My Recurring Dream

Nope, this isn’t (for once) a post about my night terrors. Well, OK, I will touch on it, but later.

THIS, my friends, is a post where I turn back time and become a giggly, overly-emotional, crazed 16 year old music fan.

Because we went to see CROWDED HOUSE last night.

Have I mentioned they are absolutely, positively, my all time most favorite band? Yup. I totally can prove it: I named my cat Finn after Neil Finn.

Yeah, yeah, I know I have waxed poetic about Duran Duran and The Police. Don’t get me wrong. I lurve those guys. But those two concerts were about missed opportunities. Bands I loved as a teenager but never got to see.

Crowded House has been top of the pile for over 20 years now.

I remember distinctly the very first time I heard “Don’t Dream It’s Over.” I was driving to work at the record store, it was around Christmas 1986, and it was snowing. I was late for work but the indie station I listened to constantly (the formerly great WHFS for you Marylanders) was playing this beautiful little pop song that I was completely entranced with. I pulled into the lot and just sat there in the car and fell in love. I was late but I didn’t care. The snow was slowly drifting down on my windshield and there was this piece of musical perfection coming out of my tinny teen-car speakers and damn it! I was going to sit there and soak every second up.

Luckily for me, they announced who it was and I sprinted into my job. At a… RECORD STORE!

Yes, I bought their debut album (OK, cassette tape) that very night – the first time I had EVER bought an album on the strength of one song.

I ABSOLUTELY loved the whole thing.

I enlisted as many people into the cult of the Crowdies as I could. My sister Karrie, in particular, was taken with them… which is no small feat since, while it may not seem to the casual observer that the canyon between our musical tastes is huge … Let me tell you, it’s no “stone’s throw” between the Grateful Dead and Depeche Mode. Crowded House was a bond between us.

And we got to see them! Together! In Washington DC in 1987, the last stop of their tour. I remember this because at some point in the show, Neil told his wife that he could not see the red light. Apparently she was up in the balcony filming the show for them personally, with a handheld camera. (And possibly not doing a very good job of it).

Then came “Temple of Low Men” and “Woodface.” Two more albums that I loved just as much as the first. Released at a point in my life (end of high school and through college) when I was trying to get my head around just who the hell I was. Neil Finn’s lyrics have a sense of mystery to them, but always have interesting twists and turns – and certainly any emotional wreck like me can make those lyrics shape the stories of their own lives too. Add lovely melodies? And you have the soundtrack of my life.

“Sister Madly” was written about Neil’s sister waking up and having nightmares. “Now youre heading down to find something, Something that you buried in your backyard, Sister Madly, Waking up the dead, Systematically stepping on my head…” Um. Yeah. You can imagine how that has become somewhat of an anthem for me and my night terrors over the past 10 years.

But there is one song that speaks to me above all the others. It was released during a time when I was in a relationship that was abusive on an emotional level. I look back now and can jokingly call him “The Liar,” but at the time, the way this man twisted me into knots is embarrassing to think about. “Whispers & Moans” really has ambiguous lyrics – and if any of you know the true meaning behind them, I actually don’t want to know. For me, the song is about longing. About looking in from the outside. About not being good enough one day, but then adequate the next. Maybe being held lovingly one day, but forgotten about the day after. About manipulation.

It is absolutely my favorite song by my favorite band. And when they played it last night, I literally teared up and screamed like a banshee. I had not seen it on hardly any set lists and could not believe they played it here in Denver. Amazing.

And why does it continue to be my favorite song when it brings me right back to that place? Because I finally untangled myself. I realized I am worth more.

The Liar, Marabeth and I saw Crowded House together in Orlando in December 1991. About 3 months later, I finally kicked him out of my life.

And 6 months later, I met Bryan.

Fast forward to now. Crowded House is still my favorite band. I may have been dethroned as their Top Listener on iLike by Neil from Glasgow, but he better watch his back. I’m coming for him! Just kidding. (Sort of).

Even Declan loves Crowded House now. Sure, his first introduction to the band was Paul Hester playing the Chef on The Wiggles and Tim Finn’s wooden appearance singing “Six Months In A Leaky Boat”… but I’m telling ya, my boy has my genes for sure. He has asked repeatedly when he could go see Crowded House with us. And had we not found a babysitter (THANK YOU MICHELLE AND PIERCE!), I was seriously considering just buying him a ticket and bringing him with.

In fact, yesterday at drop off for Kindergarten, I said to him, “Whoa, Declan – this place is a madhouse today!” And he said, “No Mama! It’s a CROWDED HOUSE!”

That. Is. My. Boy.

But, OK. Jesus. I haven’t even talked about the concert from last night yet. Which was the whole fricking point of this post.

WE WENT TO SEE CROWDED HOUSE LAST NIGHT!

AND THEY WERE AWESOME.

Jeff and Bryan mainly went for moral support because obviously Crowded House is not really their cup of tea. But they assure me, they still totally enjoyed it.

But Danielle (aka Best Friend and Concert Buddy Extraordinaire!) and I had a BLAST. Of course, I do believe we were actually wetter than we were at The Fray because it seems the air conditioning at the Fillmore was on the fritz… but it did not matter. The boys sounded great.

We fought our way to the near front and danced our asses off. In fact, we met two sisters who were also huge fans albeit 10 years younger than us, and the four of us formed a union to guard our space. One has to pee, the other three spread out and PROTECT.

And I am glad we ended up in the section we did, because Bryan said (from his vantage point in the back) that the four of us, plus the drunk and wavy girl in front of us were pretty much the most boisterous group in the whole place.

And here is where I get down *again* on my beloved Denver. WHAT IS YOUR DEAL??? WHY do you go to concerts and stand there like a statue? And ESPECIALLY why do you fight to the front, wear a face like you have to poop, and NOT MOVE for 2 hours straight? That CANNOT be good for your posture. And it is SERIOUSLY bad for my blood pressure.

OK, rant over.

At least most of the crowd knew the words to the songs. It was like we were all at a German beer hall or something, the whole place sang almost every word to every frickin’ song. That part was wicked.

OK, yeah, the whole thing was wicked. I am so thrilled they came here. But you know, the people in front of us in line flew in from Virginia to see them. And if they do another tour at some point, I would so do that.

But for now, you will have to excuse me. Because I am off to write “Aimee + Crowded House = BFF” all over my notebook. A hundred thousand times.

====================
SET LIST for DENVER
FILLMORE AUDITORIUM
AUGUST 22, 2007

There Goes God
Don’t Stop Now
Whispers & Moans
Fall at Your Feet
Heaven That I’m Making
She Walked Her Way Down
Private Universe
Silent House
Don’t Dream It’s Over
Pineapple Head
Never Be the Same (not whole song, and done slowly)
People Are Like Suns
Locked Out
Distant Sun

~First Encore
When You Come
Italian Plastic, dedicated to Paul
Weather With You, with a very long sing-along

~Second Encore
Four Seasons In One Day
World Where Your Live
Happy Together, impromptu and not knowing most of the words 😉
Something So Strong
====================

This article has 23 comments

  1. Anonymous

    Great photos and great memories!

  2. Sharon

    Did you know that Crowded House is also one of Sting’s favorite bands?

  3. Tree

    I had fun reading your recap and your introduction!

  4. Anonymous

    That is an awesome set list!

  5. Sarah

    How strange that people would just stand there at the front!!! But overall, sounds like a great show!

  6. Anonymous

    Neil from Glasgow is no match for you!

  7. Lauren

    I have had bands like that from my teens years – where I have loved them so much all the way through adulthood! Glad you could see your faves last night!

  8. zenrain

    yeah, i know how you feel…don’t know if you remember how i started bawling when u2 came onstage…and how those denver people behind us DID NOT STAND UP!!!!

    i’m so glad i got to see crowded house with you back in the day…and so glad you had a great time last night:)

  9. Brooklyninthehouse

    Aimee…
    Your description of where you were in the crowd sounds like where i was, (i am possibly the nondrunk wavy girl :))… but your pictures are from the opposite side of the stage. Were you in front of Nick Seymour? If not, I would say that our group on that side of the stage was definitely into it. And the girls around me made me feel totally okay about being my adolescent self. It was the best time EVER.
    I’m sending your blog to all my friends so they can see what a good time it was! And so they know I’m not the only crazy CH fan!

  10. Stephanie

    Hi Aimee!

    It’s Steph, the elder sister from our little Crowded House concert protective circle =) You have quite the blog going on here! It was so cool to meet some people who actually enjoy the music as much as we do, we had fun hangin’ out with you guys! If you decide to get Live tickets we should meet up again and show the fools at the Fillmore what concert-going is really all about, hehe!

    Your pics are great, I will upload mine and see if any are worth sending your way…

  11. Alpha DogMa

    If you like a band so much that you storm to the front of the crowd, you are obligated to dance! Because nothing kills a band’s concert karma than having to play to an audience of terracotta soldiers!

    Oooh, I’ve my own version of The Liar – sadly so do many other woman.

    Glad you had fun.

  12. Sizzle

    you know i am all about the crowded house and am SO excited to read this post and even MORE excited to see them myself on the 2nd here in seattle. i think i just got tingly thinking about it!

    🙂

  13. joansy

    So glad that you had a great time. I still have a soft spot for Don’t dream it’s over.. I saw them in Salt Lake in 1991 and still remember the concert.

  14. aimee / greeblemonkey

    Thanks all! 🙂

    Stephanie – glad to see you and thanks for making last night more fun!

    AlphaDogma – love the terracotta reference.

    Sharon – I had no idea! But I am not surprised!

    Marabeth – I know!!! xoxoxo

    Brooklyninthehouse – Welcome! Glad you liked the pics! We were on the leftish side of the stage near Mark Hart. Glad you guys were rocking on the Nick side too!

    Sizzle – I wanna hear all about your show too!

    Joansy – I never knew you saw them before! How cool!

    Allison – Of course I LOVE Erasure too. Also a band I missed seeing in my youth. Would you believe they played here this summer, the SAME night as the Police???

  15. soccer mom in denial

    What a terrific post. Erasure had a few lyrics like that for me.

    And then you had to go mentioning dM! Could I love you any more?

  16. painted maypole

    sounds fantastic!

  17. sue

    Very cool. Lucky, lucky you.

    (Yes, I am even old enough to know what a cassette tape IS.)

  18. Chris

    Awesome. Great shots. Oh, and RIP WHFS. Sadness.

    I’m not nearly as huge a fan as you are. I will say that the closing version of Don’t Dream on Seven Worlds Collide is absolutely spiritual.

  19. Anonymous

    From the pictures, it looks like I was in the same spot on the right side of the stage. I was right behind the drunk and wavy girl. Funny stuff. It was such a fantastic concert! Yeah, Crowded House! And I must say, they are such fantastic dressers. They totally blew Fountains of Wayne out of the water in every respect possible–musically, fashionably, and stage presence…-ally…They rocked.

  20. Anonymous

    I’m off to see them here in Oakland, CA in a couple of hours. Your post got me all pumped up. My first time seeing CH together – seen Neil a few times. Can’t wait to see the boys!!!

  21. Rebecca - Denver native

    Hi there – I was right there with you, sister! 39 year old mom of two little ones – rocking out in front of the stage like I haven’t in years! (okay, maybe earlier this summer to John Mayer). But the CH show last week was like a religious experience, I’ve loved them for SO LONG and it’s been since WOMAD at Fiddlers Green that I’ve seen them. Neil several times in the mean time, luckily.

    Like you, Neil’s lyrics touch me so deeply. Back before I met my wonderful husband, Neil’s stories of romance and love helped me keep my faith in men.

    What an amazing, incredible show!! I hope they put another album out and come back to see us soon! I LOVE YOU NEIL!!!

  22. Sam

    I found your link at the CH forum, and I just had to write. Some of the things you said really spoke to me. I was reminded so much of when I first heard “Into Temptation”…and fell in love. 🙂 Exactly how you put it.

    At least you had the luxury of finding them in 1987. I found them in 1992, when there was absolutely NO information anywhere in the States! I didn’t hear Neil speak for over a year. *lol* It’s so difficult being a CH fan here, and so nice when you see someone else who feels the same way you do.

    Thanks for posting and sharing your thoughts and feelings.

    Sam
    stellalorelai@gmail.com

  23. Angela

    hey there! FYI in case you haven’t noticed, the Denver shows are up for download on crowdedhouselive.com
    !!!

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