0 LIVE REVIEW: Liam and EJ Rock the Croc

Liam Finn and EJ Barnes @ The Croc (10-25-09)

When I took the trip up to Vancouver in April of 2008 for the back-to-back Eddie Vedder shows as part of his first solo tour I never expected that his opener would steal the show on night 1. A New Zealander by the name of Liam Finn, son of Crowded House main man and close EV friend Neil Finn put on one hell of show while showcasing the infectious songs off his debut record “I’ll Be Lightning”. The talented beyond belief Finn seemingly built songs from nothing by layering and looping various guitar parts into fully realized compositions that included upbeat lyrics and at times climaxed with Finn mounting an empty drum kit and impressively bashing out a previously absent drum beat. Helping Finn recreate his songs live was Australia native Eliza-Jane Barnes, who supplied percussion, backing vocals, and various effects.

Since discovering Liam Finn I have been a fan, and for a time “I’ll Be Lightning” received some major turntable time at my house. When I heard he was returning to Seattle with his musical partner in crime EJ Barnes I was stoked to see him for the fourth time in a year and half. Liam and EJ are currently touring in support of a new EP entitled “Champagne in Seashells”, and his show at the Croc last week marked his third visit to Seattle since March 2008, where they played the High Dive. He also came back in September 2008, and easily sold out the High Dive after quickly becoming a favorite of local Pearl Jam/Eddie Vedder fans.

It was a dreary Monday night in Seattle but Liam and EJ changed the gloomy mood in the room by flawlessly recreating “Better to Be”, “Second Chance”, “Gather to the Chapel”, “Fire In Your Belly”, and my personal favorite, “Energy Spent”. They are a great match, and frequently drew chuckles with their onstage banter. At one point they collectively thanked the crowd for not being “pussies” and making it out on a Monday, and both took turns running off the stage to swig drinks while humorously obeying the crappy “no drinking on stage law” bands constantly deal with when playing Seattle. In case you were wondering the pair also squashed any thoughts that they may be more than just friends and bandmates, when EJ gave her yuck face and Liam sheepishly said “we aren’t together” after someone hinted the idea from the crowd.

The show went by way too quickly but included some totally awesome and tripped out guitar and Theremin freak outs, as well as a nice surprise when opener and former Grandaddy singer and guitarist Jason Lytle jumped on the drum kit during the encore for a killer version of “I’ll Be Lightning”. Liam Finn is one gifted human being, and even after being well versed in his live show and experimental formula it has yet to grow tiresome mainly due to his charisma and mind bending multi-instrumental ability which at times left me in awe once again.

Checkout my videos of "Better To Be" sans drums at the end (oops), and Liam and EJ doing what they do best on a killer experiment, this one complete with Liam's drum barrage.