Split Enz opened their Forever Enz tour in Hamilton on Saturday. Photo / Tom Grut
Split Enz opened their Forever Enz tour in Hamilton on Saturday. Photo / Tom Grut
For the first time in nearly 20 years, Split Enz played live as part of the Forever Enz tour at Claudeland Events Centre.
And it was safe to say, they haven’t lost their touch.
Supported by the opening act, the funky, upbeat quartet Hans Pucket, who performed songs from theiralbum No Drama, the night started with energetic playfulness.
Then Split Enz entered the stage shrouded in what could only be described as the world’s largest sleeping bag, before diving straight into their deep catalogue.
By the time History Never Repeats played, the band were in full swing and despite a seated crowd, a few daring dancers in the stands brought an electricity to the night.
Original member Tim Finn and later additions Neil Finn, Eddie Rayner and Noel Crombie were joined by new bassist James Milne and drummer Matt Eccles.
The opening show could almost be described as a homecoming for the Finns, who grew up in Te Awamutu.
The setlist of the opening night included the classics such as Message to My Girl, while the highlight of the night might have been Stuff and Nonsense.
The performance, including the dazzling colourful suits, was a spectacle in itself.
Formed in 1972 in Auckland before relocating to Australia, Split Enz built their reputation on theatrical live shows, art-school eccentricity and a string of sharp, melodic hits that eventually carried them far beyond Aotearoa.
Their evolution from quirky prog-pop outsiders into chart-topping hitmakers is part of what still makes them so compelling to watch.
Eddie Rayner, Neil Finn and Tim Finn (pictured) were joined by new bassist James Milne and drummer Matt Eccles. Photo / Tim Grut
You’re not just seeing a band, you’re watching a piece of New Zealand music history that somehow still feels alive and slightly unpredictable.
Respectfully, it leaned more toward “polite appreciation” than “loose limbs and spilt drinks”.
There’s something faintly surreal about hearing a song like Six Months in a Leaky Boat while watching people gently sway as if they’re at a midweek theatre matinee.
The brave few who stood up felt like rebels in a very well-behaved room.
Still, that hardly dulled the experience.
It was an all-round must-see – vibrant, nostalgic, and just a little bit odd in the best way.
However, despite the efforts of some dancing in the seats, watching a rock band is not quite the same as dancing to one.
Split Enz are taking their Forever Enz tour to Christchurch tomorrow, to Wellington on May 6 and 7 and to Auckland on May 9 and 10. Tickets to some shows are still available online via Ticketmaster.
Tom Eley is a multimedia journalist at the Waikato Herald. Before he joined the Hamilton-based team, he worked for the Weekend Sun and Sunlive. He previously worked as a journalist at Black Press Media in Canada and won a fellowship with the Vancouver Sun.
