Project Description

NEIL FINN

‘Out Of Silence’

@ Sydney Opera House

31/05/18 (Live Review)

By Deb Kloeden

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Neil Finn

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Seeing Neil Finn perform ‘Out Of Silence’ live at The Sydney Opera House was a dream come true for me. I feel like I was present for not only the ‘birth’ but also the conception of this album, and so it has a special place in my heart.

Last year in August, Neil Finn spent Friday evenings in his Auckland studio with a host of talented musicians, some family members, and a large choir. He aired these sessions live via his Facebook page so that the world could experience the process of rehearsal and recording this long awaited album.

I was travelling in Europe at the time, so Friday evening in New Zealand was Friday morning in Europe. I managed to watch most of these sessions live over long breakfasts, and dubbed the experience ‘Friday breakfasts with Neil’. It was very exciting to hear new songs emerge ‘out of silence’ (it’s a long time since Neil Finn recorded new music) and to feel part of the process. The final session saw the recording of the album, with several takes of each song. For someone like me who has never witnessed the recording of an album before, it was very educational, watching Neil stop mid song and insists on starting again because ‘he’d made a mistake’ or he wanted something to change.

Nine months later I took my seat in The Sydney Opera House, eager to see the real thing, the third ever live performance of ‘Out Of Silence’. The stage was designed like an amphitheatre. A huge grand piano was positioned centre front. At the back, the orchestra section was raised, to the left, the choir was grouped and to the right were drums and percussion. As the audience gradually filled the auditorium, the stage emitted a pink and orange glow, reminding me of the light at dawn with smoke plumming from the wings.

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Photo – Deb Kloeden Photography

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Finally Neil Finn, his two sons, Liam and Elroy, his wife Sharon and 30+ other musicians came onto the stage. The first half of the show delivered ‘Out Of Silence’, but the songs were not performed in the same order as on the album. Love Is Emotional was the introductory song, as it is on the album. Radiating white lights shone upward from the stage creating the most beautiful, misty light, equal to the glory of an aurora. It took my breath away. A delicate chorus of voices opened ‘Independence Day’, a moving ballad about the fragility of life. Elroy entered to play drums for ‘Chamelion Days’. Neil’s falsetto voice is showcased in this song with its clever lyrics and addictive beat.

Again it was the lighting that captured my attention during ‘More Than One Of You’, reminding me of dawn light bursting upward from the horizon. Next came ‘Alone’,written about being in London, a city of millions, and feeling ‘bewildered and alone’. I felt exactly the same thing there once, so this song really resonated with me. ‘Widow’s Peak’ featured delicate, subtle percussion, emphasizing the sinister nature of this song. Neil introduced ‘Second Nature’ by explaining that during the live streamed rehearsal of this song, he was trying to decide between two different lines, one involving travelling on a Vespa at 70 miles an hour (the maximum speed for a Vespa), the other about being a ‘sensitive guy’. He used both last night. This song has an up-beat feel and reminds me more of the Crowded House vibe.

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‘Out Of Silence’ finished with ‘The Law Is Always On Your Side’, ‘Terrorise Me’ and ‘I Know Different’. The last five songs were performed in the same order they appear on the album. All songs are short and concise, ending way too soon, like a brief snapshot of the beauty Neil Finn still has to offer the world.

Apart from the elegance of the music and lighting, my concentration kept returning to the conductor, Victoria Kelly, (famed New Zealand composer, performer and producer) who danced and swayed through the whole performance, using her body, rather than a baton, to conduct the orchestra.

The second half of the concert featured new songs written in collaboration with his sons Liam and ElroyLiam smashed it on drums during the first of these, bringing in some real theatrics, and showing a side I had not seen before, even though I have seen the Finn Family Band perform together several times. These new songs reminded me more of the old Crowded House vibe. They were catchy tunes with a lighthearted air. ‘Out Of Silence’ has a somber undertone when you look closely as the lyrics and their meanings.

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Photo – Deb Kloeden Photography

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Apart from several new songs, some all time classics were also performed. ‘Four Seasons In One Day’, ‘One Step Ahead’, ‘Private universe’  (a slightly different rendition with a little jamming at the end), and of course, ‘Don’t Dream It’s Over’ finalized the night, as always.

But that was not the end. Last we were treated to another new song about loosing it in the studio, called ‘Dizzy Heights’. Quirky lines like ‘mosquitoes buzzing round and round’ made me smile. Next came an impromptu ‘radio edit/remix’ of Queen’s ‘Bohemian Rhapsody’. Not the whole thing, just enough to tempt us. Lastly, we were left with ‘Message To My Girl’, a favourite old Split Enz number, to take away with us.

Neil would have to be happy with the success of this show, with two standing ovations and lots of friendly crowd interaction. Neil is wearing lots of caps at the moment, showcasing the new album ‘Out Of Silence’, writing new material with his sons and joining Fleetwood Mac. I sincerely hope he is able to cast his own magic on this band and not just conform to their established sound.

My only regret about the ‘Out Of Silence’ concert I was privileged to see is that, as a photographer not permitted to shoot, I have no visual record of this performance, only my memories and my words, and of course the wonderful music.

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AMNPLIFY – DB