Live Review: Crowded House – 11th October 2024 – O2 Arena, London, UK

Having already packed houses across the US throughout August and September, and kicking things off in the UK with shows in Glasgow and Manchester earlier this week, Kiwi/Australian (depending on what way you swing in that debate) pop rock juggernauts, Crowded House made their welcome return to London last night for a stellar show as part of the band’s Gravity Stairs tour, which will see the band also play Dublin, Brighton, Bournemouth and Birmingham before setting off down under.

This latest stomp around the globe comes off the band of the outfit’s latest studio album of the same name – their first in 23 years – and is a bit of a family affair with Kiwi front man Neil Finn bringing son Liam, a well-established artist in his own right, as well as drummer Elroy along for the ride as full time members of the band alongside quirkily dressed founding member, Nick Seymour on bass.

As a fellow New Zealander, last night’s show was very heavy with homegrown nostalgia. I grew up in Christchurch, New Zealand during the band’s early hey day, and songs like Don’t Dream It’s Over, Something So Strong and Fall At Your Feet, along with the closely connected spin-off band, Split Enz played a fundamental part of growing up in that small corner of the world, and when it comes to New Zealand bands (yes, I swing that way), the band’s success and footprint on the global stage has remained fairly unrivalled.

As each band member found their way onto a darkened O2 stage, each holding lit lanterns to give an almost eerie seaside feel, the crowd erupted as they spotted the iconic Finn front man find his position before the arena lit up with light to expose the outfits colorfully dressed setting for the night as they ripped straight into Weather With You.

From that point onwards, it was a mixture of old meets new; songs from the band’s latest collection including an early offering of new single Teenage Summer, Oh Hi, The Howl and a touching anecdote to usher in Some Greater Plan (for Claire), a song inspired by his father’s war diaries and meeting his soon to be wife, sitting slightly more mellow yet still very confident alongside some of the outfits universally known commercial hits.

For a legacy band like Crowded House, it was those early career staples that the fans flocked to London’s O2 Arena for last night as the band delivered the nights solid 24 song set, playing most career highlights while seasoning the night with a handful of rarities and new album numbers.

A centre set segment where a piano was brought out for Neil to deliver a trio of songs was a memorable moment in the night; the iconic songwriter dishing up gentle versions of Either Side of the World, Split Enz hit Message to My Girl and Gravity Stairs opening track, and appropriately titled, Magic Piano.

Between the songs was a lot of comical band banter. Whether it was discussing the beef between Drake and Kendrick Lamar, encouraging the crowd to light themselves up using their phones or discussing Liam’s recent stolen phone by way of a bicycle thief, the Australasian collective made the 2 ½ show a very engaging and entertaining one.

Most of the bands bigger numbers found a comfortable place within last nights set and although there was perhaps a little too-long of a spacing between the more familiar numbers being performed in the first half of the night, the crowd were belting back the hits as the band dished up incredible performances of classics including Distant Sun, Private Universe and World Where You Live. Quirkier hits like Locked Out and a punchy Chocolate Cake also had the crowd swept up in rich Kiwi nostalgia.

The more grand of moments in the night however, came with the bands more globally recognized staples. A gorgeous early offering of Fall At Your Feet – easily one of the bands most cherished recordings – found an early place in the evening and had the venue lit up with phone lights asthe ballad swept beautifully through the O2, while Four Seasons in One Day was given a Spanish guitar dressing and went down a storm with the fans.

A mid-set gift of It’s Only Natural and an encore that included Something So Strong and closing Better Be Home Soon reminded us just why Crowded House are regarded as true icons of Australasian pop culture as they delivered each in spectacular live form.

For any Crowded House show, it will always be the collectives signature hit, Don’t Dream It’s Over taking the crown when it comes to songs the fans attending want to hear, and that was no different last night. As soon as the opening chords were played, a euphoria swept over the crowd as couples placed arms around each other and groups of friends swayed along to one of the 80’s most loved and most successful ballads.

As the band now head off to play a handful of remaining UK shows before heading to Australia and New Zealand to wow homeland fans, London Crowded House fans were certainly left feeling very satisfied by the bands memorable return last night – a reminder at the force and influence of Finn and co after nearly 40 years as a band.  With Neil telling the crowd about having played most venues in the UK at this point, last nights show at the O2 Arena marked a new accomplishment for Crowded House. “It’s a nice way to round it off and head off and make a new record”, Finn told his fans. We certainly hope that new record will mark a return for the band to this worthy stage sometime again in the very near future.

Setlist:
Weather With You
Teenage Summer
World Where You Live
Fall at Your Feet
To the Island
Whispers and Moans
Either Side of the World
Message to My Girl (Split Enz cover)
Magic Piano
Chocolate Cake
When You Come
Fingers Of Love
Private Universe
Four Seasons in One Day
Sister Madly
Oh Hi
The Howl
It’s Only Natural
Don’t Dream It’s Over
Distant Sun
Locked Out

Encore:
Something So Strong
Some Greater Plan (for Claire)
Better Be Home Soon

Brendon Veevers

::: RenownedForSound.com’s Editor and Founder –
Interviewing and reviewing the best in new music and globally recognized artists is his passion.
Over the years he has been lucky enough to review thousands of music releases and concerts and interview artists ranging from top selling superstars like 27-time Grammy Award winner Alison Krauss, Boyz II Men, Roxette, Cyndi Lauper, Lisa Loeb and iconic Eagles front man/songwriter, Glenn Frey through to more recent successes including Newton Faulkner, Janelle Monae and Caro Emerald.
Brendon manages and coordinates the amazing team of writers on RenownedForSound.com who are based in the UK, the U.S and Australia.