When Betchadupa went off the radar, and over the ocean to the UK, many feared we might never hear from frontman Liam Finn again. Those fears have been laid to the rest in 2007, with the release of his debut solo album, I’ll Be Lightning, and some Australian touring to accompany it. After blowing away the modest-sized audience at the Globe earlier this year, it was a packed out crowd that came along to the Troubador to see if he could repeat the performance, and Finn delivered on every expectation.
Redsunband have also been off the radar since the release of their debut album Peapod. They’ve just returned with a new EP, and a sophmore album due out next year, and tonight the Kelly sisters are joined by Bris-vegan Ben Salter on drums (we find out later that drummer John has quit the band one week earlier – nice timing). The combination of new drummer, unfamiliar sound system and a lack of playing practise results in tonight’s show being a little loose. Even hit single Devil Song feels the pinch, with poor levels playing havoc with the chorus. But Sarah Kelly still lays her lyrics over the dark guitar with an accomplished ease that is almost sultry, and new single Like An Arrow packs a punch. With a little more polish, Redsunband will be blowing audiences away again in no time.
Liam Finn presents a pickle for reviewers, because there are just not enough words (or maybe, not enough appropriate ones) to describe his eclectic, energetic live show. It’s an experience like no other, because Finn brings the concept of the one-man band to the 21st century. Finn and on-stage partner EJ Barnes create soundscapes, using a sequencer on stage to build the elements of songs until there is more noise coming from the two of them than the loudest six piece. The typical Finn song finds him opening with a strum of a guitar, and singing his light vocals over the top of it, with Barnes throwing in harmonies. Then he stops playing, but the riff keeps going, and he uses the top two guitar strings to add a bass section. With bass and rhythm guitar bits playing, he throws a wild guitar melody over the top of that, and then puts the guitar down to thrash out on the drums. All this turns a 3 minute pop song into an 8 minute arc, but Finn holds the crowd in the palm of his hand – everyone’s eager to see what he’s going to do next.
Finn and Barnes play through a feast of songs from I’ll Be Lightning – the soft Gather To The Chapel is a definite highlight, even if it only involves a single instrument, which feels like underkill. As with Betchadupa, Finn loves his mid-song pauses (which are practically required with all the instrument changes), which means each of the bigger constructed songs get numerous rounds of applause, but nobody minds – they deserve every bit of it. Halfway through the set the mostly sitting crowd is coaxed into standing, and the energy in the small venue is ramped up, at the expense of the view of anyone not in the front row. The set is rounded out with the energetic Second Chance, whose memorable chorus gets a singalong from the crowd, before the explosive Lead Balloon finally gets the crowd dancing.
Finn and Barnes are gone for just a moment, before being joined on stage by Betchadupa bandmate Chris Garland, who takes over on guitar while Finn drums. The three of them belt out Betchadupa favourites Who’s Coming Through The Window and My Army Of Birds And Gulls in a very special moment for fans. The set is finally finished with the soft Wide Awake On The Voyage Home, although it would have been nice to go out with a bang rather than a gentle number. One thing is for sure, Finn has delivered another stunning show – there’s no doubt that he is one of the best live performers in music today.
