Liam Finn and EJ Barnes rocking Vegas, and Austin by proxy.
This once in a lifetime opportunity was courtesy of my awesome friend Chip! Why Liam isn’t coming through Austin for his debut solo tour is beyond me, he would do pretty well if booked at the Cactus Club (ideal) or Stubb’s indoors. Even discovering this show was a complete accident. First was I checking out Jools Holland’s BBC-based site to research my earlier Squeeze story. Then I saw Liam had appeared on Later this Spring which led me to click the link to his site. It had tour dates so I thought, ‘hey, I wonder if he’s coming to Austin.’ No dice yet I noticed he’d be passing through Las Vegas while I’d be there on vacation. I wrote the venue’s booking person because the Beauty Bar’s Vegas site is incomplete. She replied saying tickets would only be sold at the door. Bummed and fearing a sold-out concert (clubs tend to be tiny and LV has a large transitory population of attendees), I gambled (no joke intended) on Chip having some influence. As I learned 20 years ago at WMUR, “it never hurts to ask,” which has the follow-up of “you might actually get a yes.”
Enough about how we got in, let’s get on with the show! Firstly, it’s unfair to compare Liam to his father (Neil) or uncle (Tim) but it’s unavoidable like numerous other second or third generation performers. He has inherited their showmanship, skill level, vocals (he’s around the same range is Neil) and sense of humor. Liam does have the benefit of being around studios for much of his life, he is a technical and musical marvel to watch. Technical? Other than EJ (his friend Eliza Jane), Liam has no touring band. Just like his CD, he played all the guitars (lead, rhythm and bass) and drums. In concert, he employs looping gear but nothing was done ahead of time; he’d lay down the melody, record and then turn it loose to proceed to the solo, lead, etc. Watching him play the drums reminded me of Animal from the Muppet Show too; serious energy!
Liam jamming on stage, letting a nearby vagrant have a harmonica solo.
EJ and Liam played everything from I’ll be Lightning but the coolest song was “Gather to the Chapel.” Something went wrong with the amplifiers so he unhooked his acoustic guitar, moved in closer to the audience with EJ, asked us to pull in and participate on the chorus to make up the ‘lack’ of volume. It’s always the intimate venues which provide the best memories! They were impressed the crowd knew the song. The humorous moment sprang up during “Wise Men” thanks to a homeless guy horning in with his harmonica from the alley behind the B Bar. Liam let him play, then ordered him to take the solo. Sadly, the stranger didn’t quit as the song was ending. This resulted with Liam yelling, ‘OK, there is such a thing as overplaying.’ Security probably had to give a hint later because it wasn’t a problem the rest of the evening. For the encore, the ANZAC duo teased the opening act, egging them on to participate in a cover of Neil Young’s “Old Man.” Only the drummer took up the offer. Finally, during the main set, EJ and Liam demonstrated their familial improvisational skills by composing a song about their time in Las Vegas. Not some goofy, throwaway TMBG or BNL-like tune. It was a serious rocker encompassing their arrival from LA, having margaritas at dinner and squeezing in a ride on the rollercoaster in the New York New York casino before sound check. After the show, I thanked Liam’s tour manager Sam, especially for believing my claim of the arrangements through Chip & YepRoc; I don’t know, I figure LV has a lot of “exaggerators.” We even got a picture with EJ and Liam as a souvenir!
Obviously, I spoke to them. My burning question for EJ was her relation to Jimmy Barnes (he’s like the Bob Seeger of Australia); her reply, “He’s my dad.” She certainly has his hair. If you’re wondering who Jimmy is, he had a hit 20 years ago in the US singing with INXS for a song from the Lost Boys soundtrack. As for Liam, I asked him if he would come to Austin and give greetings from Chip (who he recognized quickly). I recommended playing the Cactus due to the great reception his uncle received. Liam was a good sport. He said he wanted to play Austin but it wouldn’t happen this time due to ACL or other engagements prohibiting him from coming through. He does hope to try again. If you have the chance to see him, I highly recommend you do. Afterwards, you’ll run out to your local record store or iTunes to get his debut and probably his previous work in the band Betchadupa (which I forgot to ask about, d’oh!). Should you be unable to, then get I’ll be Lightning, it’s shaping up to be my favorite album of the year and I am willing to back it up with my own money.