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Live Review
by SaschaS
6-11-2004
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More on: The Finn Brothers
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| The Finn Brothers: some styllish pop! |
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Live: The Finn Brothers
Hammersmith Apollo, London
Friday, November 5, 2004
The Finn Bros’ extensive catalogue and Minnie Driver support
Tim Finn’s fading hairdo indicates the passage of time, otherwise this could be anytime inbetween the 1970s and today. Otherwise, it is business as usual, great songs, funny observations, general joy and party time for the audience. Everything is present for a great night of great songs of vintage standard [think The Beatles], bon-mots and bonhomie but atmosphere was slow to pick up as if orchestrated by a snail.
Commencing the date with home movies of the two’s childhood, the scene was set for a bonfire night show that certainly sparkled without polluting the atmosphere. Combing the songs from their current album, ‘Everyone Is Here’, with some classic pop tunes they marked the history [of pleasure] with, The Finn Brothers certainly satisfied the first, of three, sold out crowds at the legendary venue.
Under a décor of four antique-but-weird looking chandeliers, Neil and Tim traded instruments, sung in unison and individually to deliver a set that is mainly AOP [Adult Orientated Pop] but not afraid to get complex, deeply arranged and even prog-rocktastic at times. All peppered with witty remarks and humorous recollection of their teenage hood in Hamilton, New Zealand, such as “The main entertainment was riding an escalator on Saturday night… that only went up!”
But, the audience initially under-reacted to make this a strange show to begin with. Could it be that these men bring out people who are usually not regulars at the music venues of our Capital? Not even ‘Four Seasons In A Day’ got the fans out of their seats and it would be more than half-an-hour into the show before someone shouted whether they could stand up. Rather polite for frequenters of rock rebelling events… i.e. - a body-search before being admitted to a Dizzee Rascal gig the eve before!
A tad less filled auditorium, but with the same civility, welcomed Minnie Driver during her support slot. Dark-haired film-star fronted her band of country-rockers with a clear, mature and impressive voice and a wee nervy performance. At one point, Ms Driver tells us how she graced this stage before, with REM, Chris Martin and The Thrills for an Oxfam benefit and the house lights were on that really disturbed her; she proceeds with a compliment, methinks, of not being able to see us, quickly adding to be very happy to hear us in the dark…
Probably a bit overdressed in a shiny new designer gear, her performance was statuesque pose behind a mike stand and only occasionally she moved, actually dancing during the concluding ‘Complicated Man’. The singer of “Angry love songs”, as she termed them at one point, Minnie let an “Excuse me” escape after a sneeze. Apologies are not heard often in a pop arena…
A perfect evening for AOP lovers, homesick globetrotters and urban cowboys. Where are me boots, partner?
SaschaS
6-11-2004
The Finn Brothers’ single ‘Nothing Wrong With You’ is released 08 November 2004 by Parolophone
The Finn Bros’ album ‘Everyone Is Here’ is also available from the same label
Minnie Driver’s album 'Everything I've Got In My Pocket' is available now on Liberty
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