My first post, so be gentle. It's been a bit of a Finn weekend - bought the album on Saturday, saw them play Angel's Heap and Only Talking Sense on the BBC music show Later on Saturday night... and saw them live at Dublin's Olympia Theatre on Sunday November 12.
Now this is a small venue of the ornate type with rather strange acoustics - think of the Muppets and you'll get the picture. Dave Dobbyn strolled on at about ten past eight, to mutters of 'Is that Tim Finn?' from the audience. Can't say I was overly impressed by Dave. Perhaps it was the sound but he came over a touch aggressive at times but. there's no getting away from it, Whaling is a fine song which CH have sung live, I'm sure.
The wait for Finn was made interesting by spotting ALT members in the audience. Liam and Andy was that you? And, hello, hello,that little kid's face is strangely familiar. Could it be the Finn family sized box? Not as grand as it sounds but useful for a restless lad to launch paper aeroplanes at the headline act and the rest of the audience for most of the night.
Anyway, the Finns' arrival on stage was met with incredibly intense applause. The Irish taste in music is as discerning as ever - judging by the sad faces outside the Finns could have sold out a whole week or more.
For a second or two Neil and Tim seemed taken aback by the reaction, but then it was into OTS and other selections from the superb FInn album. And that was the revelation of the night in many ways. Yes, the Woodface and Enz cuts were well sung and played but it was the newer stuff that really impressed. Standout track was Niwhai with an extended and crunchy guitar solo from Neil - I can't wait to hear the bootlegs.. And Angel's Heap was just perfect.
This was the first time I had seen Tim live and he seemed almost shy on stage. But as the night wore on, you caught Neil sending him the odd glance or two - as if he was trying to second guess big bro's next move. Mood Swinging Man was dedicated to their father, Dick. ('What's funny with that?'-Neil) though Tim admitted to the odd Finn moody - as did Neil, slightly less convincingly. Niwhai was about someone of uncertain sexuality - a charge that could never be laid at the door of their Dad, they said . Oh no, not him, they argued, before joking about sheep - one under each arm -of course.
What did they sing? Well, I had more than a few pints of Guinness, but I can remember Paradise, Weather With You, It's Only Natural, How Do You Go, History Never Repeats, Strange Creatures, Persuasion, Last Day in June, Four Seasons in One Day and, of course, Please Release Me!
A good night, needless to say. Only bettered by the first time my wife and I saw CH at the now-fmous Town and Country gig in London.
The LAST time we saw them was at a terrible venue in my native North East of England - the Whitley Bay Ice Rink. Imagine no beer, a cold floor (they don't get rid of the ice) and low-flying pigeons - in an indoor venue! CH worked hard that night. And yet I recall, a tired Neil eager to play stripped down, slowed down versions of songs which, it seemed, needed to be 'rocked up' to meet CH's new arena-friendly status. The verdict at the end of that night was simple - what would you give to see him playing the music his way in a real venue? Well, it must be luck of the Irish (my wife's from Kilkenny)... but a year or so later our wish was granted. Call me greedy but I'm crossing my fingers again - for another Finn album and a tour with Neil and Tim backed by the rest of CH. I don't care what they call the band -.I'll be there!