11 Years on, Crowded House 2.0 in Sydney
11 years after the Farewell to the World concert, Crowded House 2.0 reformed and has returned to Sydney.
In another 11 years time, all of Sydney would remember that day in November 1996 when the band played until Don’t Dream It’s Over. The entire 4+ million people will say they were there; just like Woodstock.
Starting with Neil Finn’s personal favourite song, Private Universe; a song where Matt Sherrod can show his drumming metal — to the final Better Be Home Soon; the crowd swooned and sang along.
At times the concert was like a Neil Finn revival meeting for yuppies. Whilst Crowded House wasn’t cool in the 1980s and early 1990s, they certainly are now. High FM radio rotation songs such as Weather With You, Four Seasons in One Day and Don’t Dream It’s Over become hymns for all to sing along to. And the crowd certainly joined The Crowdies in the old classics. It’s strange how you will sing along with 10,000 other people yet never do so in an office.
New songs, like all new Neil Finn songs, were let lose with album matching quality. It is the band that recorded the original songs; even with a hirsute Liam Finn joining his dad for two songs. Two news songs: Pour Le Monde and Silent House resonated most with the audience.
A little journey into Kraftwerk-inspired disco spilling into Split Enz Spellbound, and back again demonstrated the musicianship of the group. A bunch of blokes getting together and entertaining. Giving a voice to those uncool enough to like the Crowdies; but not hiphop.
1.0 will be remembered. And can never be replaced. We miss you Paul. Is it Crowded House sans Paul Hester? Yes, but 2.0