Apart from Crowdies and You Am I, this is a very uninspiring lineup.

Having said that, my memories of seeing the Finns in Sydney 2005 are tremendous. Now if they could just add another fan club show in Newtown, I'll be booking my flight.

The My ticketek members only pre-sale for Homebake tix is now on (just in case you have'nt checked your emails)

some more about HB here

http://videohits.com.au/gigs-homebake-2008.htm

New interview with Neil about Homebake (and confirmation of the 7 Worlds studio project)...
Neil Finn reflects on Crowded House's mischief and future

By Kathy McCabe
August 14, 2008 12:00am
NEIL Finn has always loved a spot of mischief.

Of course he can get away with it as the frontman of Crowded House, a band renowned for its cheeky humour in performance along with the perfect pop songs which inspire some of the loudest and biggest communal singalongs.

Finn, Nick Seymour, Mark Hart and Matt Sherrod are in Poland to play their final show on the Time On Earth world tour. And the frontman wishes to share some contentious gossip the band heard backstage at the recent Glastonbury Festival.

“We didn’t stay around for Amy Winehouse but I did see her in our backstage area wearing what appeared to be a nappy. Hey, she sure can wear them, I’ll give her that,” Finn says.

“I did hear – and you can be the first to launch this one – that she’s a real actress and this is all a con and her father is in on it. Somebody pulled Nick (Seymour) aside at a bar and swore to him it was all a con.

“I don’t think we have ever been devious enough to pull off a good con.”

They are, however, clever and mischievous enough to pull off memorable moments during gigs. Such as daring security staff stationed in the wide pit in front of the Glastonbury stage to turn around and watch the show.

“Well, you just have to use what you see and they had this serious phalanx of security down the front and I couldn’t take my eyes off them,” he laughs.

Crowded House’s reunion tour in support of the Time On Earth album began with a massive event – the Coachella Festival in California in April last year – and finishes with the annual Homebake festival in December.

While they battled missiles thrown by obnoxious and impatient Rage Against The Machine fans at the US event, the band have proven hugely popular drawcards at all their other big gig performances, including Live Earth in Sydney last year.

“We feel we have done pretty well at all these things and they are fun. It was very early days when we did Coachella and being on before Rage Against The Machine created some challenges but we felt good about it,” Finn says.

“Nick Seymour has been close to vomiting before some of them; he gets really nervous on the big ones.”

Crowded House didn’t get a chance to play Homebake before they split in 1996, although the Finn Brothers closed the Domain festival in 2005, with Seymour on bass. “We had a tremendously fun time when we did it with Tim. There was such a familiarity within the audience, even with so many younger people there,” Finn recalls.

“The thing about playing those huge shows in Australia is that everyone seems to know the words. There’s a palpable excitement level about hearing that many sing a song, both for us and the audience.

“There’s a nice connection between that and how we were even before we were in a band, sitting around and singing with the family. Even as a band in those early days, we would play those little shows in people’s houses . . . it seems our natural game has been to approach any gig as if we are in someone’s lounge room.”

Crowded House will remain reunited. Several new songs are already being rotated into their live set and Finn hopes to have the next album recorded and released by mid-2009.

There have been some preliminary sessions at his Roundhead Studios in Auckland but Finn is cagey about the details of their future recording plans.

“I think we always intended that (the reunion) was something that went on. I wasn’t thinking of it being a one-off but yes, you have to go through the process of making the decision that you want to continue,” he says.

“As for the next album, we won’t be recording anywhere else (than Roundhead) but there are various other ideas of how we present the music.”

Instead of asking the obvious Radiohead question – are you giving it away for free? – I propose to Finn his ambitious plan is to be the first band to record and play from space.

“From space? I don’t think it would take much to start that rumour,” he says.

“Tell everyone we’ve been offered a huge amount of money from a really wealthy man with the first name Richard. Weightless music is definitely on the cards,” Finn laughs. “Now we’ve planted that seed, it might happen.”

Before they become space cowboys, there are a few major distractions.

Seymour and his partner welcome their first child in October. And Finn will be helming a 7 Worlds Collide record.

The project started as a live event in Auckland in 2001 when Finn invited brother Tim, Eddie Vedder, Johnny Marr, Radiohead’s Phil Selway and Ed O’Brien and others to perform several concerts in Auckland. The magic shows were released on a live album and DVD.

O’Brien has confirmed on Radiohead’s website that he will be involved with the new record.

“There’s a plan to gather a few of our friends together around Christmas and New Year to do a project,” Finn says.

“The 7 Worlds thing is rising again but not necessarily with the same people. We’re still working out all the details.”

But there’s no doubt the contributors will include his sons Liam and Elroy who are valiantly following in his footsteps. Liam, who started on the Crowded House tour, has since been winning fans for his debut solo record I’ll Be Lightning. Elroy joined his father’s band after finishing studies in Wales.

“Liam is definitely coming home for that and Elroy will likely be doing Homebake with us. I am looking forward to having a bit of family time.’’

Tickets for Homebake on December 6 go on sale on Monday from Ticketek and other outlets

ah, Goggles, you beat me to it! Thanks, this is a great article.

Record & play from space eh?

So many gems in here - a new 7 Worlds project, Elroy at Homebake, and then of course, there's

quote:

“As for the next album, we won’t be recording anywhere else (than Roundhead) but there are various other ideas of how we present the music.”

the mind boggles......

Thanks heaps for posting that the_goggles_do_nothing

Indeed liz..curious

I sure hope those that wanted to go to Homebake have got their tickets.

Tickets went on sale today and have Sold Out

Yep, they sold out in 10 minutes!

I got mine right on 9:00

For those original Frenz members doing the buses from Melbourne- remember to grab your Crowdies Survival kits from Liz (those going know who she is). Full of some fun band bits and pieces but the most important item is probably the sunscreen sachet. Glad we could get you those cheaper fares.

For first time Homebake people remember it is December so quite sunny. Homebake usually have a free 'slap slip slop' sun cover area but it gets busy so best to bring your own. Don't want you getting baked at Homebake!

If I'm there on the day Liz will have some details of where we can catch up. Still can't believe some of you have been club members for 28 years! (retirement soon!) an amazing length of time.

Have a great time guys and thanks for keeping the faith!

Gryph

hey gryph - retirement is not an option - you are too invaluable to us crowdies !

Oh at some time I'm sure I will, it's been 28 years already. is it time for my Crowdies Gold watch Neil?
Gryph

Neil.... put down that watch and step away from Gryph!

*goes off to hide watches*

I so wish I could go to the Clambake too. I would just once love to go to one of those giant Australian shows, just for the experience.

okay, so theres warmup gigs and kanye west + nas gig is the same night as homebake.

i'm bailing on homebake.

You guys realize when I said "Clambake" it was a joke, right? I certainly hope so...

It made me smile/laugh Havelin
wish you could join us there too,the more people there for the music and to give The Crowdies a warm welcome, the better

esquared, if you should need to sell your ticket to Homebake I know someone who would be interested (at least,last time we spoke she was without a ticket)

So glad someone got it Finngirl!! It would be so great to go and so healing for me right now because of the loss of my dad last month...

I know you'll have enough for me too though, and I look forward to hearing detailed descriptions, so I hope someone takes notes!!! Jokes and spur of the moment songs: the gamut of what can only be known as the whackiness of Crowded House!!! Gotta love that live show even on a bad night!!!! So have a blast for you and for me!

By the way, the timetable for Homebake is out and can be found here. Good to see the Crowdies allocated a solid hour and a half.

Thanks so much for that!

Woohoo, can't wait