DON'T FORGET TO CHECK OUT THE PHOTO GALLERY WITH THE LINK ON THE RIGHT >>  | | Has Minnie Driver got the talent? |
I was a fan of the Finn Brothers back in the days of Crowded House and because I never got to see them in that incarnation I was really looking forward to seeing them in duo form, admittedly with the help of a talented backing band. Before the Finns took to the stage though, we were to witness a Hollywood star trying to convince us she had what it takes to be a musician. Minnie Driver has a strong voice and no-one can deny she's musically talented but for me, her offerings were a little bland. Her debut album 'Everything I've got in my pocket' is a return to the musical ambitions she had before her big acting break. Her minimalist, folk influenced approach to pop is a worthy attempt at a first step into the turbulent waters of the music industry but you can tell how popular an artist is by how many people got to the bar during their set... mine was a pint.  | | Neil Finn |
Currently touring the UK to promote their new album 'Everyone is here', The Finn Brothers' experience as performers shone through right from the start. Immediately bonding with the crowd through a little bit of ad-libbed chat and self-deprecating humour it was like Neil and Tim really wanted to involve the audience in the whole performance experience. Encouraging us to sing the chorus to the Crowded House hit 'Four seasons in one day' and "throw in a few harmonies" lifted the atmosphere in the Regent further and we were a surprisingly tuneful lot, even if I do say so myself. Mixing new tracks like 'Won't Give In' and 'All God's Children' with more hits from their Crowded House days, such as the truly superb 'Distant Sun', they struck a near perfect balance of raising our awareness of their new material while giving the crowd enough of a smattering of hits to keep everyone's expectations up as to what the next song may be. Somewhat predictably, one of their two encores was the sublime if over-played 'Weather With You' ending the show on a high note and leaving the crowd just where they wanted them... wanting more. | 
