I've gotta admit, I was surprised.
I have both albums, love them, had seen the Letterman clip, but had no idea how such simple pop songs can be transformed with live energy - and to watch it fill the room and wave back to the stage was almost a religious uplifting!
The poor fella must get sick of familial comparisons, but you can't help it .. he starts off calm & folky and normal, then every now and then goes completely Split Enz on it! It's like two gigs in one. Win-WIn!
One of the most impressive things was the drumming of course - I was impressed with Elroy taking the seat, thinking it must be a formidable thing to do .. and then on figuring out it was Liam's little BROTHER, it made so much sense - and to watch the two together in a percussive explosion was just mind-blowing.
Outstanding musicians all round .. fully working together like different parts of the one body. EJ was her usual sweet self, definitely the calmer of the two, but by no means reclusive! The stunning harmonies lost nothing for being live, in fact the whole step up from recorded songs to the live versions was like hearing something familiar and yet completely new at the same time. Nothing lost, much ventured, everything gained!
If I wasnt working the next night, I would've gone again. That simple!