I've taken this whole week off because I've got too much going on & don't really feel like suffering work & feeling sleepy for a few days. It's been the right choice since the weather's been incredible & the music I'm seeing is even better.



Crowded House played the Entertainment Centre on Tuesday night to a packed venue & a hours beforehand I was one of twelve lucky individuals to catch a few songs played at the sound check!

Thanks to Peter Green from the Frenz Fan Club for organising the exclusive little viewing & seeing a couple of songs not played during the concert. Setlist for the sound check;

Everything Is Good For You
You Are the One to Make Me Cry
Transit Lounge
There Goes God
In my Command

It was good to hear the band without a crowd & just playing without any pressure. Matt Sherrod who has stepped up to fill some big shoes is doing an amazing job & manages to drift off in sync with the rest of the band when they decide a song should go somewhere it previously hasn't. A bit of "Funky Town" led into "Transit Lounge" & they ended a song with a fair portion of a cover. I'm killing myself to remember it & if I knew which band performed it, I'd know it the title instantly for sure!

"There Goes God" hasn't been played on tour & was requested at a prior sound check but not played. It's a favourite of mine, so I was pretty happy to say the least when they gave it a go.



The main show setlist;

Private Universe
World Where You Live
Don't Stop Now
Fall at Your Feet
Say That Again
Walked Her Way Down
Transit Lounge
In My Command
Silent House
Hole In The River
Don't Dream It's Over
Pour Le Monde
Message To My Girl
Distant Sun
Weather With You

Locked Out
Something So Strong
Four Seasons In One Day

When You Come
Not The Girl You Think You Are
Better Be Home Soon

This was my first Crowdies show & six months ago I would never have considered I'd get a shot at seeing the band live, especially after their breakup show back in 1996 on the Sydney Opera House steps. Now, excluding the late Paul Hester, they are back together again & sounding damn fine.

A couple of surprises were included; "Message To My Girl" hasn't been played on the Aus tour so far & it's a bit unusual for a Split Enz song to make the set. Neil played it solo & melted the crowd with such an unexpected song.

"Not The Girl You Think You Are" was originally supposed to be "You Are the One to Make Me Cry" according to the setlist. The change followed an old Crowded House tradition of the audience throwing paper planes onto the stage with song requests. Neil held the unfolded plane which read "Not The Girl". He made mention that whoever made it couldn't be bothered with the full title. He knew what they wanted anyway & subsequently played it!

I'm not sure the songs off the new album "Time On Earth" really hit it off with the crowd. "Transit Lounge" had sound effects for the airport public announcements & plane flyover during the song, but were hard to make out in the concert, but sounded really effective during sound check.

Since "Time On Earth" was originally envisioned as a Neil Finn album, the current Crowded House line up only played on three songs from memory. The lads go into the studio to record their sixth studio album at the end of the year & based on the fact they sound like Crowded House used to (if that makes sense), it should be a better album full of renewed energy.

Overall, an awesome experience & a big day which should be hard to forget!