In the Nightclub Foxwoods

Breathe. Just breathe. In. Out. Compose yourself. Gather your thoughts. Attempt to write coherently.

That's me. 16 hours after the end of last nights Crowded House show and I'm still trying in earnest to find the person I was beforehand, but I think that person is gone. Transformed. Never be quite the same.

First, the details, in glorious Finn acronyms because I'm too lazy to type everything out. (If you can decipher the list, you're a true Finn fan!)

Setlist:
LO
WWYL
HTIM
NWT
RD
FAYF
DSN
PLM
DDIO
WYC
YATOTMMC
SH
DS
SSS

Encore:
PH
SCU
WWY

No second encore as the lights came up and the mean Foxwoods people kicked us out. I can't imagine there being a noise curfew in a casino....seems a bit oxymoronic to me, but who am I to say. Second encore was to be PU and BBHS, but sadly, they remain forever unplayed.

The wonderful John Walsh snagged me Matt's setlist, after I literally said "Please please please please please...!?" Nope, I have no shame. I wanted a setlist. Bad. My forever thanks, Mr. Walsh.

H&P: Matt was hidden behind the drums all night, so I never got a good gander at what he was wearing. I know, I'm bad. Mark was in a dark suit, very typical of Mark. Wonderful head of curly, get-yer-hands-in-it hair, great smile, great voice, great everything. Nick was donning a very snappy white suit which Neil made a cheeky remark about early on. Don't ask me to remember it. All I know is that I laughed, so it must have been funny. Of course, Neil probably could have been spitting blood a la Gene Simmons last night and I would have giggled at him. Yes, he's ALL THAT in person.

Speaking of Mr. Finn, he was absolutely ravishing in his dark suit with that to die for white shirt with red embroidery thing underneath....this one:



Um....yeah. **leers** Enough said about that. His hair started out all sticky uppy and continued on through the set getting flatter and flatter...probably sweatier and sweatier...ahem. Sorry. Hair looked great. A+ for Neil.

The dynamic in the room was a bit strange, being filled more by curious casino goers than actual die hards, but I will say, those of us that WERE there for the Crowdies more than made up for it. I was lucky enough to be in the front row...the very enthusiastic front row, which was backed by the very enthusiastic second row. Lots of dancing ensued. It was all good.

I'm going to C&P what I wrote on OTS from here on out, because I really can't expand on it too much. I said all I wanted to there, so there's not any reason for me to try to outdo myself (with the exception of the H&P, which I already covered here.)

***
According to my setlist, there was to be a second encore, which it seems the powers that be at the Fox Theater saw fit to jip us out of. We were to get Private Universe and BBHS. Oh well.

Neil did a wonderful little improv of Italian Plastic mid-set and told the story about how Paul had mixed up the genders in the song so everyone in Italy thought he was gay.

There was also a lot of talk about Fish and Chips, which Nick ordered quite early on in the show, and which showed up mid show (after Neil wondered aloud "Where are the fucking fish and chips?") complete on a rolling cart with table cloth. Nick ate a hunk of fish, Neil had some fries and shared with Elroy, and then Neil offered the plate to the audience, walking right along the front of the stage with the plate held out. What a generous man.

Anyway, I couldn't remember all the banter if I tried, but I know that I was laughing most of the night.

You can really see how these songs have come together since the St. Patricks webcast. Everything sounds tight and well played, but retains an air of spontaneity, freshness, and unpredictability, which I think is the Crowded House forte. Any song can go anywhere if they want it to and is always on the verge of doing so.

While I don't know anything technical about drumming, I can say with all certainty that Matt is a kick ass drummer, who is clearly having the time of his life. He adds power and punch one minute and restraint and quiet the next. His versatility, and his ability to do it so well, is surely what must have sold him. He's an amazing drummer and he fits. He fits perfectly.

Mark Hart was ON. Perfect harmony, perfect guitar, perfect keys. You don't get the full impact of what he does in the band until you see him run back and forth between instruments live. Consummate performer, very quiet. Told us a short story about hopping a train in Kansas when he was 12 and getting arrested for it. Egged on by Neil of course. Other than that, the man didn't say a word, but he doesn't have to. His presence is enough of a statement.

I've seen many people describe Nick as a "liquid" bass player and watching him play, you understand what they mean. He's just in the moment, he's relaxed, he's present, and he's happy. There is happiness permeating this band. No stress, no expectation, no pressure. Just a happiness to be playing together again, with a measure of humor, respect and enough fire to prove that they still kick ass.

Neil Finn is in amazing voice. He sounded like a 20 year old last night, hitting every high and every low effortlessly and flawlessly. His voice has such a gentle maturity to it now, but enough of a delicious edge so that every song he sings sounds like it was sculpted around his voice.
***

So, that's it. The show was amazing and I get to do it all over again on Thursday, with crappier seats. But it's good, it's all good. Having front row last night, having the opportunity to be that up close and personal was something that I'll never forget and very likely something that will never happen again.

Shame on me for doubting this comeback. Shame on me. I stand very humbly and very happily corrected.