Having helped my Canadian musician friend and his wife to secure some tickets, having shown them the Forum, and links to video stuff on YouTube, and given them some well-known live recordings, having said that this would be (for a couple of non-fans) a life-changing experience, they finally got to see CH in concert last night.

My friend called just now to say that this was the greatest concert they have experienced. The songs, the musicianship, the inclusiveness: the fact they (the band) treat the audience like old friends, the obvious fun they are having on stage...

Well, as we know, that's just Crowded House love. Once they hook you, they have you for life.

So, on behalf of my friends, I say thank you to Neil, Nick, Mark and Matt. You made two new Frenz last night.

Sorry I couldn't be there, but although I am far away (in Uppsala), I am always with you.

Could some kind soul post a review, or at least the set-list, please...?

Alright.....It's Monday morning....No reviews, setlists,anything?

Funny, I was just thinking about what to say

I leave it to my more precise and eloquent Frenz to give a detailed review - I was just enjoying the moment and taking it all in.

I'll start by saying that Liam was insane, Pete Yorn was better than I expected, and that the boys ROCKED! No other word for it. As has been much mentioned on this forum, Crowded House Mark II has enormous energy and many of the new songs and lots of the older ones are more uptempo than before.

I don't have the exact set-list, but lots off the new album including People Are Like Suns (really beautifully done), She Called Up (great new intro to the song and a fun la-la-la sing-along), Say That Again, Silent House, Heaven That I'm Making, Walked Her Way Down.

Many fan favourites like Recurring Dream (the opening number), Not The Girl You Think You Are, Fall At Your Feet, World Where You Live, along with the usual suspects. Good crowd sing-alongs to Weather With You and Better Be Home Soon.

Darling Neil made at least three really good goofs on the lyrics, which he just kind of laughed off. Good to know that not much has changed in the intervening years.

Set was interesting and really added a nice dimension to the show. Question about the tree, though. I noticed that there was a large tassel with a braided cord hanging from one of the branches. Has that been there all along and I missed comments on it? Bit creepy addition IMO.

I was third row from the stage, so hard to gauge the response of the whole audience, but people were really into the music, lots of head bobbing and big smiles. A polite audience, not much chatter, only one song request that I heard (Catherine Wheel, which Neil immediately launched in to for about a 1/2 song) Frustrating for me, no one stayed up on their feet until the very end of the set (and then through both encores). I wanted to dance!!!! I hope the Toronto audience will be less restrained.

One funny bit - the first and second rows had a at least a dozen empty seats. After a few songs, Neil inquired if the people sitting there had been stood up by their friends. No one admitted to anything (I had visions of unsuccessful scalpers outside with very expensive tickets in hand). So Neil invited people down to fill the empty spots, which was done quickly and with great glee. I loved the generosity of the gesture, however Mr. Giant Cranium came to sit in front of me and spoiled my unsullied view of the stage.

Overall a really tight show, big smiles from Neil and Nick all night who, as has been remarked upon, seem genuinely happy to be playing. Mark still looks like he needs a sandwich, but great music, great night. Looking forward to the next two nights.

Nice to meet Above The Kitchen and his wife, too.

Okay - thanks Grace Too for the review, but you gotta clear something up for me. On the TITM list there was an email that said they played Whispers and Moans, which hadn't been on a set list do far, but you didn't mention it in you message. Did they play that one? I'll hang up & listen.

Thanks,

Dave in Atlanta

Ah, yes, thanks for the reminder. They did play Whispers and Moans - so many great songs, such a short memory

"Whispers & Moans"?!?!?!? I'm so jealous

Anybody have the full setlist?

I just knew that would happen. All that begging I did for "Whispers and Moans" and they finally play it at the first concert I miss. Oh well, hope you people in Montreal enjoyed being the chosen ones. Looks like I'll have to order that show.

Interesting enough, they did not play "Pour Le Monde" in Montreal. There Goes God and Whispers and Moans were definite highlights. The groove was good. Definitely showcases for Nick's bass strut. Less banter and less security than Beacon Show # 1. Shorter show, too. To pick up on Grace Too's point, the audience was restrained by choice. It wasn't until Neil invited audience members to fill in the empty front row seats and told the crowd that they could basically stand up, did the concert take on the energy felt from the get go at the Beacon, show #1. To paraphrase Neil, he said that they were not going anywhere. then the show took off.

Until then, the signs of adulation (standing o's) occurred when they walked onto the stage at the beginning of the show, after a beautiful DDIO, and possibly after another gorgeous rendition of Fall At Your Feet.

Theatre St. Denis did not feel like it needed shock absorbers that the Beacon needed as the boys rocked and rolled on Wednesday. The Beacon Loge was bouncing! St. Denis certainly had beautiful acoustics, though. I think that the CH gives as much as it gets.

Few banter notes: Neil and Sharon stayed in the John and Yoko "love-in" suite at the Fairmont Queen Elizabeth. (We are hotel, next door, bummed that we did not have an accidental Crowded House encounter. Nick came by their room during breakfast, asking "are you going to eat this?" A funny "Diner" moment.

Sorry Lavar! And I vouch for you - you asked Liam to play it in Philly and he said they were practicing to maybe play it there! Drats.