CROWDED HOUSE IS REFORMING!!!

[grace0418]

I know it won't be the same without Paul Hester but, as someone who never got to see CH live, I am sooooooooooooooo excited. Where's FinnFan? Has he heard this yet?

--edit-- to add link from the Herald Sun (which has been confirmed by Peter Green, Neil Finn's manager)



--snip--
Crowded House back on the road

Nui Te Koha

January 21, 2007 12:00am

CROWDED House, one of Australia's biggest musical exports, is
re-forming for a world tour.
Former frontman Neil Finn and bassist Nick Seymour have held auditions
in Auckland and Los Angeles and will continue their search for a
replacement for founding drummer Paul Hester in Melbourne this week.

Hester committed suicide two years ago.

Finn has regularly dismissed notions of re-forming Crowded House. But
Hester's tragic death shook that resolve.

Sources say Finn will commit 12 months to a world tour by Crowded House.


Here is the link:

http://www.news.com.au/sundayheraldsun/story/0,21985,21091418-2902,00.html

[xchrom]

1. sigh...

:loveya: :loveya: :loveya:

[grace0418]

9. I hear you xchrom.

Big sigh....

[Esra Star]

2. I think it's more appropriate to refer to them as a New Zealand

band.
New Zealand is not part of Australia and they are generally sensitive about that sort of thing.

[grace0418]

6. Well, only Neil Finn is from NZ. Paul and Nick were/are both Australian. And I believe

the band was formed in Melbourne when Neil was living there. So I think the Australian label is okay with the band. Although since IMHO Neil is the heart and soul of the band I do think of them as Kiwis.

[Esra Star]

17. I just didn't want to tale Neil or Tim away from the Kiwis.

They are royalty over there.
I do take your broader point though.

[grace0418]

19. So true. Just another reason to love NZ. They understand real talent.

:hi:

[emmajane67]

23. They are a Kiwi band dammit!

See, kiwi royalty, we're very defensive about these things, them aussies always try to steal our best stuff and claim it as their own.

[Pale Blue Dot]

3. World tour!!!

Woo hoo!!!!

Plus, there will be a new Neil Finn CD in March!!

:woohoo:

[grace0418]

4. Well, according to Peter Green, the new Neil Finn album is actually the new

CH album. Apparently he was working on it this whole time with Nick Seymour and perhaps even Mark Hartt. Either way, WOO-HOO- WORLD TOUR!

[Danger Mouse]

5. Have the 80's returned?

[grace0418]

7. I've never thought of their music as dated in the least. There are some Split Enz songs

that have some hilarious, very 80s keyboards in them. But CH has always had its own unique, timeless sound IMHO. I've played their masterpiece album Together Alone (which was sadly and inexplicably ignored in the US) for friends and they would never in a million years guess it came out in 1993.

[Danger Mouse]

8. I know...my mom really likes their music...

I was just being a jerk face =P

[grace0418]

10. I think the phrase "my mom really likes their music" hurt more than you

being a jerk face. ;)

Yeah, I know. I'm old. :hi:

[Danger Mouse]

11. I like their music too.

I'm a child of the 80's.

[Cascadian]

12. It is going to be a little different without Paul Hester.

It is so sad how he died. Shame that he could not get help for his depression. I am sure the new reformed Crowded House will be good though. Neil Finn is a very talented musician.



John

[Guava Jelly]

13. Neil Finn has golden pipes

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=wOenp3MUnh0
Better be home soon was such a beautiful song

[gmoney]

14. Great News

Just ordered the new DVD of the Farewell performance... kind of interesting timing for the tour. Hope they still play medium-sized ballroom venues rather than the dreadful "sheds" but I have a hunch this will be far bigger than anything before the break-up. I guess it's like the recent Pixies reunion in that regard.

BTW, anyone in this thread know the difference between the standard and Special Edition versions of the Farewell Concert DVD. I've seen no useful details on Amazon or any other online retailers...in some cases the Special Edition cost LESS, and the CD cost as much as the DVDs. Odd.

Also, FinnFan might know this... there are like four versions of the new Tim Finn album on Amazon. Any clues as to what the differences are or which one is the one to buy? Have my mixed feelings about brother Tim. The pre-Neil Split Enz stuff seemed mainly about the wacky costumes, make-up and squonky music, and it took Neil to actually bring solid songwriting to the group. Evidenced by "See Ya Round" the last Enz album, which was essentially the first CH album. Another problem I have with Tim... Chocolate Cake. Even though it was something of a hit, it sticks out like a sore thumb novelty among the otherwise sublime CH catalog. (Well, that and "I'm Still Here" and a few things relegated to "Afterglow".) Of course, maybe the wacky Enz costume/make-up stuff was the work of the other guys, as Tim's work matured quite a bit once he left the band. (Big Canoe is a great one!)

That said, I really loved the last Finn Brothers album, and was sad to see it largely ignored in the states yet again.

[grace0418]

16. I don't know for certain, but I know there is some very interesting commentary

on the DVD, maybe the special edition has more? I haven't purchased it yet. I've been hesitating because I was supposed to go to that show and my lack of passport screwed things up. So I always have had a hard time even thinking of that show, much less wanting to watch it. Now I think it may be easier for me to see.

I actually didn't love the last Finn Brother's album. Of course I bought it, and went to all the Chicago shows, but I don't find myself listening to it much. The shows are always great because they sing so much CH material, although when Neil tours with Tim they only do material off of Woodface.

My favorite of all the Finn-related albums is Together Alone. That album is quite possibly my favorite of all-time. Since Mark Hart will be in the new incarnation of CH, I feel pretty confident that TA will be well represented on the tour.

I won a contest a few years ago to see a sound check before a Neil Finn solo show and Neil started taking personal requests of the 15 or so people there. I immediately asked him to sing "Walking on the Spot" and he sat down at the piano and did a lovely, stripped-down version. It was mind-blowing. Sigh...

[Pale Blue Dot]

20. I saw him do "When You Come" solo on piano.

Gorgeous.

[Pale Blue Dot]

21. The new Tim Finn CD

I like it, but I wouldn't recommend it if you're not a fan. Tim has moments when he can be just as good a songwriter as his younger brother, but he's much more inconsistent. In addition, his voice has, unfortunately, started to go.

The different versions you see on Amazon I think only have to do with the country of origin of the CD and not with any actual content.

:hi:

[gmoney]

22. Thanks...

found a used copy on Amazon for about $13.50, so I'll give it a go...

[Swede]

15. The guilty get no sleep...........

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=9MXKZUX8XgY

[grace0418]

18. Looks like they will be playing Coachella.

Hmmm. Maybe a trip to California for my birthday is in order.