Project Description
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FINNEAS
+ Fazerdaze
@ The Forum, Melbourne,
13th January 2025
(Live Review)
Review and photos by Drew Hill (@drewhillphotos)
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For a Monday night in Melbourne, the energy outside the Forum Theatre was electric. Fans lined the streets, with the queue snaking multiple blocks around the iconic venue. Overheard snippets of conversation revealed that some had been waiting since the early morning to secure a prime spot. It was clear that Finneas’s return to Australia had been eagerly anticipated, and for good reason. With ten GRAMMYs, two Academy Awards, and a new tour titled For Cryin’ Out Loud!, Finneas has solidified himself as a singular talent in the music industry—and Melbourne was ready to welcome him with open arms.
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The evening began with a performance by Fazerdaze, the indie-pop project helmed by New Zealand’s Amelia Murray. Her ethereal vocals and dreamy guitar riffs set a reflective, almost intimate tone for the night. Fazerdaze’s set was a perfect complement to the introspective lyricism and emotional depth that would follow. Tracks like “Little Uneasy” and “Lucky Girl” resonated beautifully in the Forum’s grand, atmospheric space, and the crowd responded warmly, applauding her heartfelt delivery.
By the time Finneas took the stage, the Forum was packed to capacity, the iconic art deco walls reverberating with cheers and screams. He opened with “Starfucker,” seated alone at the keyboard, a raw and intimate start that immediately captivated the audience. As the song concluded, his band joined him, building the energy and setting the tone for an unforgettable night. The clarity and power of the sound system amplified every note, creating an immersive experience that showcased Finneas’s impeccable production skills. His voice, smooth and emotive, carried effortlessly through the venue, which seemed tailor-made for an artist of his caliber. The Forum’s ornate architecture and warm acoustics provided an intimate yet grand setting, elevating the performance to something truly special.
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The setlist was a masterful blend of tracks from his debut album Optimist, fan favorites, and newer material. Highlights included the poignant “Only a Lifetime,” the reflective “Break My Heart Again,” and the high-energy “The Kids Are All Dying.” The performance of “Till Forever Falls Apart,” originally a duet with Ashe, was a particularly touching moment, with Finneas’s delivery drawing emotional responses from the crowd. The seamless transitions between tender ballads and more upbeat tracks showcased his versatility and deep connection to his music.
A standout moment came during “Let’s Fall in Love for the Night,” when the entire audience joined in, singing every word in unison. The energy in the room was palpable, a testament to the way Finneas’s music resonates across generations. The night culminated with his latest single, “For Cryin’ Out Loud!,” a powerful and anthemic closer that left the audience buzzing with excitement. As the final notes rang out, the crowd erupted into cheers, their applause echoing long after the lights came up.
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The production was as thoughtful as the music itself. A minimalist stage setup, featuring dynamic lighting and occasional projections, ensured that the focus remained squarely on Finneas and his performance. Yet, these elements enhanced the emotional depth of his songs, adding visual layers to tracks like “Mona Lisa, Mona Lisa” and “Partners in Crime.” His ability to switch effortlessly between guitar, piano, and electronic elements highlighted his multi-instrumental prowess, and his live band provided tight, seamless accompaniment.
As the crowd began to filter out, it was clear that this was more than just a concert; it was a shared experience, a moment of connection through music. Finneas’s For Cryin’ Out Loud! tour proved that his artistry extends far beyond the studio, and his ability to command a live stage is nothing short of extraordinary. Melbourne’s Forum Theatre was the perfect venue for such a performance, a place where the city’s rich musical history met one of today’s most innovative talents. For those lucky enough to attend, it was a night to remember—one that reaffirmed Finneas’s place as one of the most compelling artists of his generation.
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Check out Drew Hill’s @drewhillphotos full gallery of this event HERE
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Follow FINNEAS:
Website – Facebook – Instagram – TikTok
YouTube – Spotify – x – Apple Music
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About FINNEAS
Multi-Academy® and GRAMMY® Award-winning singer, songwriter, multi-instrumentalist, producer and composer FINNEAS has quietly emerged as an unassumingly ubiquitous presence in popular music and culture. He introduced a heartfelt and hypnotic style on 2019’s debut Blood Harmony EP highlighted by the gold-certified “Let’s Fall in Love for the Night”. 2021 saw him unveil his full-length debut, The Optimist [Interscope Records]. It arrived to widespread acclaim. He packed houses on headline tours and performed at festivals such as Coachella. His catalog grew to encompass popular collaborations with Ashe, Ringo Starr, and Lizzy McAlpine in addition to producing and/or co-writing tracks Justin Bieber, Halsey, Demi Lovato, Kid Cudi, girl in red, James Bay, Selena Gomez, Camila Cabello, and Tove Lo. He achieved stratospheric success for his work with his sister Billie Eilish, including ten GRAMMY® Awards, headline sets at Coachella and Glastonbury, two Academy® and Golden Globe® Awards both in the category of “Best Original Song” for “No Time To Die” from No Time To Die and “What Was I Made For?” for Barbie. He expanded his oeuvre as a sought-after composer, with a filmography boasting original scores for HBO Max’s award-winning The Fallout and BJ Novak’s Vengeance. In 2022, on behalf of the Disney PIXAR animated hit Turning Red, he wrote the music for the film’s boyband 4*Town. In 2023, he co-wrote and produced the critically acclaimed song “What Was I Made For?” for the Greta Gerwig-directed feature-length Barbie, which earned him his second Academy® Award for Best Original Song and won two GRAMMY® Awards (Best Song Written For Visual Media and Song Of The Year) as well as a Golden Globe Award (Best Original Song). FINNEAS has also scored the Apple Original series Disclaimer, a new psychological thriller from the multi-Academy Award-winning director, writer, producer, cinematographer and editor Alfonso Cuarón. Yet still, after the many accolades and achievements in his career to date, his curiosity, excitement, and love for what he does continues to shine through in his highly anticipated sophomore solo album, For Cryin’ Out Loud! (out Oct 4 on Interscope Records). It’s the result of gathering a handful of friends, heading to the studio as a band, and making music the good old-fashioned way, and it’s as glorious as anything he’s ever done.
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Press Release 26th September 2024 (below) HERE
FINNEAS (USA)
announces
Australia and New Zealand
headline shows
FOR CRYIN’ OUT LOUD! :
THE TOUR
– January 2025
Tickets on sale
Wednesday 2 October
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