Split Enz at QEII

Press, 23 January 1984, Page 6

Split Enz at QEII

.Split Enz, supported by Topp twins and Coconut Rough. Queen Elizabeth II Park, Saturday evening. Reviewed by Nevin Topp. Split Enz, ably supported by the Topp Twins and Coconut Rough, presented a magical show to an audience of 7000 that had turned out in force to take advantage of the fine summer evening. The crowd reaction was such that Split Enz’s lead vocalist, Tim Finn, talked about the show as being the best the band had presented in Christchurch — and considering the number of times that they have performed in the city and the usual reticence of its audiences, it was a good compliment. The show was filled with incidents, but these were indicative of the good humour of the concert. During “Six Months In A Leaky Boat” an autograph hunter sought out Tim Finn on stage for a signature, which he obliged, while performing the song. The very fallability of Split Enz endeared themselves to the audience. Tim Finn often walks the tighfrope with the band, whren must often cause heartache with the rest of

the members. During “My Mistake,” the song turned as a joke to Finn’s solo song, “Fraction Too Much Friction” and this “mistake” was extended to the Bob Marley hit, “No Woman, No Cry.” The audience took up the chorus of the Marley song, and Finn suddely found that the crowd “had taken over.” The audience also took over the stage in the second encore, during “I Got You,” when Tim Finn invited a few members of the crowd to dance on stage. Suddenly there was a mass of humanity on stage twisting to the music with the floor bouncing and the overhead spotlights swinging ominously. The easy mood of the crowd was shown when the dancers were moved from the stage without trouble and Finn admitting not all his ideas were good ones. The lighting show used by Split Enz was probably the most effective seen at the park since David Bowie’s 1978 show. The stark stage setting was brilliantly offset by the lighting, and the sound, from near the rear of the stadium, was marvel--IOUS. ‘« ? . . What was also impressive wwas the funky sound that wSplit Enz pit into many -of

their songs, especially “Dirty Creatures” and “No Mischief.” Nigel Griggs, who shied from the limelight, kept a tight line on bass, and with Noel Crombie back on percussion, and newcomer, Paul Hester, on drums, the sound was given an extra edge, as was shown on "Working Up An Appetite.” Another indication of the spirit of the show was -that some of the members of Coconut Rough joined the road crew on stage to perform a baka when Split Enz played “Kia Kaha,” and the Topp Twins joined Tim finn on vocals for two golden oldies, “Sad Movies” and “Twist And Shout.”

The Topp Twins were given great support from the audience in opening the show, with their own particular brand of musical humour. Coconut Rough also got a good reception, particularly for the single, “Sierra Leone.” However, Andrew Snoid was too frenetic on lead vocals.

(The Christchurch City Council’s answering service received no noise complaints from nearby residents on the evening of the concert ,:and the police at the sbe#’said that the audience ww well behaved.)