The Aussie musical superstars brought their ‘Gravity Stairs’ tour to Glasgow and the promise of the usual crowded venue of the OVO Hydro on the Clydeside.
Crowded House have been around since forever and their skillful songwriting has delivered numerous top hits and awards. They’ve actually only been around since 1985 but it feels longer than that.
Neil Finn and Nick Seymour have been the only constant members of the group as the ploughed their way through years of epic songs and more than 15 million album sales. There have been various guises and split up and reunions of the group through the years.
In February of this year they announced a new album and on 31st May they released ‘Gravity Stairs’.
Tonight, the arena is all seated for what proved to be a rather sedate, but rather enjoyable, event. The huge arena takes on a different character with everyone seated; the usual raucous mayhem of the standing section is replaced by row upon row of seating and a relaxed (and dare I say older) clientele waiting on their musical heroes.
First up is Liam Finn of the Finn family musical dynasty!
Dressed in zany colourful clothing and jumping around stage with his solo act he had the task of warming up the crowd waiting on his father and cronies later inn the evening.
Wearing a headset microphone and switching between guitar and drums over the top of a backing track he provided the energy needed by a support act.
At the conclusion of his short set the stagehands prepared the set for the main act. The stage set was simple in design with stage risers at the rear and a colourful background; two large screens adorned the far edges stage left and right.
The lights dimmed and the musicians took to the stage one by one carrying what looked like lanterns and took their positions for a storming opener… ‘Weather With You’.
Opening with one of your biggest hits is some way to start your set and having a crowd sing along from the off…. But it still felt rather sedate with fans sitting and attempting to sing in response to Mr Finn’s prompting.
Having been fortunate enough to see the set list prior to the show Scottish Music Network knew that all the big hits were in there and a blockbuster set was about to be unleashed upon the fans.
‘Fall at Your Feet’
‘Don’t Dream its Over’
‘Four Seasons in One Day’
‘It’s Only Natural’
You get the picture… huge songs in anyone’s book!
A 21 song set of absolute perfection by musicians at the top of their collective and individual games. It was all effortless but, again, somewhat sedate. To be fair, the fans know what they are getting and don’t expect any four to the floor dance tunes on a night like tonight… although, how good would it be to see Crowded House belting out ‘Weather With You’ a la trance or techno?
A decent 4 song encore brought the night to an end as, not for the first time, the the Aussie stars bring down the curtain on another successful night in Glasgow in the full knowledge that they have quenched the thirst of a Glasgow audience once again.
Now… who is going to move all those chairs from the arena floor?
Photographs and Review by John Brown Photography
