I am fortunate enough to have a good (redoutably good) friend who is in fact in the employ of the Park West. He told me that Tim and Neil were going to be taking off right after the show, so they'd be doing a meet and greet between the opener and their set. And my friend--let's call him "S" for dramatic effect--said he could get me upstairs to meet them. *eep.*
After Ron S. finished I scurried (quick like rodent) over to the balcony where "S" had told me the meet & greet would take place--made it through the velvet rope and sat a-trembling. Neil and Tim appear quite suddenly...Neil heads toward me and I realize I can't think of a thing to say. When in doubt get an autograph. And get the birthtime!
(see, among other things, I'm a professional astrologer. When I meet people I admire, if nothing else I make sure to ask for their birth info so I can run a chart.)
Neil said 9 am for him. He moved on and I talked to Tim...Tim said he'd actually had his chart done once before, and knew his birthtime: quarter to midnight. (Neil had expressed interest in hearing about his chart once I'd done it, and suggested I send it care of Paulette, promo person, whose address I got. But I do still need their actual dates of birth, as well as the cities--is it Te Awamutu for both?--I knew someone on the list would have that info, so didn't want to slow things down to get it just then. E-mail me privately if you know!)
I seemed to have Tim's ear for the moment, and wanted to say something worthwhile, so what I told him was that I hoped he'd never stop making solo albums. I said that although sometimes it seemed like Split Enz and Crowded House got all the attention, I myself had been a Tim Finn fan first and found his solo work uniquely warm and literate. I said that I was sure he knew by this point in his career that there are more important standards of artistic success than chart placement or media attention...
Tim said that that was pretty much how he felt about it too, but that it was always nice to hear it from someone else. And he seemed very genuine about that. Genuinely glad to hear it. It was a very nice moment. (Unless I'm fooling myself and he thought I was a dolt for saying such *obvious* things to him!)
Tim did say (this may be old news for all I know) that he had just finished recording a solo album. *Yay!*
They headed off to do the show and I rushed back to my seat.
I've been a Finn fan for 15 years but sadly had never gotten to see either of them live before in any context. What a way to start. I can't describe the electricity of seeing them both on stage together, the feeling of history, of all the road behind them and the rare chemistry they share...that moments this rich in meaning don't come too thick in any one life...it was like the final scene of some amazing movie where the characters reunite at the end after all sorts of trials, older and wiser than they were at the beginning...(*not* to imply that this tour is the end of anything, knock wood! after all, there are always sequels!)
It seemed as if the bros. had gotten to the point in the tour where each had become familiar enough with each other's patter that they'd worked out some new sassy little responses. So tonight, when Tim said the bit before "Angel's Heap" about the babysitter, and Neil not being old enough to know what was going on, Neil shot back "I was old enough to know there was *nothing* going on," which pretty much stopped everything.
"Niwhai" was a definite high point in a high-altitude show. Tim's amazing stop-and-start percussion--I've rarely heard anything sound so sensually good in any concert ever. It seems to me that a lot of the songs from _Finn_ have really grown since the time they recorded...the arrangements now much fuller and more and developed. "Niwhai", "Mood Swinging Man" and "Suffer Never" were all songs I liked okay on disc, but these live versions really flattened me with their richness, variety, and--well--completeness. Tim's piano flourishes in "Where Is My Soul," somewhat understated on the disc, leapt out to dazzle, becoming a kind of exquisite rococo icing. And Tim added an amazing spoken part at the end...
And Neil's unearthly--dare I say "Frippertronic"-- knob-twisting noises at the end of "Suffer Never"--so powerfully eerie--were just example of the wonderfully experimental feel many of these songs took on.
Neil mentioned seeing some nuns pointing at the sky...and said it looked like a perfect promo image for "Where Is My Soul." Neil and Tim then supplied an admirable physical demonstration of what nuns pointing at the sky look like.
Before "Mood Swinging Man," they did a hilarious bit walking the stage side by side, like the famous "Two-Headed Finn Boy," and as Tim talked Neil supplied upstage hand gestures to mirror Tim's downstage ones. Like a classic silent film bit.
Tim came out into the spotlight to perform the song, and this genuinely commading look came into his eyes--he was performing the text with a really beautiful dramatic intensity, and an amazingly rich and varied delivery--it seemed like it was going to be the emotional center of the show. Unfortunately, he broke off realizing he'd sang the wrong verse first! There was a lot of very funny adlib and banter about this, quite enjoyable, but it took the wind out of Tim's sails and I was sad not to see the song finished in the chilling and powerful way it had begun.
During the encores, Neil mentioned that at the Conan O'Brian taping, some professional autograph hound outside had presented them some pristine white cards to sign. Neil said, "I bet you don't even know who we are." And the guy said, "Sure I do! You're the FIGG brothers!" So they signed him some cards, reading "Neil and Tim Figg."
Only real disappointment--we didn't get to see "I Got You" this time around.
Show over, I walked over to the listie gathering at Stanley's with Nick (Dominic) Tolli. The food was decent but the place was kind of noisy and stuffy and crowded, and not set up for Marck to be able to play.
So eventually we turned ourselves outside and picked a spot on the sidewalk for an impromptu Marckstock. It was a nice cool breezy evening--much better than being in that stuffy old bar.
How thrilling it was to hear Marck's vital and savvy arrangement of "The Famous Ballad of Neil's H@!r and P@nts." He supplied just the sort of lilting troubadour treatment that was required...we got to hear a couple of originals as well, and some passing beerpickles even dropped a buck or two into Marck's open case. There followed a couple of rather unpleasant encounters with neighborhood wet-blanket types complaining about the "noise" (???), followed by the appearance of vaguely sinister police vehicles cruising by like sharks in murky water, so Marck packed it in and after a few minutes of winding down conversation we dispersed. I hitched a ride home with Ann (Anne?) who was awfully fun to talk to but sadly says she never posts.
Return to 12 July 1996 review index
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As for the concert, Neil and Tim seemed to be in good spirits tonight. Neil kept referring to Tim as the deep one, which for some reason put him on the defensive a bit. Tim made a couple of references to his relationship with Phil Judd which definitely lent some creedence to Mike Chunn's observations in Stranger Than Fiction. Early on in the concert both brothers were rather amused by someone's pathetic attempt at a paper airplane, so Neil got down on the floor and refolded it, while Tim pretended to sob over some long ago memory of "little Neil on the floor folding paper..."
They got pretty messed up during Mood Swinging Man, but made the best of it anyway. Neil did a classic rock medley on the ukelele that was hilarious. He also pulled out several very impressive solos on electric guitar.
Peter Green and a boy I presume was Liam were selling souvenirs in the lobby. Peter told my sister he had been a bit under the weather earlier in the day, but he was feeling better tonight.
I could go on all night, but lucky for you all, I won't :) One last thing
for you h@!r and p@nts people - my two cents - I liked Neil's hair, but those
pants...
Return to 12 July 1996 review index
Everything everyone has said so far about how great the Finn Brother
concerts are is true! I was totally honest when I told Peter afterwards
that this was the best concert I have ever seen - everything just clicked
for me. It was great to finally get to meet Cindy and to add faces for
several of the names I see all the time on the list; Marck, EAK, Elizabeth
Wasserman, Scott Rambo, Zen Roxy, Elizabeth Setler...just to name a few.
The wait in line didn't seem to take nearly so long having other listies to
talk to. There was also a brief Tim sighting while we were in line!
I can't say how releaved I was that there were also seats in the front of
the hall! I've never had the good fortune to sit at a Crowded House
concert, and my feet, knees and back were much better able to enjoy this
concert as a result. We had a great view too - I hope some of my photos
turn out!
I'm sure that someone has by now already sent in a set list, but I'll do so
too, just in case. Someone (was it Yasmeen?) got the official set list and
said there was one addition + Charlie was substituted for History Never
Repeats. [Charlie was the song my husband Tony requested on a paper
airplane - one of the first Neil read - but he didn't criticize Tony's
airplane folding technique and it did fly better than the one Neil refolded]
Angel's Heap - introduced as usual as being about one of Tim's
babysitter's. When Tim said that Neil had been too young to know what was
going on, Neil said he'd been old enough to know that *nothing* was going on
except in Tim's head.
There goes God - who was the girl who corrected Tim who'd said that
Neil's son Liam had given him the idea for this song? She said that it had
been Elroy to which Neil replied that she knew entirely too much about the
whole thing and that she should be thrown out / or given a drink / but that
it had been Liam.
Time for a Change - introduced as one of Phil Judd's songs - someone he
(Tim) never talks to any more.
Where is my soul - after which Neil mentioned the nuns they'd seen
pointing to a bunch of trees - - which they immitated, offering a great
photo op, saying that would have been great for the video to this song.
someone requested straight ol line - Tim refused saying there were too many
chords, but Neil obliged with one chorus.
Mood Swinging Man - does Neil always shadow and mimic Tim during his
intro to this song? (pacing back and forth talking about his dad?)
Tim did a fantastic rendition of Please Release Me which seguayed
naturally into Eyes of the World.
Dirty Creature - with standard intro- need of an exorcism
It's only natural (with the chorus of Mary of the South Seas)
I don't recall when Neil *complemented* Tim as being the 'more deep one' of
the two - but that was brought up again repeatedly.
Kiss the Road at Raratonga - sounds much better live!
Message to my Girl - Tim seemed genuinely proud of his brother and the
response to these two songs.
Charlie (as already mentioned, Tony was thrilled with this one and wants
to know if they've done it at any othere Finn concert?).
Hey Joe (Jimmy Henricks?) / Smoke on the Water and Beethoven's 5th
medley on mandolin!! Amazing!
Al had to help with the equipment before the last number - Neil couldn't
hear himself.
So was the paper maché head Tim/Neil or both?
I'm sure others will fill in all the details I failed to mention. Both were
in really fine voice and hammed a good deal, "posing" together a lot for
photo ops. Both tended to sing with eyes closed, but ended nearly number
eyes open and smiling at each other - they seemed to be having a great time
up there together! Oh, and I won't say much about appearances, only that Tim
looks even better in person than in pictures/videos.
I bought my t-shirt from Peter and Liam, both great guys and brilliant sales
people! Liam is very much the image of his father - younger, naturally and
with much longer hair! He indulged me with an autograph when I explained
that it was in expectation of the day when he would be famous in his own
right. He's really a nice, personable kid -very approachable. Be nice and
buy lots of merchandise from him and Peter! and Oh, please mention to Pete
that those of us from Chicago hope that he's feeling better. Make sure he
(and the rest) eat well!
By the way, I assume that Liam's brother is also along for this tour - are
they on holiday from school?
The get-together was less of a party than expected, but it was nice to get a
bite to eat and visit some more. Tony and I really enjoyed getting to know
Elizabeth (EAK) and Scott. I hope y'all have made it back safely home.
Return to 12 July 1996 review index
I don't even know where to begin. I guess with the opening act. I felt
badly that more people weren't listening to Ron Sexsmith. He wasn't too bad,
you know. Talking afterward, my sister summed it up best when she said his
stage presence reminded her of Eeyore from Winnie the Pooh. Especially his
closing comment, "I have an album, it should be in the shops in case you want
to go point at it or something."
Neil and Tim were both in good humor. There was much ribbing of each
other and the audience. I think they are getting a little tired of paper
airplanes, though. A lot were being thrown back at the audience without even
being opened.
Highlights for me: Neil's guitar solo in Suffer Never, his singing in
Message To My Girl. Even Tim seemed genuinely impressed, he said "Neil, that
was great"--no joking or banter about it. Also Tim's voice seemed in better
form than during the ALT tour, the recording of ENZSO, and Mary of the South
Seas. My only complaints: I wish they had sung all of Mary instead of just a
hint of the chorus. And a certain audience member that shall remain
descriptionless. Everyone who was sitting near me probably knows who I mean
("You go Tim!").
All in all a very memorable night. This was easily the best Finn
related concert I have been to. Well worth getting stuck in rush hour
traffic coming into Chicago from 90 miles away, and the lack of sleep having
to be at work at 8:00 a.m. the next day.
Return to 12 July 1996 review index
I'm sorry I missed most of the comments about the Chicago show, and hope
mine won't be too redundant. I have to say, though, that the Finns
playing together like this is a dream come true for me, something I've
been wishing for since the demise of the Enz. Now, if they ever get
together and tour with Davey Spillaine, I'll reach a state of nirvana.
Highlights for me: Neil's ukulele rendition of Hendrix's Hey Joe had me
in hysterics, as did most of their between-songs banter. Beth mentioned
that Tim seemed genuinely impressed with Neil's Message To My Girl,
which I found very cool, too. I never sensed any kind of one-upmanship
or competitiveness between them like I did at times during the Woodface
tour, so it was fun to watch them watching each other throughout the
evening. So often, there would be a look of... inspired awe, is the best
I can come up with... on the face of whoever wasn't singing lead. A
wonderful show, one I wish I had on videotape.
Coincidentally, my husband and I ended up at the O'Hare Hilton after the
show (don't ask... we were picking up something we'd forgotten at the
airport Tuesday night), and he ran into Peter in the lobby (stupid me--
I was dozing in the car). He asked Peter what he and the Finns thought
of Chicago, and Peter said the people here have always been so wonderful
to them, they'll go out of their way to stop here. Makes me proud *sniff*.
Return to 12 July 1996 review index
It really wasn't the pants or the shirt for me but the combination of the two.
He is a brave man!
There has been a lot of talk about Ron Sexsmith in the postings (but not
nearly as much as was going on as the poor guy was trying to do his songs.)
His show would work better with a little more self esteem and confidence but
it was pretty good. He nearly knocked me out of my chair when he started
singing a song about Lebanon, Tennessee (which he didn't mispronounce like
people around here do!) The town is about 30 minutes north of me and I never
really thought it worthy of a song. I doubt he has been there (and actually I
think that was the point of the song to begin with.) I especially enjoyed his
closing song about a guy talking to an Angel that no one else sees. Really
nice! Maybe with a small group of guys playing backup with him he would have
seemed louder and attracted more attention from those who thought they had to
chat through his set. Then again maybe they would have had to shout. Who
knows?!?
Now to my personal observations from the main event! I was extremely happy to
see them both in such a good mood. I have learned from reading the list that
their mood can make or break the show (esp. Tim's.) Tim said he was in a
"fizzy Friday" kind of good mood at the start of the show and this was a very
good sign! He took control of much of the show supplying most of the running
comments and intros as he wandered all about the stage. The two of them being
so loose and free made the banter great. Here is one of the bad things about
knowing so much from reading postings here though. Some of the lines are
recycled each night apparently and while funny enough kinda lose their punch
when I already know them (e.g. the line about Tim's having tried channeling.)
But still some of it was new to me (at the time) like the "Finn Brothers
Suck" line that Liam was said to have told them before they came on. I found
this quite hilarious.
I was surprised (but forewarned) that Niwhai was as good as it was live since
I didn't really like it much on the CD.
One thing different from what I expected from previous reviews was that
instead of Tim taking off at the end of songs forcing Neil to follow him that
it was the other way around on a few occasions. His kneeling before his
pedals and knob tweaking bringing forth much marvelous feedback was fun at the
end of a couple of songs (Suffer Never being one of them.)
I did realize as it was being sung in the show that, although possibly not my
absolute favorite moment in a CH song, the lines in How Will You Go "...cause
I want you to see round the world round the world is a tangled up necklace of
pearls" is a brilliantly beatiful sentiment. Just another fabulous Finn
bridge!
I am not sure who did it, but someone went to great lengths to make what they
called a "Finnata" (you know, like a pinata) made to look like the heads of
Neil from the left and Tim from the right. It was passed up to them kinda
late in the show and took its place on stage on one of the amps. It was a
lovely thing to behold! Tim finally said it was definitely Neil, but he was
on the Neil side of it when he said it. Maybe after the show they figured it
out. Did it make it on the stage in Boulder?
During the ukelele solo while his monitor was dead I must have been completely
numb because I missed that he was playing "Smoke on the Water." I have no
idea how I missed that being a child of the 70's! I must say that "Hey Joe"
is a trippy experience with a ukelele though! After that the mighty Al (the
deaf sound technician!) came out and cured the monitor (and I high fived him
as he returned to his station--I didn't mention that I had a FABULOUS SEAT
just 4 chairs deep from the stage just left of center (which is a place I like
to be anyway!))
My personal favorite part of the show was the second encore. First Neil went
through Last Day of June. As if that wasn't good enough, he followed up with
Message to my Girl. It was completely heavenly and I didn't think anything
could top it. Then Tim came round the back side of the piano and they talked
to each other for a moment and then announced that the next tune was going to
be Charley (or is it Charlie?) I had never heard the song before, so I
listened intently (and I have to add that it is a rare thing for me to be able
to understand lyrics to a song being performed live. Accoustics are usually
terrible when I am at shows but not on this night. I suppose a combination of
the venue and the uncluttered music of just 2 incredible guys.) I was
completely blown away by this tune. My jaw gaped. Incredible! Absolutely
the high point of the night for me. Tim was really on Friday night! Must
have been that fizzy Friday feeling!
All in all an incredible show. Finally got to see Tim live (and how!) I
remember sitting at the beginning of the show with a giddy feeling and a big
grin on my face, rare indeed for a person who is as crotchety as I usually am.
All this and getting to meet a few of the listies and Peter Green, who is
an incredibly friendly ball of energy (even when he isn't feeling well!) Then
followed up with the mini concert on the side street by Marck that was so good
the neighbors even came out to hear it! (That is why they came out, isn't
it?) I have to extend thanks to Marck for keeping the list up because without
it I never would have known about the show at all until it was way too late.
Also thanks to Elizabeth for getting me back to my hotel. Didn't relish the
thought of a train ride at 1:30 am!
A few last notes and then I will quit for now. A young black woman at Midway
airport working the counter at a magazine stand mentioned upon seeing my shirt
(which I purchased from young Liam, a young man who apparently doesn't know
that we all talk about him!) that she had seen them on Conan Wednesday night.
I asked if she liked them and she said yes, that was why she remembered them.
I asked her with a grin if she was just saying that because I obviously liked
them but she said no, she really did. Then as I was getting off the plane (3
1/2 hours late, but that is another story) in Nashville, I heard a teenaged
girl a few rows back saying to her teenaged friends "they are kinda like the
Beatles," apparently in response to one of them asking who was on my shirt.
I felt a small sense of hope in this just because one of them had at least
heard of them. "Maybe the day will come...." as they say!
All in all a wonderful night and absolutely worth the trip to Chicago!
Return to 12 July 1996 review index
I'm sure full reviews and setlists have already been posted,
so I'll just mention a few personal highlights. As usual, the stage
banter was one high point, covering topics such as subtitling their
comments for the non-NZ-fluent audience (and I'd had a chance to see
_Trainspotting_ for free just the night before...), the "babysitter"
story about "Angels Heap," the origins of "Time for a Change," the
talk about their father, and the discussion about Neil's kids. Other
notes:
And then there was the post-show festivities in and around
Stanley's. I was glad to meet and talk for a while with Bob Devine,
Marck, Rachel (how DID we get her into Stanley's, Marck?), Elizabeth
Wasserman. (an amazing ball of energy!), Elizabeth Setler, Yasmeen &
Roger, Dave Awl, Nancy, Ann Leahy (I need to send her a compass, or at
least use one myself!), Lisa Kemper (really happy to meet up with
you!), Chris & Cindy, and a whole host of others. We got gargantuan
portions of grub for little money, though I still wish Yasmeen
wouldn't have ordered her fries and just helped me finish off mine!
The waitresses loved hearing our stories, and our group took up quite
a few tables. Even though the back room wasn't really private, people
were constantly leaving, so that the room ended up In Our Command.
The street, however, was a different story, since the man of
the (1am) hour was our own Marck Bailey, who entertained large crowds
on the street outside Stanley's with a great set of originals and
covers. Marck actually made a couple of bucks for the evening thanks
to passers-by, and it wouldn't be a stretch to say that his music drew
a strong response from the neighborhood residents, who, among all the
police sirens, taxicab horn blasts, loud drunk folks, and car alarms,
still managed to single out Marck's music for comment. The set list:
Return to 12 July 1996 review index
I came early enough to secure a close spot and I needed to because the
airplane requests I brought were weak. In fact, when I managed to get
them on stage (with help!) Neil picked one up and said that it was the
worst airplane he had ever seen (*gulp*). He proceeded to remake the
airplane and sent it back out. Tim kicked my other airplane around
with his bare feet during the show. Aside from the abuse my airplanes
endured, they played my request - Message to My Girl! I was really
pleased.
Overall, I really enjoyed the banter between Tim and Neil. The music
was fantastic. The mix of Enz-CH-Finn material blended quite well. I
think Message to My Girl was my favorite moment of the evening.
As for people watching, someone spotted Matt Dillon with a blond
actress (don't remember her name). I didn't know he was a fan.
Return to 12 July 1996 review index
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Crystal Sims
Wow!
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Beth Krenek
Wow!
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Jill Arbanas
I'm a newbie here, courtesy of Tony Papay (Hi Tony!), whom I met while
standing in line for the show. I'm an Enz fan from way back (maybe
'75--eeek!), and have followed the Finns' careers over the years, so I'm
very excited to have found all of you. And thanks to Tony, I just found
out about Alt, so there's more new music for me to hunt down and devour.
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Scott Rambo
Rebecca Krenek wrote:
"I could go on all night, but lucky for you all, I won't :) One last thing
for you h@!r and p@nts people - my two cents - I liked Neil's hair, but those
pants...
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Dominic Tolli
It was a good h@ir day for me (oh no, I've
started) as well as for all in attendance. I was there early enough
to get down front even though I had a balcony ticket (they weren't
checking early on), but not early enough to get a seat at the Tongue
tables up against the stage. Still, I made my way around meeting list
folk I'd only read about.
Of course, even at over two hours I wish it could have gone on
longer, but it was a great show. The performance of "In Love With It
All" made me wish they'd also done "Strangeness & Charm"--would have
been a perfect complement to the "Finn" material.
The Ballad of Neil's Hair & Pants
At this point, though the crowds were split on their opinion,
and the police had shown up (mainly to wave fingers at a woman with an
open bottle of beer), the show ended. The gracious Ann Leahy drove me
to a nearby El station (sorry I didn't point you down Belmont, Ann!),
and sped off into the night to drop off Dave Awl. A great ending to
the night, though I still had two hours of commuting before I got to
sleep! Hope to meet up with you Chicago folks at other shows in the
future!
Blackbird (lovely cover of the Beatles tune)
Ten Good Days
(the disclaimer/safety song - what's the real title, Marck?)
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Yasmeen Mahmood
Wow! I am a bit speechless after the show. Actually, I was also a bit
hoarse from yelling like a kid. I don't know if I was the only one to
have an adolescent digression. :-) Oh well. I must say it was great
to meet all the fans from the list and other states (Minn, Tenn).
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