Liam Finn - Live at Scala

2 December 2008

December 4, 2008, 12:03 AM

I am officially blacklisting anyone who calls Liam Finn a singer/songwriter... Not because he’s not technically a singer/songwriter – but so he doesn’t get pigeonholed into what comes into mind when someone is described in such a way.

Liam Finn live at Scala was nothing like I had imagined. Having picked up his debut album, I’ll Be Lightning a while back, I assumed he would be the typical ‘man and his guitar’ outfit, playing the songs directly from his album.
Good Lord, was I wrong. As soon as openers Connan Mockasin and Laurence Arabia had left the stage, Liam Finn appeared alongside his techs to set up his equipment – I thought this was odd, appearing on stage to tune your own guitar without the massive fanfare for an introduction, but everything was explained later in the show.

As prompt as the schedule would allow him to be, Liam introduced himself and his accomplice Eliza Jane Barnes (‘EJ’) (on backing vocals and percussion), to a riotous response from the packed room. The stage is littered with instruments and pedals, which are all put to very good use throughout the performance.

The New Zealander begins with his album opener, ‘Better to Be’ which immediately gets everyone singing along to the catchy chorus “Better to be/looking for an answer/Out in the sea and under your bed”.
Only moments into this track, I suddenly understand why no one else could possibly set his gear up for him. With Liam being the only one using an entire stage full of equipment, it has to be set up perfectly for him to flow the way he does.

Before stunning track ‘Energy Spent’, both Liam and EJ jam a little to emphasise the kind of show they want this to be: laidback, fresh and if not, slightly random.

You can tell Liam Finn is completely immersed in what he is doing; he doesn’t waste time with idle chit chat to fill time, excluding the occasional New Zealand plug, stating “We need more beer” or thanking everyone for coming down for the final leg on his British tour (only Glasgow left).

After sugary track ‘Fire In Your Belly’, Liam Finn brings his friend and opening act Connan Mockasin back onstage for the song they wrote together, title track from the album ‘I’ll Be Lightning’. This is where the show turns half comedy act also, with witty banter and sarcasm for Africa.

To further dispel the typical portrayal of singer/songwriter, even with Finn playing most of the instruments himself, he still manages to produce a wall of sound rivalling any full piece band. During tracks ‘Remember When’ and ‘Wise Man’, Liam Finn is running about the stage, from drum kit to a choice of guitars and bass – and across to hone in on EJ’s gear of cowbell, tambourine and electric harp.

Highlight of the night would be the ultimate crowd participation on ‘Second Chance’. Finn records the crowd performing an extremely enthusiastic version of one of the songs lines and blends it in to the final track. Not only does this impress everyone around me, but when it’s played back - the room seems to double in capacity. Impressive stuff.

Finn’s musical calibre is shown when he attempts “his longest drum fill ever” – which he demolishes, hair and arms flying in the most awesome drum solo I’ve seen from a solo artist in a while.
To bring the crowd down from the ‘Second Chance’ euphoria of being official recording artists, Liam Finn gives us track ‘Lead Balloon’. This is cue for the habitual pretend end to the show (which I’m so sick of, by the way!). Upon his return, Liam Finn pleases with his only single so far from I’ll Be Lightning, ‘Gather to the Chapel’ to which most of the crowd can be seen singing along.

Liam then invites his friend and Betchadupa band mate Matt Eccles to assist on the drums for ‘Intensity in Ten Cities’ and one other Betchadupa song, which brings out Mockasin again and half of Laurence Arabia, to form some sort of super group of New Zealand music.
Finally, Liam Finn ends with ‘Wide Awake on the Voyage Home’, which is the perfect song to finish on with its sombre lyrics and lingering melody.

All of Liam Finn’s tracks are superb on I’ll Be Lightning – but they are something completely new and much more grandiose when performed live. Finn delivers a high energy, potent and inspiring show. If you want a great night out, at a perfectly entertaining gig – I can absolutely recommend Liam Finn.