we were all singing Don't Dream It's Over, Neil had the crowd take over the final chorus and we all, it seems, have been listening to the same live recordings at home because the whole place drew out that final "Home" for the same (very long) length, then held for an oddly-timed rest and came back in with "soon" in unison. It was very, very cool. Neil looked a bit surprised and pleased, to say the least.

They finished the tour in LA this weekend, then, as I understand it, head home to work on a new album - it can't come out soon enough for me!

13 May 2008

I Heart the 80s

I heart the 80s, and my score here proves it!

09 May 2008

789 and other brilliant songs



I am all about Barenaked Ladies, as you probably know, and am LOVING their new CD, Snack Time, a collection of original kids songs. "789" is the first single (see video above), though there are some other songs that have already become new favorites of mine (I've only had the book and CD about 3 hrs now!), especially "The Ninjas," "Bad Day," and "Crazy ABCs."

They'll be in town on Ethan's last day of school and we're going to see them - I am counting down the days, believe me! If you love BNL, have a kid, or just love catchy songs, you can't go wrong with this CD. This quote says it all, "Our collective kids now outnumber the band more than 2 to 1," explains vocalist/guitarist Ed Robertson. "We set out to make a record that would be entertaining for them…not strictly a children's record, but a record that children would really enjoy. Our kids are in to all kinds of music. They love the They Might Be Giants kids records, but they also love The Beatles, Fountains of Wayne, Randy Newman, Black Eyed Peas and Green Day. Making the focus about what our kids like was a truly liberating process and fun for the whole band."