Finn family magic in Pirongia

Finn family on stage at Pirongia Memorial Hall: Sharon (backing vocals - left), Elroy (drums), Liam (bass), Neil (guitar).

Anyone in the North Island fortunate enough to have secured a ticket to one of Neil and Liam Finn's 'Where's My Room' national tour will by now have enjoyed the magic that is a 'Finn' live concert.

The first leg of 11 dates in the North Island concluded last night and now heads to the South Island for the final seven shows.

Venues are out-of-the-way small town halls and clubs — including Pirongia Memorial Hall last Thursday.

As guests of our old school-mate, my wife Robyn and I relished the chance to catch up with the whole family as the campervans rolled into town with a band that included Neil's wife Sharon and the couple's youngest son Elroy.

It hadn't escaped Sharon that to be travelling the back roads of New Zealand over summer, visiting and playing small towns, with all the family — including their grandson — was a blessing.

For Neil it was a homecoming of sorts, and the family visited his father Richard in Cambridge before stopping off at a couple of memorable Te Awamutu locations on the way to the venue.

Neil told the crowd he was quite emotional — and it showed.

But a concert by any of the Finns is about entertainment, fun and crowd participation — so with four of them it was exceptional.

Everything was on show — the banter, the songwriting talents, the musicianship, the harmonies and the willingness to share the stage with fellow musos.

Eight people on the small stage was a squeeze — but the music was unforgettable.

Robyn and I have been watching Tim and Neil Finn, then Liam, Elroy and Sharon, on stage since the 1970s and it is never the same, or boring, or old hat.

The show finished, fittingly, with Neil playing acoustic guitar and every single person in the hall singing their lungs out — even my Mum.