While still children in provincial New
Neil was an inspired adolescent when he first accepted a slot in his older brother Tim’s seminal band, Split Enz. Under the capable leadership of the Finn Brothers, Split Enz earned enormous credibility within the music industry during the late 1970s and early 1980s, and in spite of the fact that they remained relatively obscure outside of the British Empire, it’s now known that this raging pop/rock—and at times punk/new wave—band influenced such latter day giants as the Smiths, Sheryl Crow, Pearl Jam, and Radiohead.
When the Split Enz moniker was more or less retired in 1984, Tim embarked on a respectable solo career and Neil began assembling what would become Crowded House. Driven by Neil’s pop sensibilities and gorgeous McCartney-style vocals, Crowded House would achieve massive commercial success over the next decade.
At one point, Tim was even absorbed into the line-up of his brother’s band and a larger audience was thus exposed to their glorious family harmonies and off-beat sense of humor. Eventually, however, both Finns opted to primarily go it alone.
Interestingly, it is because of the tour in support of Tim Finn’s latest solo album, Imaginary Kingdom that Finn will find himself back in church.
Besides stops at the Sundance Film Festival, and such quintessential clubs as the Troubadour in
Finn’s February 16th show, which should be replete with all the hits and misses of a long musical career, starts at 8 p.m. and also features an opening set by Ray Smith from the Lexington-based band
$20 general admission/all-ages tickets for this rare and intimate performance are available at CD Central in
