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Crowded House

Crowded house concert setlists & tour dates, dreamers are waiting north american tour 2023 tour, upcoming shows.

• Date and Venue Doors Scheduled
• Jun 10 2024 PRYZM Kingston upon Thames, England Doors 8:00 PM  –  Start time: 10:04 PM (Est.) 8:00 PM 10:04 PM Estimated
• Jun 10 2024 PRYZM Kingston upon Thames, England Add time  –  Scheduled: 6:00 PM Add time Add times 6:00 PM
• Jun 12 2024 The Eden Project St Austell, England Doors 6:00 PM  –  Start time: 8:04 PM (Est.) 6:00 PM 8:04 PM Estimated
• Jun 13 2024 O2 Shepherd's Bush Empire London, England  –  Find tickets Add time Tickets Add time Add times
• Jun 15 2024 Lincoln Castle Lincoln, England  –  Find tickets Add time Tickets Add time Add times
• Jun 15 2024 CBS This Morning New York, NY, USA  –  Find tickets Add time Tickets Add time Add times
• Jun 16 2024 Nocturne Live 2024 Woodstock, England  –  Find tickets Doors 4:30 PM  –  Scheduled: 9:00 PM Tickets 4:30 PM 9:00 PM
• Jun 17 2024 The Mount at Wasing Reading, England  –  Find tickets Add time Tickets Add time Add times
• Jun 19 2024 Live at the Piece Hall 2024 Halifax, England  –  Find tickets Doors 6:00 PM  –  Start time: 8:04 PM (Est.) Tickets 6:00 PM 8:04 PM Estimated
• Jun 20 2024 Cardiff Castle Cardiff, Wales  –  Find tickets Add time Tickets Add time Add times
• Jun 21 2024 Isle of Wight 2024 Newport, England  –  Find tickets Add time Tickets Add time Add times
• Jun 23 2024 Virgin Media Park Cork, Ireland  –  Find tickets Add time Tickets Add time Add times
• Aug 29 2024 St. Augustine Amphitheatre St. Augustine, FL, USA  –  Find tickets Add time Tickets Add time Add times
• Aug 30 2024 Cadence Bank Amphitheatre at Chastain Park Atlanta, GA, USA  –  Find tickets Add time Tickets Add time Add times
• Aug 31 2024 Koka Booth Amphitheatre Cary, NC, USA  –  Find tickets Add time Tickets Add time Add times
• Sep 03 2024 Filene Center at Wolf Trap Vienna, VA, USA  –  Find tickets Add time Tickets Add time Add times
• Sep 04 2024 The Rooftop at Pier 17 New York, NY, USA  –  Find tickets Add time Tickets Add time Add times
• Sep 07 2024 Ocean Casino Resort Atlantic City, NJ, USA  –  Find tickets Add time Tickets Add time Add times
• Sep 08 2024 Fallsview Casino Resort Niagara Falls, ON, Canada  –  Find tickets Add time Tickets Add time Add times
• Sep 10 2024 Rose Music Center at The Heights Huber Heights, OH, USA  –  Find tickets Add time Tickets Add time Add times
• Sep 11 2024 Ravinia Festival 2024 Highland Park, IL, USA  –  Find tickets Add time Tickets Add time Add times
• Sep 13 2024 The Astro La Vista, NE, USA  –  Find tickets Add time Tickets Add time Add times
• Sep 14 2024 The Ledge Amphitheater Waite Park, MN, USA  –  Find tickets Add time Tickets Add time Add times
• Sep 17 2024 Gerald R. Ford Amphitheater Vail, CO, USA Add time Add time Add times
• Sep 18 2024 Red Butte Garden Salt Lake City, UT, USA  –  Find tickets Add time Tickets Add time Add times
• Sep 21 2024 Chateau Ste. Michelle Winery Amphitheatre Woodinville, WA, USA  –  Find tickets Add time Tickets Add time Add times
• Sep 22 2024 Hayden Homes Amphitheater Bend, OR, USA  –  Find tickets Add time Tickets Add time Add times
• Sep 24 2024 Luther Burbank Center for the Arts Santa Rosa, CA, USA Add time Add time Add times
• Sep 25 2024 The Mountain Winery Saratoga, CA, USA  –  Find tickets Add time Tickets Add time Add times
• Sep 27 2024 Ohana Festival 2024 Dana Point, CA, USA  –  Find tickets Add time Tickets Add time Add times
• Sep 28 2024 Vina Robles Amphitheatre Paso Robles, CA, USA  –  Find tickets Add time Tickets Add time Add times
• Oct 06 2024 Cavern Club Liverpool, England Add time Add time Add times
• Nov 09 2024 TSB Bank Arena Wellington, New Zealand  –  Find tickets Add time Tickets Add time Add times
• Nov 12 2024 Dunedin Town Hall Dunedin, New Zealand  –  Find tickets Add time Tickets Add time Add times
• Nov 13 2024 Wolfbrook Arena Christchurch, New Zealand Add time Add time Add times
• Nov 16 2024 CBC Oval Concert Stage Adelaide, Australia Add time Add time Add times
• Nov 19 2024 The Regent on Broadway Palmerston North, New Zealand Add time Add time Add times
• Nov 20 2024 Mercury Arena Tauranga, New Zealand Add time Add time Add times
• Nov 22 2024 GLOBOX Arena Hamilton, New Zealand Add time Add time Add times
• Nov 23 2024 Spark Arena Auckland, New Zealand  –  Find tickets Add time Tickets Add time Add times
• Nov 29 2024 Kings Park and Botanic Garden Perth, Australia  –  Find tickets Doors 5:30 PM  –  Start time: 7:34 PM (Est.) Tickets 5:30 PM 7:34 PM Estimated
• Nov 29 2024 Kings Park and Botanic Garden Perth, Australia  –  Find tickets Add time Tickets Add time Add times
• Nov 30 2024 Kings Park and Botanic Garden Perth, Australia Add time Add time Add times
• Dec 04 2024 Forecourt, Sydney Opera House Sydney, Australia  –  Find tickets Add time Tickets Add time Add times
• Dec 05 2024 Forecourt, Sydney Opera House Sydney, Australia  –  Find tickets Add time Tickets Add time Add times
• Dec 07 2024 Forecourt, Sydney Opera House Sydney, Australia Add time Add time Add times
• Dec 10 2024 Rod Laver Arena Melbourne, Australia Add time Add time Add times
• Dec 13 2024 Newcastle Entertainment Centre Newcastle, Australia Add time Add time Add times
• Dec 14 2024 Brisbane Entertainment Centre Brisbane, Australia Add time Add time Add times

Crowded House at Virgin Radio, London, England

• Distant Sun
• Teenage Summer
• Edit setlist songs
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Crowded House at Maida Vale Studios, London, England

• Fall at Your Feet

Crowded House at Rough Trade NYC, New York, NY, USA

• All That I Can Ever Own
• Weather With You

Crowded House at RNZ Auckland Studio B, Auckland, New Zealand

Crowded house at jimmy kimmel live, los angeles, ca, usa, crowded house at bowery ballroom, new york, ny, usa.

• World Where You Live
• I Can't Keep Up With You
• To the Island
• Magic Piano
• When You Come
• Sweet Dreams
• Private Universe

Crowded House at Live with Kelly and Mark, New York, NY, USA

Crowded house at sir studios, los angeles, ca, usa.

• Four Seasons in One Day
• Something So Strong
• Don't Dream It's Over

Crowded House at Global Citizen Nights 2024

• Better Be Home Soon

Crowded House at Channel 4 Studios, London, England

More from this Artist

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Most played songs

• Don't Dream It's Over ( 497 )
• Weather With You ( 442 )
• Fall at Your Feet ( 436 )
• When You Come ( 400 )
• Distant Sun ( 363 )

More Crowded House statistics

10,000 Maniacs 7 Worlds Collide Agua de Annique Alta Falls The Ambassadors Tori Amos Anberlin Apprehend Aqwa ARC Mateus Asato Ases Falsos Rick Astley Australian Army Band Yve Mary B The Bad Plus Barenaked Ladies The Beths BLØF James Blunt Bohemian Four The Bootleg Beatles Clare Bowditch Boy & Bear Cait Brennan Jon Brion Jimmy Buffett Davide Buffoli Andy Burrows Busby Marou Busted Kevin Caffrey Mary Chapin Carpenter Paul Carrack Cesare Carugi Dolph Chaney Leddra Chapman Dave Chappelle Chris Cheney City to City Imogen Clark Kelly Clarkson Clueso Coldplay Shawn Colvin Shawn Colvin & Mary Chapin Carpenter Jesse Cook Copper Shades Sharon Corr Peter Coyle

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Artists covered

[traditional] ABBA The Beach Boys The Beatles Bee Gees Harry Belafonte Mars Bonfire David Bowie The Box Tops Boudleaux Bryant Buggles Robert Burns Nick Cave & the Bad Seeds Petula Clark Jimmy Cliff Ray Columbus & The Invaders Creedence Clearwater Revival The Crickets Crosby, Stills, Nash & Young The Cure Doris Day DD Smash Frank De Vol Eduardo Di Capua Dave Dobbyn Fats Domino Donovan The Doors K.C. Douglas Vernon Duke Billie Eilish The Finn Brothers Liam Finn Neil Finn Tim Finn Marvin Gaye & Tammi Terrell The Guess Who Arlo Guthrie Carol Haney Steve Harley & Cockney Rebel Marion Harris Mark Hart Patrick Hernandez Mildred J. Hill & Patty Hill Engelbert Humperdinck Hunters & Collectors Iron Butterfly Maurice Jarre George Jones & Tammy Wynette Stan Jones and his Death Valley Rangers

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Gigs seen live by

2,984 people have seen Crowded House live.

krei513 guitarh4 leftcircles TheMickLewis arndur JenAdolph els21 vvincenzo bpozun vitodim hummingbird88 justyh BennyWills1989 mararubia THRILLHO P351 louis- willow79 ryankharris JimmyBoy7 eckythump tripfontaine dan_gleason dstefanov mvfemia warchild1983 RudeBoy3 chuckahf54 whiskaudio Ebouvier Gupfee Bbhocking DEDHAMCADILLACS Rawhyd zafu0828 erobdep28 mrljdavid tomdube willdailey george3644 dblgleason kdrew bradalmanac hobbes4444 PowerForward DJJAMES0410 kevina Sigmaone TimberK comebackshane

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Crowded House Gravity Stairs Tour

4 - 7 december 2024.

On the Forecourt

Multi-platinum selling rock band Crowded House return to Sydney Opera House this December for three special concerts on the Forecourt.

Soundcheck VIP Package

Inclusions:

• One (1) General Admission Standing ticket
• Early Entry to the venue before the general public
• Access to Crowded House pre-show soundcheck
• One (1) drink voucher to redeem for a beer, wine or soft drink
• Crowded House VIP Merchandise item designed and created exclusively for VIP purchasers
• Early access to select merchandise stand (where available)
• Designated VIP check-in and onsite staff

Collector Tickets will not be available collection, postage or electronic delivery from Sydney Opera House. Collector Tickets will be distributed by Live Nation.

$8.95 booking fee applies per transaction

Prices correct at the time of publication and subject to change without notice. Exact prices will be displayed with seat selection.

The only authorised ticket agencies for this event are  Sydney Opera House and Ticketmaster . For more information about Authorised Agencies, see the frequently asked questions below.

Sydney Opera House Insiders pre-sale 11:00am, Monday 27 May 2024 Become a Sydney Opera House Insider to receive exclusive pre-sale access What’s On e-newsletter pre-sale 12:00pm, Wednesday 29 May 2024 General Public tickets on-sale 12:00pm, Thursday 30 May 2024

Wheelchair accessible:

There are a number of wheelchair and companion seating locations in our theatres. To book accessible seating contact Box Office:

Telephone +61 2 9250 7777 (Monday to Friday, 9am-5pm AEST)

Email [email protected]

Find out more about accessibility at Sydney Opera House .

The duration of this event is yet to be confirmed.

Event duration is a guide only and may be subject to change.

Recommended for all ages.

Children aged 15 years and under must be accompanied at all times.

The Opera House is committed to the safety and wellbeing of children that visit or engage with us. Read our  Child Safety Policy . 

The band will be running hot and we can’t wait to sing with you and elevate our collective spirits.  Neil Finn

Also on this page

Venue information, covid-safe information, frequently asked questions, crowded house return to the house.

Multi-platinum selling rock band Crowded House have announced their 2024 Australia and New Zealand – Gravity Stairs Tour –   in support of the new album which will be released Friday, May 31 globally. 

Produced by the band with Steven Schram (Paul Kelly, San Cisco), Gravity Stairs shows Crowded House’s current incarnation featuring Neil Finn, Nick Seymour, Mitchell Froom, Elroy Finn and Liam Finn.

Crowded House have sold over 15 million records worldwide as well as earning a Brit Award, 13 Australian ARIA Awards, 3 Aotearoa Music Awards and an MTV VMA, the band have generated billions of streams, consistently sold-out tours on multiple continents and have been captivating audiences for nearly four decades. Originally founded by Neil Finn, Nick Seymour, and the late Paul Hester, the group’s self-titled debut in 1986 went platinum, uplifted by worldwide smashes “Something So Strong” and “Don’t Dream It's Over” which has been covered by everyone from Miley Cyrus and Ariana Grande to U2, among others.

Presented by Live Nation

Other information

Our foyers will be open 90 minutes pre-show for Concert Hall and Joan Sutherland Theatre performances, and two hours pre-show for Western Foyer venue performances. Refreshments will be available for purchase from our theatre bars. All Sydney Opera House foyers are pram accessible, with lifts to the main and western foyers. The public lift to all foyers is accessible from the corridor near the escalators on the Lower Concourse and also in the Western Foyer via the corridor on the Ground Level (at the top of the escalators). Pram parking will be available outside the theatres in the Western Foyer.

The Sydney Opera House Car Park, operated by Wilson Parking, is open and available to use. Wilson Parking offer discounted parking if you book ahead. Please see  their website  for details.

Please check the  Transport NSW website  for the latest advice and information on travel. You can catch public transport (bus, train, ferry) to Circular Quay and enjoy a six min walk to the Opera House. 

The health and wellbeing of everyone attending the Opera House is our top priority. We’re committed to making your experience safe, comfortable and enjoyable, with a number of measures in place including regular cleaning of high-touch areas, air conditioning systems that maximise ventilation, and hand sanitiser stations positioned in all paths of travel. We remind our audiences and visitors to please stay home if you feel unwell. If you need to discuss your ticketing or booking options, contact our Box Office team on 02 9250 7777.

The health and wellbeing of everyone attending the Opera House is our top priority. We have a number of safety measures in place including regular cleaning of high-touch areas, air conditioning systems that maximise ventilation, and hand sanitiser stations positioned in all paths of travel. While face masks are no longer required, we ask all our patrons and visitors to practise good hygiene. Please stay home if you feel unwell and read more about our flexible ticket options .

The Sydney Opera House no longer requires patrons to show that they are fully vaccinated against COVID-19.

Ticket purchases and collection at our Box Office is discouraged and eTicket or postal delivery methods should be used, wherever possible. However, if you are collecting your tickets from the Box Office, we recommend doing this at least 60 minutes before the event starts. If you have already received your tickets, the venue doors will be open 45 minutes pre-show for Joan Sutherland Theatre performances, and 30 minutes pre-show for Western Foyer venue performances. Please take your seats as soon as you arrive. 

If you are late, we will seat you as soon as we can and, where possible, in your allocated seat. However, to reduce movement in the venue as well as minimise disruption to the performance and other patrons, ticketholders may be seated in an allocated latecomer’s seat. Please be aware that some events have lock-out periods. In these cases, latecomers will be admitted at a suitable break in the performance. On occasions, this may not be until the interval, or at all where there is no interval. 

Details of our right to refuse admission can be found in our  General Terms and Conditions for Tickets and Events.

In accordance with our venue security procedures, Opera House security will be scanning and checking bags under the Monumental Stairs, prior to entering the building. Bags will be scanned by an x-ray machine, and staff will wear appropriate personal protective equipment (PPE) when handling your belongings, such as gloves. Cloaking facilities will be open 60 minutes pre-show for Concert Hall and Joan Sutherland Theatre performances, and 60 minutes pre-show for Western Foyer venue performances. However it is strongly encouraged that you travel lightly to minimise contact and queuing. Any bags larger than an A4 piece of paper will need to be checked into the Cloak Room.

The authorised agency for this event is the Sydney Opera House.

Only tickets purchased by authorised agencies should be considered reliable. If you purchase tickets from a non-authorised agency such as Ticketmaster Resale, Viagogo, Ticketbis, eBay, Gumtree, Tickets Australia or any other unauthorised seller, you risk that these tickets are fake, void or have previously been cancelled. RESALE RESTRICTION APPLIES. For more details, please refer to our  General Terms and Conditions for Tickets and Attendance at Events.

Please contact Box Office on 9250 7777 as soon as possible to advise if you can no longer attend.

Foyers will be open 90 minutes pre-show for Concert Hall and Joan Sutherland Theatre performances, and two hours pre-show for Western Foyer venue performances. Refreshments will be available for purchase from our theatre bars.

The venue doors will be open 45 minutes pre-show for Concert Hall and Joan Sutherland Theatre performances, and 30 minutes pre-show for Western Foyer venue performances.

Please bring a credit or debit card for any on site purchases to enable contactless payment. You’re welcome to bring your own water bottle but no other food and drinks are permitted inside our venues. Opera Bar, Opera Kitchen and Portside are also available for you to enjoy.

The health, safety and wellbeing of everyone at the Sydney Opera House is our top priority. In line with this commitment, the Opera House became a smoke-free site in January 2022. Read our Smoke-free Environment Policy . 

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Crowded House

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O2 Shepherd's Bush Empire | London, UNITED KINGDOM

Crowded house: gravity stairs tour, lincoln castle | lincoln, united kingdom, the piece hall | halifax, united kingdom, cardiff castle | cardiff, united kingdom.

The St. Augustine Amphitheatre | St Augustine, FL

Crowded house - gravity stairs tour, cadence bank amphitheatre at chastain park | atlanta, ga, koka booth amphitheatre | cary, nc, the rooftop at pier 17 | new york, ny, ovation hall at ocean casino resort | atlantic city, nj, olg stage at fallsview casino | niagara falls, on.

• Accessibility Parking Crowded House

The Rose Music Center at The Heights | Huber Heights, OH

The astro amphitheater | la vista, ne, the ledge amphitheater | waite park, mn, chateau ste michelle winery | woodinville, wa.

• Chateau Ste. Michelle - Off-Site Parking - Crowded House
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Hayden Homes Amphitheater | Bend, OR

• South Lot Premier Parking - Crowded House - Not a Concert Ticket
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Doheny State Beach | Dana Point, CA

Ohana festival - weekend admission - charity, ohana festival, ohana festival - friday admission - charity, vina robles amphitheatre | paso robles, ca, tsb arena | wellington, new zealand, dunedin town hall | dunedin, new zealand, woolfbrook arena | christchurch, new zealand, the regent on broadway | palmerston north, new zealand, mercury baypark arena | tauranga, new zealand, globox arena | hamilton, new zealand, spark arena | auckland, new zealand, kings park & botanic garden | perth, australia, crowded house 'gravity stairs tour', sydney opera house forecourt | sydney, australia, rod laver arena | melbourne, australia, newcastle entertainment centre | newcastle, australia, brisbane entertainment centre | brisbane, australia, latest setlist, crowded house on june 3, 2024.

Rough Trade NYC, New York, New York

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Crowded House Drops ‘Gravity Stairs’: Stream It Now

"Gravity Stairs" is Crowded House's eighth studio album and first through a new deal with BMG.

By Lars Brandle

Lars Brandle

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Crowded House

Neil Finn and Crowded House is one towering example.

Will Butler on Writing the Tony-Nominated Music for 'Stereophonic': 'It Was Like a Thousand-Piece…

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Gravity Stairs is produced with Steven Schram (Paul Kelly, San Cisco) and the band, currently featuring Finn and his sons Elroy and Liam; founding, Australia-born bass player Nick Seymour; and U.S.-born keyboardist Mitchell Froom, and is inspired by a heavy stone staircase near where the band leader vacations.

“The Gravity Stairs are symbolic of the struggle to ascend,” says Auckland-based Finn, “acknowledging the opposing forces of weight on the mechanics of living. It’s an act of will every day.”

Since emerging fully-formed in 1986 as a trio of Finn (singer, songwriter, guitar), Seymour and the late, Australian drummer Paul Hester, the group has sold over 15 million records worldwide, and achieved induction into the ARIA Hall of Fame, 13 ARIA Awards, an MTV VMA, a BRIT Award and a U.K. No. 1 album (with 1996’s Recurring Dream – The Very Best Of ). Finn was on hand at the 2024 Rolling Stone Australia Awards in Sydney this April to collect the second-ever “ icon ” honor.

That first self-titled album housed the hits “’Something So Strong” and “Don’t Dream It’s Over,” which peaked at No. 2 on the Billboard Hot 100. “Don’t Dream It’s Over” made a mighty comeback last year. Thanks to a sync to an episode of the rebooted detective classic Magnum P.I., the song powered to No. 1 on Billboard’s Top TV Songs chart.

Crowded House will support the new LP with a trans-Tasman tour , kicking off Nov. 9 at TSB Arena in the NZ capital, Wellington, with Australia dates starting Nov. 29 at Perth’s Kings Park & Botanical Gardens. Live Nation is producing the swing Down Under.

Stream Gravity Stairs in full below.

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Crowded House’s best songs are masterclasses in pop songwriting, belying their depth and emotion.

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Neil Finn formed Crowded House out of the ashes of New Zealand power-pop band Split Enz and it edged him closer to pop perfection with a series of beautifully crafted and melodically rich songs built on depth, emotion, and self-reflection. Initially comprising vocalist, guitarist, and principal songwriter Finn, Split Enz drummer Paul Hester, and bassist Nick Seymour, the group found their immediate musical direction when they signed to Capitol Records and relocated to Los Angeles to record with producer Mitchell Froom. The American sound of their self-titled debut album began to slowly resonate in the US and hit a peak when the single “Don’t Dream It’s Over” climbed to No.2 on the Billboard Hot 100.

Having broken the States, the group could have easily served up more of the same, but their second album Temple Of Low Men was a darker, more intense affair that highlighted the maturing of Finn’s songwriting, but lacked its predecessor’s obvious hits. It was an early sign that the group were not prepared to compromise for easy commercial gain. For all the stunning songs reflecting Finn’s love of The Beatles and other melodic giants, their music had real potency and was unafraid of exploring difficult, sometimes painful topics.

While they lost the US mainstream with third album Woodface , its set of uplifting, sonically-pleasing songs won them newfound popularity in the UK and Europe. Only one further album followed before the group split and Finn went solo. However, the death in 2005 of Paul Hester after years of fighting depression brought the band back together for two more albums. Another long hiatus followed when Finn returned to his solo career and became part of Fleetwood Mac’s touring band, but they reunited again at the end of 2019 with Mitchell Froom and Finn’s two sons Liam and Elroy joining the line-up. The appropriately titled Dreamers Are Waiting , the group’s first studio album in 11 years, was released in June 2021.

‘New Amsterdam’: Elvis Costello Speaks Double Dutch

‘horizon’: another hit album comes into view for the carpenters.

Listen to the best of Crowded House on Apple Music and Spotify .

Early American Adventures

(world where you live, something so strong, hole in the river).

When The Los Angeles Times wrote about the band’s LA debut in February 1987, its review opened with the question: “Is Crowded House the great white hope of power pop?” In these early days, as Finn and his colleagues chalked up a first US breakthrough hit, it certainly seemed that way. Their self-titled first album, recorded at LA’s Capitol Recording and Sunset Sound Recording studios with producer Mitchell Froom, was perfectly crafted for the American market with its radio-friendly, pop-rock songs and polished, purposeful production. However, anyone listening closely enough to the album would have realized there was more substance to Crowded House than catchy melodies.

Following the Australian-only release “Mean To Me,” the harmonic, uptempo “World Where You Live” served as the group’s first international single and was typical of the big-sounding production that made up their debut. It became the group’s second Billboard Hot 100 hit as the album reached No.12 in the States.

Although breaking the US took a while to happen, once “Don’t Dream It’s Over” became a big hit, there was real momentum behind the band with the uplifting “Something So Strong” climbing to No.7 on the Hot 100. Sequenced next to it on the first album is “Hole In The River,” which Finn co-wrote with Split Enz keyboardist Eddie Rayner after being told his aunt had died by suicide. This haunting song stood outside the album’s overall mainstream sound and hinted at real depths to Finn’s songwriting.

In A Reflective Mood

(i feel possessed, into temptation, fingers of love, private universe).

After their American-sounding debut, the group’s decision to follow a more intimate and inward-looking direction with the follow-up Temple Of Low Men won over many critics, but its lack of obvious radio hits scaled back their US chart ambitions. While the album had its lighter moments, its more reflective mood was obvious from album opener “I Feel Possessed,” a stirring and powerful song about being completely dominated by someone and which sounded like nothing on their first album.

The second album’s direction is also reflected by the haunting, emotive ballad “Into Temptation” about seduction and infidelity that showcased Finn’s poetic lyrics as well as his melodic gifts. While the album only climbed to No.40 in the US, it became the group’s first No.1 in Finn’s New Zealand homeland and their second successive Top 10 entry in Canada.

A UK top five hit, Crowded House’s fourth album Together Alone was pitched somewhere between the intensity and experimentalism of the group’s sophomore set and the rich pop melodies that dominated Woodface . The atmospheric “Fingers Of Love” fell in between these extremes with a beautiful melody married perfectly to a Finn narrative about yearning. Housed on the same album is “Private Universe,” a five-and-a-half-minute epic about isolation that features a Polynesian percussion and one of Finn’s most profound lyrics.

Majestic Ballads

(don’t dream it’s over, better be home soon, fall at your feet, four seasons in one day, distant sun).

The success of “Don’t Dream It’s Over” changed the band’s commercial fortunes and introduced a major new songwriter in the melodic tradition of Paul McCartney and Elton John . Denied the US No.1 spot in April 1987 by George Michael and Aretha Franklin’s “I Knew You Were Waiting (For Me),” the song immediately sounded like a timeless classic and its reputation has only been enhanced by the passing of time.

Finn’s gift for penning moving, inspiring ballads was evident again on “Better Be Home Soon,” the closing song on the band’s second album Temple Of Low Men . This is a heartfelt and emotional song in which a lover pleads to their other half to change or their relationship could be over. It is one of his greatest compositions and deserved a far higher chart peak than No.42 on the Billboard Hot 100.

Crowded House’s third album Woodface is brimming with captivating pop songs and includes two world-class ballads in “Fall At Your Feet” and “Four Seasons In One Day.” The first is a sublime work with one of Finn’s most gorgeous vocals and became the group’s first-ever UK Top 20 hit, while the melancholic “Four Seasons…” is reminiscent of McCartney at his simplest and most powerful. It is one of seven songs on Woodface penned by Finn with his brother and former Split Enz colleague Tim who joined the band for this album but then departed.

Having helmed the group’s first three albums, Mitchell Froom was replaced by ex-Killing Joke bassist Youth who by Together Alone ’’s 1993 release had become an in-demand producer. Although his presence brought more experimentation, the pretty acoustic ballad “Distant Sun” is Finn at his most accessible and it became the group’s third UK Top 20 single.

Uplifting Pop Classics

(sister madly, weather with you, it’s only natural, locked out).

Growing up admiring the likes of The Beatles, Elton John, David Bowie , and Neil Young, Neil Finn learned his songwriting craft studying some of the very best. It is a testament to his reputation that he is now regularly spoken about as a similarly classic pop songwriter.

Among the darker, more intense moments of the band’s second album can be found the fun, breezy “Sister Madly” on which Finn takes a wry, humorous look at fame. What became a live favorite features a twangy guitar solo from Richard Thompson that sounds like it could have been recorded at an early Elvis session with Sam Phillips at the controls.

In contrast to its predecessor, the group’s third album Woodface is overflowing with joyous, melodic songs that cannot help but lift the spirits, including the ultra-catchy “Weather With You,” which in March 1992 became their first ever UK Top 10 single. As the group’s popularity in Europe exploded, the album climbed to No.6 in the UK and reached double-platinum status during a chart run powered by a succession of hit singles. These included the spirited, country-flavored “It’s Only Natural,” which additionally became a top five hit on Billboard’s Modern Rock chart, although the album climbed only as high as No. 83 in the US.

While still possessing their melodic trademarks, “Locked Out” is one of the group’s rockiest numbers and points to the Lennon side of Finn’s Beatles brain. It was the highest-peaking UK hit from Together Alone , reaching No. 12 on the chart.

The Reunions

(english trees, even a child, saturday sun, to the island).

The group went out on a high with their 1996 retrospective Recurring Dream: The Very Best of Crowded House having topped the UK chart where it went four-times platinum and reaching the same peak in Australia and New Zealand with certifications of 13- and nine-times platinum respectively. For Neil Finn, the break-up heralded the start of a successful solo career and recording again with brother Tim. But when in 2005 Paul Hester took his own life, the Crowded House frontman reached out to Nick Seymour and asked him to play bass on his new album. However, the project soon progressed into a new band album, the first in nearly 14 years.

Produced by Ethan Johns and Steve Lillywhite, Time On Earth felt the weight of Hester’s death, not just in the album’s title but on songs like the delicate “English Trees” on which Finn sings: “It’s springtime and color is new, in Regent’s Park I will mourn you.” “Even A Child” was one of the album’s more uplifting moments, a jangly Sixties-style pop delight co-written by Johnny Marr who also provides backing vocals. Despite the lengthy gap since Together Alone , its UK No.3 peak was better than any previous studio album and took the group into the US Top 40 for the first time since their sophomore set.

While Time On Earth had originally begun as a Finn solo album, the 2010 follow-up Intriguer was from the outset a band project. Much of it has a mellow, sophisticated vibe, but its opening song and lead single “Saturday Sun” is jaunty and upbeat with electronic effects that enhance the band’s classic pop sound.

Following a world tour and another album retrospective, the band then undertook what Finn later described as an “indefinite hiatus,” but in 2019 a reunion show was announced followed by news of a new album. Set for release in June 2021, Dreamers Are Waiting has been previewed by two singles, including “To The Island” whose sunny Beach Boys -like harmonies are contrasted by a prophetic lyric where Finn sings about “the cities covered in smoke” and “the whole system’s broke.”

Crowded House set the quality bar extremely high with their debut album and over the following decades have repeatedly delivered masterclasses in pop songwriting and performing. However, the accessibility of their music with its infectious melodies and sumptuous harmonies should not belie the fact this is a band with real depth and emotion and who have never compromised to tell their truth.

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Crowded House’s Neil Finn on How a Stint With Fleetwood Mac Led to Revitalizing His Own Band: ‘I Realized That We Had a Flag That You Can Follow’

By Chris Willman

Chris Willman

Senior Music Writer and Chief Music Critic

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(Friday night, the band performs one U.S. show before heading overseas, at New York’s Bowery Ballroom and can also be seen on “Jimmy Kimmel Live!” performing the new single “Teenage Summer.”)

You said something recently that was intriguing, about how being in Fleetwood Mac for a couple of years gave you a different perspective on Crowded House — something to the effect of, “Hey, I’ve got my own classic band, actually.” It sounds like maybe you had some kind of epiphany about embracing the band’s legacy and what it represents in the world.

I realized that I had my own band that has kind of a mana , as they say in New Zealand [a Maori word that is understood to mean “prestige”]… some kind of gravitas or something that carries it along … a flag that you follow somehow. And I was also really hungry to be fully engaged. I wouldn’t want to be churlish at all about my time in Fleetwood Mac. It was magnificent. But I wasn’t fully engaged the whole night, which was really unusual for me. And so I was really looking forward to the feeling of being right there at the front and center of something. So all of those factors were part of the decision to get the band back together, for sure.

You did something a bit humbling in being part of that group, but the driver’s seat is where you feel, “This is where I’m meant to be”?

Or just being able to be a part of every note… You know, you’re hearing the spaces between the notes, and you’re not just waiting till your parts come up. I guess I’m used to that in my musical life, so really, I relish that. It’s being in some kind of altered state of consciousness, and if you’re right in the midst of it, you can keep that feeling going and it can become transcendent.

Almost strangely, when we look at the lineup of Crowded House on stage now, it feels like everyone in in it is either formally or informally family at this point. You have your two sons; you have Nick Seymour, an original member going back to the mid-‘80s; and Mitchell Froom, your original producer, on keyboards. It was not unfamiliar to see Mitchell sitting in on keys when you would do L.A. shows over the decades, but he is on board for tours and all.

Yeah, Mitchell is a fully functioning band member now. You know, he keeps trying to organize things like a producer all the time, and I say, “No, just jam!” And he’s enjoying that. I mean, he’s still very meticulous about getting his parts working for the songs, but I think he’s really enjoying being part of an ensemble. It’s a really lovely change of dynamic for him, and of course, his deep attachment and knowledge of the band makes him a very soulful addition. And as you know, my two boys who grew up with the band, it’s in their DNA, and they’ve become two of my favorite musicians on the planet. And with Nick obviously there from the start, I feel like everyone’s deeply connected, which is a really nice feeling. I think bands can redefine themselves, but to do so with such an intimate group of people makes it feel all more special. So it feels like it’s a very cohesive and soulful lineup.

Yeah. It feels like it’s got a lot of future built into it. We’re expanding our shades and the areas we can go to with the addition of two really good writers. Liam and Elroy are both very, very good writers, and with Mitchell’s arrangement skills, it feels like we’re expanding our universe, if that’s possible — expanding our dimensions, anyway — and that’s exciting.

In the past, it has gotten to a point a couple of times, for version one and version two, where I couldn’t see the way ahead. I couldn’t imagine it, and it wasn’t manifesting in rehearsals, so I sort of stepped away from it. The first time [in the mid-1990s], we thought it was necessary to make a grand statement and say, “No, that’s it: we’re breaking up.” The second time [in the mid-2010s], it was like, “Well, let’s just not do it for a while, and not make such a big deal out of it.” This time I see it as an ongoing thing. I think I’ll be doing the odd project off to the side, maybe something with my brother (Tim Finn), or other projects, possibly. But Crowded House feels like it will continue now for a long time, and we can continue to expand it and get better.

Was there ever a time at which you thought that that being under the banner Crowded House was like a limitation, where it felt like it glued you to a signature sound? It feels like you have found this kind of happy balance where everyone can say, “Yes, of course that feels like Crowded House,” but nobody’s gonna mistake it for an attempt to precisely recreate “Woodface” or something.

Yeah, I mean, all the records have their own distinct qualities. Even in our first incarnation, we changed over the different records. You know, the first record was kind of rollicking, and the second record [“Temple of Low Men”] was more reflective. The third, “Woodface,” is a little combination there. And, you know, “Together Alone,” was quite different again. I hope we’ll keep changing from album to album, song to song. Certain things become more sophisticated because you’ve been doing it for longer, and so your observational skills come to the fore. And you can pick subtlety as an asset, once you become better at observing how music works — and hopefully won’t lose the essence of a pop sensibility, which I always have and feels good to me.

When a song you’re expected to play comes up, whether it’s one of the ones you were doing in the Fleetwood Mac shows or the ones that obviously everybody wants to hear on tour now, does your relationship to those change over time, or cyclically? Do you ever think you’l go mad if you have to play a hit one more time, and then you come back around to embracing it, or does that stay the same over the years?

I mean, there’s a couple of ’em that probably are less interesting to play, possibly sometimes because I’m playing acoustic guitar, and that’s the bit that’s not as fun. But the ones that I play electric guitar on, you can find new notes every night and you can influence the sound more. So that’s probably more what it comes down to, rather than the song itself. Actually, having said that, I play acoustic guitar half the night, and I’m quite happy to. But I do love it when I can get the old electric out and me and Liam can go wailing together.

The single, as we understand it, went through a title change. It was originally called “Life’s Imitation” and it took a young family member to change it to “Teenage Summer”?

It took my grandson to point it out, actually. Because he was singing it one day when I was on FaceTime with him, and he said, “I really liked that song, papa… ‘Teenage Summer.’” And I went, dang … this seemed entirely obvious, that suddenly that he’d picked out the key moment of the song, and the children might have to be heard. So I made a late call to change the title. I might’ve been subtly afraid in the early stages that it was a bit too Katy Perry or something to call a song “Teenage Summer.” But, you know, why should young people have all the fun? … I think there’s other hooks in the song, so I didn’t really figure out that that was the one, but that’s the moment that he really related to. And he is only 5 years old, so I figured, does he know what a teenage summer is? But there’s something about that that resonates for people, and certainly a lot of people have said to me since that it sparks some kind of nostalgic yearning, which is cool. You know, I’ll take anything if it makes you feel it.

There are a few songs on the album, like “All That I Can Ever Own,” that seem to refer to a child or a grandchild maybe just the sense of childhood. And there seems to be a real sense of kind of generationality in some of these songs. When you sing, “Every child is a mystic having visions of a new dawn”…

Well, I am particularly interested in the way that children think, and trying to keep up within myself a childlike view. Certainly with making music, being childlike in the way you approach it, to start with, is always a good idea. And then to be able to apply the reason of an adult to the editing of those ideas, that’s where the sweet spot is, if you get it right.

So, yeah, there is a focus on children. And certainly “All I Can Ever Own” is set, in my mind, in the car on the way home from the hospital with this new human being that you are about to really draw into yourself and get to know. And then, the inevitable process of letting it go, as well — that’s a fascinating theme, to my mind.

The new record starts with “Magic Piano,” and the album title, “Gravity Stairs,” takes its name from one of the lyrics. It feels like a slightly tricky song, in a way — tricky, but catchy, which is sort of your way.

Yeah — through life. I think it’s representative of a certain mentality that we have always had, and just with this record, of having some twists and turns and freedom in the way that the instruments are expressing themselves. I think the way Nick and Liam were playing together was like a really melodic little dance. The bass is particularly melodic in that song. They’re unusual chords, and the shifts from minor to major allow some really unusual atmospheres to emerge. It had an unusual structure that took us a while to figure out… I don’t know if I’ve told you too much or not enough!

It’s in the tradition of your unusual chord changes that feel sort of inevitable and sort of surprising at the same time. That feels like a particular gift you have.

I’m with you. I like that too. … The title “Magic Piano” comes from a children’s radio show — I don’t know if you knew that — but it’s just a title. There’s a really great little kids’ story about a kid who hates practicing piano, and his piano starts to talk to him, and then he becomes able to play incredible things on his piano because the piano is sort of doing it all. And so some of the theme was sparked by that. But then, it is a genuinely a genuine love song to my piano. It’s also got other things to it, about music in general — just the effort to achieve lightness and elevation, and how magical that the whole thing is. I suppose I’m also stating my absolute devotion to melody as the lead — how it takes the lead part in my own relationship with music.

A common characteristic of many of your songs is the dance between the light and the dark. They can be bright and cheerful and then there is this undercurrent of doubt that might just become prevalent in the bridge or something, like in “Something So Strong.” So in a new song like “All That I Can Ever Own,” it’s upbeat and positive in a way, but suddenly we get “I might push her away if I’m not careful.” That feels so Neil Finn, in a way, to have that little turn where it doesn’t totally subvert the song, but there’s this sense of how things could go wrong.

To go from the sublime to the business-like… you were in headlines recently with making a deal with Primary Wave for your publishing, which is the kind of deal so many songwriters of a certain stature and catalog are making. Is there like a level of security in that it sort of allows you to really follow your arrow wherever it leads, without having to worry about being as commercial at every moment?

Security’s not quite the right word for me. Simplicity is definitely part of it, and the idea that people really do care about my songs. I wouldn’t have ventured forth if I didn’t sense a genuine desire for them to really make the songs work on a broad basis. The idea they’re out there working for them is gonna be a benefit to me, to the band, and hopefully the songs themselves. And I have no obligations to manage the business of them, which in a way is the burdensome part. You know, as much as people say, “Ah, you’ve got to own your songs” and all that sort of stuff, it actually just means you’re hiring accountants and getting daily correspondence about how songs should be used, how splits should be administered, commissions paid, all that sort of stuff. I’m giving you a fairly comprehensive description of my thinking. But there’s something really lovely and simple about having somebody else taking care of it, and I’m confident they’re taking care of it in a really good way. So I’ll just get on and sing them and, you know, they’re out there in the world anyway. They belong to everybody, in a way. But somebody’s taking care of it.

I’ve got big aspirations for what I might do with the money that they’ve given me as well. I want to do really good things with that, so it gives me an opportunity to reach a little bit further than I could do. I’ve done well and it’s not that I feel like I’m gonna run out of money — that was not my motivation. But I think I can do good things with that money, while I’m got the energy to make good things happen, you know?

Crowded House’s Gravity Stairs Tour North American Dates:

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Crowded House Return With Uplifting Single ‘Oh Hi’

By Emily Zemler

Emily Zemler

Crowded House have unveiled a new single, “Oh Hi.” The buoyant song, the band’s first original music in two years, was influenced by band leader Neil Finn ‘s support for  So They Can , an international nonprofit focused on building schools in remote parts of Kenya and Tanzania.

“I’m hoping the song comes across without needing to know the backstory,” Finn said in a statement. “But it’s very much inspired by these incredible kids and their magnificence.”

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He added of his future plans for Crowded House, “We feel a tremendous potential in the band. We’ve done these shows and we’ve grown. It’s filled us with wonder about the whole thing. We’d like to get together and have another album next year, hopefully.”

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Top 10 Crowded House Songs

Photo: Mick Muise, CC BY 2.0 <https://creativecommons.org/licenses/by/2.0>, via Wikimedia Commons

Our top 10 Crowded House songs list introduces us to a rock band formed in Melbourne. New Zealand vocalist and guitarist Neil Finn joined Australian drummer Paul Hester and bassist Nick Seymour to form the band in 1985 . The band would later add Neil’s brother, Tim Finn, and Americans Matt Sherrod and Mark Hart, bringing in some extra skills to the band. However, like most bands, Crowded House has gone under redefinition with the current lineup, including Neil Finn, his sons Liam and Elroy, Nick Seymour, and keyboardist Mitchell Froom, a former Latin Playboys and Gamma member. Crowded House has had quite a story owing to its start-and-stop music career.

At first the band was active between 1985 and 1996. They would disband only to awaken their calling to making rock music in 2006, only to split again in 2011. The year 2016 had the band try to become more active in the rock music industry. Nevertheless, the band has since 2019 been active in releasing their latest album, Dreamers Are Waiting, which has reminded the world of the great band they have always been. Here are the top 10 Crowded House songs of all time.

# 10 – Don’t Stop Now

Written by Neil Finn shortly after he and his wife moved to England, the song “Don’t Stop Now” is a standout track that significantly impacted Crowded House’s career. Featured on their fifth studio album, Time on Earth , the song draws inspiration from a challenging experience Finn’s wife had with a faulty GPS while driving. Neil Finn wrote the lyrics on his own, and the song reached a peak position of number nine on the US Adult Alternative Songs Chart. Additionally, “Don’t Stop Now” played a crucial role in earning Crowded House a nomination for The New Zealand Silver Scroll in 2007, marking it as a key song in their discography.

# 9 – World Where You Live

Featured as the second single Crowded House’s self-titled debut album, the song “World Where You Live” would be the band’s first internationally released single. The song got released first in the UK, then months later in Australia. Despite having an international release, the song “World Where You Live” did not chart internationally but managed to reach a peak position of number 43 in the ARIA Singles Chart and the Billboard Hot 100. “World Where You Live” would later appear on the band’s greatest hits compilation, Recurring Dreams, performed at the band’s farewell concert.

# 8 – Chocolate Cake

In the number eight spot on our top 10 Crowded House songs is the very cool track Chocolate Cake. We love the opening groove to this great tune. The song was released on the album Woodface . The album was released in 1991. The song Chocolate Cake was the first single released from the album. The song was a top 10 hit in Canada and New Zealand. It hit number two on the US Alternative Airplay charts. We love the line about Elvis Presley walking out of a 7-11.

# 7 – Distant Sun

Written by Neil Finn, “Distant Sun” is one of the standout tracks from Crowded House’s fourth studio album, Together Alone . This song succeeded significantly, charting as a top 20 hit and reaching number 19 on the UK Singles Chart. “Distant Sun” explores the complexities and trials that unfold in a long-term relationship between a man and a woman, acknowledging that the journey isn’t always positive. Despite the weighty subject matter, the song is delivered with a compelling, catchy and memorable melody, making it a favorite among fans and a highlight of the band’s musical repertoire.

# 6 – Into Temptation

“Into Temptation” is recognized as one of the standout tracks on Crowded House’s 1988 album, Temple of Low Men . Neil Finn was inspired to write the song after witnessing a suggestive scene in a motel, where a knock on a door led not to his own room but saw a woman entering another man’s room. This intriguing incident fueled the song’s narrative, exploring themes of fidelity and temptation.

Renee Geyer’s rendition for the 2005 tribute album She Will Have Her Way highlights the song’s lyrical depth. The album celebrated the Finn brothers’ music through female artists’ interpretations. “Into Temptation” continues to be celebrated for its evocative lyrics, which even led Neil Finn’s wife to momentarily suspect him of infidelity, demonstrating the song’s powerful and relatable portrayal of human emotions and relationships.

# 5 – Fall at Your Feet

“Fall at Your Feet” is a poignant track from Crowded House’s critically acclaimed third studio album, Woodface . Written by Neil Finn, the song expresses his yearning for a deeper, more intimate connection with a woman who appears to be experiencing pain. Through its lyrics, Neil offers reassurance, conveying his readiness and willingness to support her through her struggles.

The song achieved notable success, making its mark on both the Billboard Hot 100 and the UK Singles Chart. Its gentle melody and heartfelt lyrics resonate deeply, making “Fall at Your Feet” a standout track in Crowded House’s discography and a favorite among fans for its emotional depth and melodic appeal.

# 4 – Something So Strong

Featured on their eponymous debut album, “Something So Strong” showcases the exceptional lyrical talents of Neil Finn and Mitchell Froom. Notably, this track was the first song Neil Finn wrote specifically for Crowded House, marking a significant milestone in their musical journey. The collaboration between Finn and Froom produced a song that resonated widely, both lyrically and melodically.

“Something So Strong” became a major hit, achieving a peak position of number 7 on the US Billboard Hot 100. Its popularity extended beyond the United States, as the song also charted in the UK, Canada, New Zealand, and Australia. Its catchy melody and uplifting lyrics helped it stand out as a banger from the band’s debut, cementing its place as a beloved classic in Crowded House’s repertoire.

# 3 – Better Be Home Soon

Our number three song in the top 10 Crowded House songs list is entuited Better Be Home. The song was featured on their second studio album, Temple of Low Men , which was released in July 1988, the song quickly became a significant part of the band’s repertoire. Issued as a single in June 1988 by Capitol Records, it achieved considerable success, peaking at number two on the Australian and New Zealand charts, and reaching number one on Canada’s The Record chart. In the United States, it climbed to number 42 on the Billboard Hot 100.

The song’s enduring appeal was highlighted in 2001 when it was voted by members of the Australasian Performing Right Association (APRA) as the 33rd-best New Zealand song of the 20th century. In a touching tribute to Crowded House drummer Paul Hester, who passed away in 2005, Neil Finn performed “Better Be Home Soon” solo at the ARIA Awards. This performance was accompanied by a montage of Hester’s life, underscoring the song’s deep emotional resonance within the band and among their fans.

# 2 – Weather with You

“Weather with You” stands out as one of the most memorable tracks by Crowded House. It was released on their third studio album, Woodface , and was originally intended for the Finn Brothers’ unreleased 1990 debut. The song was later integrated into Woodface , merging seamlessly with the album’s other tracks.

Neil Finn has explained that the song’s theme centers on the idea that “we are creating our own weather,” metaphorically speaking about how individuals influence their own environments. This concept resonates deeply within the lyrics, emphasizing personal responsibility and the impact of one’s actions and moods on their surroundings.

“Weather with You” achieved significant recognition, being voted the 16th best New Zealand song of all time by the Australasian Performing Right Association (APRA). Additionally, it was featured on Nature’s Best , a two-disc compilation album that includes New Zealand’s thirty most popular songs. The song’s enduring appeal is a testament to its lyrical depth, catchy melody, and the universal message it conveys.

# 1 – Don’t Dream It’s Over

Topping our list of the best songs from Crowded House is the unforgettable ballad “Don’t Dream It’s Over,” from their self-titled debut album. Described as Crowded House’s most majestic ballad, this song achieved international acclaim, reaching number two on the Billboard Hot 100. Thanks to Neil Finn’s exceptional songwriting, the song poignantly captures feelings of isolation and the resolve to hold on, encapsulated in the refrain “Hey now, hey now, don’t dream it’s over.”

The song’s universal appeal and emotional depth have led to its use in various high-profile settings, including commercials for the New Zealand Tourism Commission and the TV miniseries The Stand , further cementing its status as a global hit. “Don’t Dream It’s Over” continues to resonate with audiences worldwide, celebrated as one of the finest rock ballads ever written, illustrating the profound impact of Neil Finn’s lyrical brilliance.

Top 10 Crowded House Songs  article published on Classic RockHistory.com© 2024

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About the author.

Janey Roberts

Janey Roberts lives in Chelsea, London. She has worked for various British musical publications writing album and concert reviews. Originally from Balboa Park, San Diego, Janey brings an international cross cultural perspective to rock journalism.

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Time Out says

Crowded House said 'Don't Dream It's Over' – and now they're proving it's not. The band is doing an Aussie tour, including three shows at the Sydney Opera House

Crowded House – the legendary Aussie (or was it Kiwi??) rock band – played an epic "farewell" tour more than two decades ago (in 1996), to more than 150,000 people on the steps of the equally legendary  Sydney Opera House . Th is December, they're returning to the Opera House for three very special shows. Iconic. The band of Aussie rockers formed all the way back in 1985, and after releasing their self-titled debut album to global success, they went on to release a further seven albums. Their most recent album – Gravity Stairs – was released today (Friday, May 31), and they’re celebrating the release with a huge tour around Australia and New Zealand. 

The multi-platinum selling rock band will take to the stage at the Sydney Opera House on Wednesday, December 4, Thursday, December 5 and Saturday, December 7 2024.

The tour kicks off in Wellington on Saturday, November 9, and wraps up in Brisbane after a bunch of stops around the country and across the ditch. Tickets start from $163.10, you can grab yours over here .

Stay in the loop: sign up for our free   Time Out Sydney newsletter   for more news, things to do and travel inspo, straight to your inbox.

Recommended:, want fun now   here’s what’s on in sydney this weekend, plus:   these are the best live music venues in sydney ..

Dates and times

Wed, 4 Dec 2024 6:30 pm Crowded House Gravity Stairs Tour Sydney Opera House From $163.10

Thu, 5 Dec 2024 6:30 pm Crowded House Gravity Stairs Tour Sydney Opera House From $163.10

Sat, 7 Dec 2024 6:30 pm Crowded House Gravity Stairs Tour Sydney Opera House From $163.10

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Crowded House: Gravity Stairs – impossible not to admire these indelible pop songs

There isn’t anything you haven’t heard before, but it’s presented with such panache that you won’t be able to say no

There is now a real family in Crowded House . Neil Finn, mainstay of Australasia’s premier pop group, writes and performs with his sons, Elroy and Liam (all three have Irish passports because of the Irish citizenship of Finn’s mother), and the cohesion between them is such that Gravity Stairs should really be called Well Oiled Escalator. In other words, there is flawless mobility from start to end.

Finn, who is now 66, may liken the album’s title to “getting a little older and becoming aware of your own mortality, your own physicality”, but he and his long-time bandmates Nick Seymour and Mitchell Froom aren’t submitting to the passing of years any time soon. “There’s more determination needed to get to the top,” he adds, “but there’s still the same compulsion to climb them.”

[  Neil Finn of Crowded House: ‘We could represent Ireland at Eurovision! If John Lydon can go for it, then why not us?’  ]

The follow-up to Dreamers Are Waiting , their pandemic-induced album from 2021, which featured the same (then exploratory) line-up, Gravity Stairs has an even stronger sense of resilience. While the cover flagrantly pastiches Klaus Voormann’s work on the Beatles album Revolver, there are no such barefaced influences to be found in the songs. With more than 40 years of sterling work behind him, Finn’s songwriting (like that of other Beatles-inspired songwriters, such as Ron Sexsmith and Noel Gallagher) has morphed into its own thing: indelible pop songs that are hard-wired to appeal, impossible not to admire.

Take your pick from Magic Piano’s delicate whimsy (“who’s that joker with the crooked smile, in the car that speeds away from the scene of the crime?”), Oh Hi’s childlike jauntiness (“when it comes to being clever, I should never count anyone out”), Black Water, White Circle’s winding spookiness (“I must be dreaming, the lizards screaming, don’t look for meaning”) and All That I Can Ever Own’s sheepish self-awareness (“my worries keep me awake, every night I’m fearful”).

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There isn’t anything you haven’t heard before, but it’s presented with such panache that you won’t be able to say no.

Tony Clayton-Lea

Tony Clayton-Lea is a contributor to The Irish Times specialising in popular culture

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Crowded House's new album Gravity Stairs proves Neil Finn still has that greatness

Winter is upon us, which means fewer daylight hours to spend gallivanting in your local park and more time to kick up your feet and put on some new music.

If you don't know where to start, here are five new albums we think are worthy of your time. We hope you find something you'll love. 

Crowded House – Gravity Stairs 

Gravity Stairs — Neil Finn's eighth record with the world-conquering Crowded House — is testament to the timeless quality of his songwriting.

It's also a clear indication that the newest incarnation of this iconic band is gelling beautifully. They're a great advertisement for nepotism, as the frontman's sons Liam and Elroy continue to prove their musical and creative value across the new album. 

Finn's songs remain the hero, though. When you hear him lightly channel Bowie on 'Some Greater Plan (for Claire)', deliver vintage melodies on 'All That I Can Ever Own', and lock in with his family and friends on the breezy chorus to 'Oh Hi', you'll be so glad that the man has never chosen to rest on his laurels.

Tempting as it may be to load up your playlist with vintage Crowded House classics, a few spins of Gravity Stairs will give you an even deeper appreciation for one of the all-time great bands. They tour Australia at the end of this year.

For fans of: The Beatles, David Bowie, Paul Kelly

— Dan Condon

Cosmo's Midnight – Stop Thinking Start Feeling

Consisting of Sydney-bred producers and twin brothers Pat and Cosmo Liney, Cosmo's Midnight have been a fixture of Australia's electronic music scene for more than a decade.

The duo's credits include work for everyone from K-pop titans BTS to First Nations pop star Jessica Mauboy , but they truly shine making collaborative tunes on their own albums.

Following on from 2020's ARIA-nominated Yesteryear , their third studio effort has been a long time coming, recorded over three years between Australia, London and Los Angeles.

Despite six of the album's 10 tracks already having been released as singles, Stop Thinking Start Feeling doesn't feel overly familiar. Rather, it hangs together as a Venn diagram of highly polished dance-pop, silky disco and summery funk.

The Tkay Maidza-assisted 'Bang My Line' grooves and bops in ways Cosmo's grooviest, boppiest material hasn't before. 'Chance On You' grounds the otherworldly vocals of Kučka (a long-time collaborator of Flume's ) in a nocturnal funk setting.

Another banger, 'Borrowed Time', features the impeccably smooth vocals of rising Naarm talent Forest Claudette, and its flashy rhythms would perfectly soundtrack sipping a cocktail poolside or busting a move under a glitter ball.

The only better way to experience this album's slick brand of body-moving would be stepping outside for a real-life boogie by seeing Cosmo's Midnight on tour around the country in July . Go on, stop thinking about the rhythm and start feeling it.

For fans of: Disclosure, Jungle, Winston Surfshirt

— Al Newstead

Vince Staples – Dark Times

Vince Staples isn't the biggest name in modern hip hop, but he's been one of the genre's most consistently captivating voices of the past decade. On his sixth album, Dark Times, the Californian rapper gives an insight into life's gloomier moments — from heartbreak to gang violence to mental health struggles. 

While that's hardly new territory, Staples has a unique and gripping way with words. 'Justin' is a heartbreaking story about meeting a woman who very quickly breaks his heart. 'Little Homies' sees Staples as a role model, showing the younger generation how to seek out a fulfilling life and get through the hard times. 

On 'Government Cheese' he raps about getting a call from a friend in prison, and not being able to come clean about how, despite his fame, his life isn't as great as it might seem. 

Staples's work is always effortlessly clever, and his emotive but never overwrought storytelling on Dark Times is something to be treasured. 

For fans of: Joey Bada$$, Kanye West, Common

GIMMY – Things Look Different Now

If you hold names like Courtney Barnett, Julia Jacklin and Stella Donnelly dear, you owe it to yourself to check out the debut album from GIMMY (pronounced "gimme"), the solo project of Byron region singer-songwriter Gemma Owens . 

The record offers a smorgasbord of guitar-based goodness: There's atmospheric post-punk in the title track; a verandah-worthy, alt-country singalong in Oh Suzie; and Watered a Fern is distinctly Australian jangle-pop. There's also lashings of surf- and pub-rock, psychedelia, and intimate folk across the album's 47-minute run time.

A robust backing band deftly animates Owens's songwriting, but what really elevates this above your average indie rock release is Owens herself.

Her voice is instantly charming and her lyrics are effortlessly relatable, whether she's offering absurd, spoken-word innuendo on the New Wave-soaked ' Bathrooms' ("Can you touch my baguette?") or describing a romantic picnic on a budget. "Cheap wine will have to do while I'm still working at Woolies," she sings on ' Tell Me I'm Your Girl '.

She's also disarmingly vulnerable on songs that make excellent use of her tender, quivering vibrato, such as swooning stand-out 'Fall on Me'. Then there's the quietly devastating, misogyny-skewering 'My Body's My Body'.

"Do I have to get used to them glaring at my chest before breakfast? Didn't having sisters teach you about respect?" Owens laments, expressing an exhausting experience too many young women would be uncomfortably familiar with.

Things Look Different Now is an impressive debut that marks the arrival of an act with hugely promising talent.

For fans of: Julia Jacklin, Jeff Buckley, Angel Olsen

Tiny Habits – All for Something

With their exquisite vocal harmonies and classic folk-pop stylings, Boston-based trio Tiny Habits evoke a bygone era of songwriting circa Laurel Canyon in the 70s. Their origin story, however, is thoroughly modern.

Berklee College of Music students Maya Rae, Cinya Khan, and Judah Mayowa met in 2021 and began posting casual shot-on-campus videos to TikTok. Their intimate covers of Carly Rae Jepsen , Kacey Musgraves and Coldplay promptly went viral.

Tiny Habits now count both David Crosby and Phoebe Bridgers as fans, which is fitting given their sublime, closely stacked singing will (depending on your age demographic) remind you of Crosby, Stills & Nash or "sad girl" supergroup boygenius .

Debut album All for Something tugs at the heartstrings with sincere, poetic lyrics. But it also soothes the soul with warm, subtle production characterised by dusky finger-picking, gentle streaks of piano, slide guitar, and airy percussion.

'Flicker' concerns a dissolving relationship but feels like a loving hug, and the confessional 'Wishes' sees each member sharing painful truths but comes off more cathartic than concerning.

The emotional one-two of 'Broken' and 'Planting Flowers' suggests the trio are most comfortable crafting slow, sad ballads, but then they pick up the pace with the sunny burst of energy that is 'I Don't Have the Heart'.

If you're after easy listening that purges not-so-easy emotions, or a vital reminder of the simple magic of human voices singing together, look no further than Tiny Habits.

For fans of: boygenius, Crosby, Stills & Nash, Folk Bitch Trio

Double J plays all the best music from your past, present and future. Tap here to tune in right now .

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Crowded House – Gravity Stairs

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Aussie rock legends Crowded House send fans wild as they release their eighth album… after prompting fury by missing Adelaide on 2024 tour

• READ MORE:  Crowded House singer Neil Finn sells Los Angeles mansion 

Crowded House have sent their fans wild with the release of their eighth album Gravity Stairs ahead of their national tour later this year.

Fans have praised the 11 tracks included on the record as among the best work the music legends have ever done.

The album, which features the single Oh Hi, has already climbed to number 3 on the ARIA chart since it dropped on May 31.

'The latest LP from one of my favourite bands of all time is a sheer delight from start to finish,' shared a fan on X.

'Full of everything you'd want from the band and is my Album of the Year so far,' one person said.

The praise from Crowdie fans continued on the band's social media, with followers messaging their support for the fresh batch of tunes.

'Stunning record guys! Congrats on the release!,' gushed one fan on Instagram.

Another follower agreed: 'The new album is absolutely stunning! The first track made me cry it was so beautiful. Bravo and thank you.'

'Oh guys first listen and it's absolutely sublime! The album I needed right now. Thank you, thank you, thank you,' messaged another delighted fan. 

Meanwhile, the band has weathered some harsh criticism about their upcoming tour Down Under in November. 

Sadly their dedicated fans in Adelaide won't get to see them.

The Don't Dream It's Over hitmakers are set to perform their Gravity Stairs tour only in Sydney, Perth, Brisbane and Newcastle.

And the band's fans in the South Australian capital took to Instagram in a fury to protest the snub.

'And Adelaide misses out again,' moaned one disappointed fan on the band's official Instagram.

'Not even the Crowdies will do Adelaide,' agreed another disgruntled music lover.

'Na Adelaide doesn't exist,' messaged another.

'Nope we don't,' agreed another.

Crowded House have announced they will start their international tour to promote their new album Gravity Stars with a series of shows in the U.S. in June before heading Down Under.

Their first gig will be in Perth on November 29 at Kings Park and Botanic Gardens before they head to Sydney to play at the Opera House on December 4 and 5.

On December 10 they are set to play in Melbourne at the Rod Laver Arena, before a gig at the Newcastle Entertainment Centre on December 13.

They play their final show in Brisbane at the Entertainment Centre on December 14.

This tour will be the first time that the Crowdies have played Down Under since 2022.

Fans can look forward to seeing founding members Neill Finn, 65, and Nick Seymour, 65. They will be joined by the band's current line up of Mitchell Froom, 70, and Neil's sons Liam Finn, 40 and Elroy Finn.

The band who were formed by New Zealander Neil Finn and Australian Nick Seymour in Melbourne in 1985 went on to produce a string of hits including Don't Dream It's Over, Mean to Me and Four Season in One Day. 

Music fans in Adelaide have continually missed out on major performers on their Down Under tours over the past few years.

Recently US pop star Billie Eilish elected to miss playing in the city on her upcoming Australian tour.

Other acts who have avoided Adelaide include Taylor Swift, SZA, Coldplay and Pearl Jam.

Promoters have blamed the relatively small market in Adelaide which does not make it profitable to tour large and expensive shows there, reported The Advertiser last month.

Tickets for the Crowded House Gravity Stairs Tour are available here .

Rebecca Keith / May 24, 2024

Crowded House announces Australian Gravity Stairs Tour dates

Multi-platinum selling rock band Crowded House have announced their 2024 Australia and New Zealand – Gravity Stairs Tour – in support of the new album which will be released Friday, May 31 globally.

“So looking forward to getting amongst our people having practiced in the northern hemisphere for a few months. The band will be running hot and we can’t wait to sing with you and elevate our collective spirits. Sing it if you want to be a part of Some Greater Plan” ~ Neil Finn

Speaking about the album title Gravity Stairs , Neil says the name was inspired by an unnaturally heavy stone staircase near where Finn vacations. “The Gravity Stairs are symbolic of the struggle to ascend, acknowledging the opposing forces of weight on the mechanics of living. It’s an act of will every day.”

Crowded House 2024 Australian Tour Dates Sold by Ticketmaster

• November 29, 2024, – Kings Park, Perth WA
• December 4, 2024, – SOH Forecourt, Sydney NSW
• December 5, 2024, – SOH Forecourt, Sydney NSW

Find tickets

Crowded House have sold over 15 million records worldwide as well as earning a Brit Award, 13 Australian ARIA Awards, 3 Aotearoa Music Awards and an MTV VMA, the band have generated billions of streams, consistently sold-out tours on multiple continents and have been captivating audiences for nearly four decades. Originally founded by Neil Finn, Nick Seymour, and the late Paul Hester, the group’s self-titled debut in 1986 went platinum, uplifted by worldwide smashes “Something So Strong” and “Don’t Dream It’s Over” which has been covered by everyone from Miley Cyrus and Ariana Grande to U2, among others.

When do tickets go on sale?

Artist, Vodafone & Mastercard Presales – Monday 27 May @ 11 am – Wednesday 29 May @ 11 am

Live Nation, Ticketmaster & Venue Presales – Wednesday 29 May @ 12 pm – Thursday 30 May @ 11 am

Spotify Presale – Wednesday 29 May @ 2 pm – Thursday 30 May @ 11 am

General Public – Thursday 30 May @ 12 pm

*All times are local

Are there VIP Packages available?

Yes! VIP Package details below. 

Hot Seat Package

• One (1) A Reserve Seated ticket to see Crowded House*
• One (1) drink voucher to be redeemed for a beer, wine or soft drink
• Crowded House VIP Merchandise item designed and created exclusively for VIP purchasers
• Dedicated line at select merchandise stand (where available)
• Dedicated entry into the venue (where available)
• Designated VIP check-in and onsite staff

* Locations may vary by venue, see specific date for details . This package is unavailable at SOH.

Soundcheck Package

• One (1) General Admission Standing ticket or One (1) A Reserve Seated ticket to see Crowded House*
• Early Entry to the venue before the general public
• Access to Crowded House pre-show soundcheck
• Early access to select merchandise stand (where available)

* Locations may vary by venue, see specific date for details .

Crowded House 2024 Ticket Tips

Are there ticket limits in place?

There is a strict limit of ten (10) tickets per customer for the presale, eight (8) tickets per customer for VIP Packages and ten (10) tickets per customer for the General Public.

Please adhere to the published ticket limit. Persons who exceed the ticket limit may have any or all of their orders and tickets cancelled without notice by Ticketmaster at its discretion. This includes orders associated with the same name, e-mail address, billing address, credit card number or any other information.

What are In Demand tickets?

A small portion of tickets will be allocated to In Demand Tickets which are tickets to Crowded House  in some of the most sought-after areas of each of the venues. Please Note – Ticket prices may fluctuate based on demand.

In Demand tickets are made available by artists and event organisers through Ticketmaster. They give fans fair and safe access to the most sought-after areas in the venue at market-driven prices (adjusting prices according to supply and demand). In Demand tickets are ticket-only purchases, and prices are subject to change at any time.

Are there Collector Tickets available?

Yes! Want a memento to remember your night? When selecting your tickets make sure you choose the Collector Ticket option to receive your Crowded House  souvenir.

Collector Tickets will be dispatched approximately one month prior to the event.

How do I purchase Accessible Seating tickets?

We’ve updated our seating framework to include a larger range of accessible seating options. There will be an option for every price level and package available.

Accessible tickets (including Companion Cards) can be purchased by calling our Customer Service team on the Accessible Bookings line Monday – Sunday 9am – 5pm AEST:  1300 446 925 . This phone number is reserved for patrons with accessibility requirements and companion cardholders and cannot process any other ticketing requests.

Accessible tickets, both during presales and the general public sale period, can also be requested via our  Submit a request – Ticketmaster Help . Please be sure to include your relevant presale code with your request if wanting to make a booking during the presale period.

Will there be a queue in place prior to ticketing going on sale?

We expect that tickets to Crowded House will be in high demand, and to make the process fair for everyone you may be placed in a queue.

You will be assigned a random place in the queue once the onsale starts. Your place in the queue is not based on what time you entered the Waiting Room. We suggest entering the Waiting Room 15-30 minutes prior to the start of the Presale.

Once you get your spot in the queue, please do not refresh your browser as you will be pushed to the end of the line.

We will get you through the queue as quickly as possible, so please sit tight.

How will I receive tickets?

All tickets purchased through Ticketmaster are now digital, meaning you can easily access your tickets on your phone via the Ticketmaster app or mobile web browser via  Ticketmaster.com.au , add them straight to your phone’s ticket wallet, and share them with your friends and family.

Log into your Ticketmaster account and update your password if needed!

Get in early and ensure all your MyTicketmaster account details are up to date – from your password to your card details and your phone number.

Ticketmaster will regularly ask you to update your password to ensure the security of your account – you don’t want to get stuck having to change your password while the ticket timer is counting down during onsale as you can risk losing the incredible tickets you have secured.

Instead, now that you know you want to purchase tickets, log into your account and update your password today to ensure you are ready to nab those tickets.

Get to know Ticket Transfer so everyone has their own ticket

1. Open the Ticketmaster App

2. Tap on my events and select the event you want to Ticket Transfer

3. Tap ‘Transfer’ below the ticket you want to share (please note: you may have to wait a moment for the ‘Transfer’ button to load)

4. On the ‘Select Tickets To Transfer’ page, confirm the ticket you want to share (please note – you must Transfer each ticket individually)

5. Tap the ‘Transfer To’ button. Tap ‘Manually Enter A Recipient’ & enter your friend’s ‘First Name’, ‘Last Name’, and ‘Email Address or Mobile Number’

6. Tap ‘Transfer Ticket’. The ticket in your account will now say “Sent”. You can cancel or recall the Ticket Transfer at any time.

7. Your friend receives an email, asking them to accept the transferred tickets, and they can either login or create a new Ticketmaster account to accept.

8. The tickets are now ready to go in your friend’s Ticketmaster account and marked as ‘Transferred’ in your account

Find out more about Ticket Transfer – including how to accept and open a transferred ticket here. 

Crowded House will be coming to Australia in November & December 2024. Tickets are on sale via Ticketmaster.com.au.

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Crowded House’s Big Year: New Album, Icon Award & Rolling Stone AU/NZ Cover Stars

Crowded house released their eighth album and were unveiled as rolling stone au/nz’s next cover stars all on the same day, conor lochrie, conor lochrie's most recent stories.

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Giulia Giannini McGauran

2024 might only be halfway done, but it’s already shaping up to be one of the best years of Crowded House’s entire career.

In February, the evergreen rock band announced their eighth studio album, Gravity Stairs , which took its name from a heavy stone staircase near where Neil Finn vacations.

“It’s a metaphor for getting a little older and becoming aware of your own mortality, your own physicality,” Finn explained. “Things are getting a little harder, and there’s more determination needed to get to the top, but there’s still the same compulsion to climb them.”

After a flurry of singles, including “Oh Hi”, the band’s first original music in two years, Crowded House’s new album finally arrived into the world today (listen below), at the same time they were announced as the next Rolling Stone AU/NZ cover stars.

Neil Finn and co. will grace the cover of our June-August issue, which hits newsstands in Australia and New Zealand from Monday, June 3rd.

The cover story lifts the lid on the band’s various iterations, and why, all these years later, they’re still going strong. And while Crowded House might look a little different these days, Neil himself believes its current iteration is as good as it gets.

“Everyone in Crowded House shares the history, and that’s the great thing about this lineup. It’s different to what it was, but it’s got as much soul to my mind as any lineup we’ve had. And potentially it might be our greatest lineup, by whatever measure you use. It feels like we’ve got massive trust now.”

The multi-generational story includes unparalleled insights from Neil Finn’s son, Liam, who joined the band in 2020.

“Dad is always going to be working on songs, pushing himself to the edge of madness,” he said of his dad and bandmate. “He’s the hardest working person I know in the world. And for better or for worse, it just won’t stop.”

Band co-founder and bassist Nick Seymour was also heavily involved in the feature story coming to life – even lending his visual artist chops to the cover design. Seymour himself painted the band’s iconic name in sprawling red letters, which speaks to the band’s connection and craft.

Crowded House photographed on March, 9th 2024 at G.G.McG Studios Melbourne by Giulia Giannini McGauran (@g.g.mcg) Rolling Stone Creative Direction Katie Taylor (@ katie.taylor____) Stylist: Jana Bartolo (@janabartolo) HMU: Nadine Muller (@nadinemullermakeup)

Sandwiched between their album announcement and cover unveiling, Crowded House were recognised with the Rolling Stone Icon Award at the 2024 Shure Rolling Stone AU/NZ Awards in March.

In front of musicians, industry stalwarts and music fans, Finn told the crowd at the event: “Thank you Rolling Stone for making us into an icon. I’m not sure what that truly means, but I think it means you need to go to Mecca and buy some makeup, so I’ve done that. I’d like to thank all the band members of Crowded House, so I’m representing for them, they send their love. For everybody, thank you so much for honouring us in this fashion.”

Not bad for a band who formed all the way back in 1985.

And Crowded House’s big year is far from finished: they’ll tour across Australia and New Zealand this November and December to celebrate Gravity Stairs .

Crowded House’s cover story is part of a jam-packed June issue of our magazine.

There are insights into the highs and lows experienced by Australian female soul performers, a sit down with Girl in Red after she toured with Taylor Swift, an exploration of why the business of Amy Winehouse is booming over a decade after her death, and the story of how First Nations supergroup 3% created one of the best albums of the year.

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