Fang radio thurs / fri

@slowpogo posted:

The TOLM show was fun. I’d actually prefer more commentary & anecdotes about the production etc. for the future album run-throughs, most of these songs were played without much direct comment.

Nice to hear Neil hit the high notes confidently in When You Come. Loved his exchange with Elroy, “I’m the member and you’re the sperm” lol

True. I enjoyed the Richard Thompson story though.

I still remember them saying at time of release that the album title referred to female genitalia...but I don’t know where they made that comment. And I was 15 years old at the time.

I think there was something in the Borne book mentioning that.

I always associated it with "lo-mein".  

This was the cassette some stranger lent me because he heard me playing the Beatles at a print shop in the eighties. I wore that tape out.   Don whoever you are out there somewhere...  Thank you.

When he was asking if anyone had any memories/thoughts about I Feel Possessed, one thing which came to mind was it's resurrection in 2010 as the opener of many shows that year. They really had that one down.

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=fafdKMPm6uM

I also love the idea of assigning a tree to every album, with the Weeping Willow assigned to TOLM.

Which trees do you see being assigned to the other records, apart from Time on Earth, which has already been decided?

Well come on, don’t stand around like fronds at a fernery 😆

Tall ones for Woodface 🤣

@Welsh Dan posted:

Tall ones for Woodface 🤣

😜 I’m now thinking about what kind of street trees they have in St Kilda East (Neil’s flat) and Caulfield (Tim’s studio), which are the places I associate with that album.

No doubt Neil will have his own associations though.

I wonder if the Elm tree will get a mention ? Elm Avenue in Williamstown very popular the botanic Gardens there for weddings celebrations etc 😊 very excited for the new release single ❤✌ Gosh we're blessed. Feeling it moreso as Melbourne goes into lockdown again.

@Annie99999 posted:

I wonder if the Elm tree will get a mention ? Elm Avenue in Williamstown very popular the botanic Gardens there for weddings celebrations etc 😊 very excited for the new release single ❤✌ Gosh we're blessed. Feeling it moreso as Melbourne goes into lockdown again.

Ah yes, it’s perfectly timed, Annie 😎 I’m a big fan of the Chinese Elm, too. Ulmus parvifolia a common one in Melbourne streets. Do you know which species are in Williamstown?

@Byrds Talk to Me posted:

Ah yes, it’s perfectly timed, Annie 😎 I’m a big fan of the Chinese Elm, too. Ulmus parvifolia a common one in Melbourne streets. Do you know which species are in Williamstown?

The Ulmus Procera the English Elm  is found in Williamstown 😊 it was the preferred Elm for planting the Avenues from 1900 onwards. The Dutch Elm was also a preferred Elm.  The Elms were chosen for the yellow leaves. Must take a drive there during Autumn 😊 . The Chinese Elm I believe has a more green foliage. Am I right? 

Appropriate for Time on Earth       Methuselah is a 4,852-year-old^[1] Great Basin bristlecone pine (Pinus longaeva) tree growing high in the White Mountains of Inyo Countyin eastern California.^[2][3] It is recognized as the non-clonal tree with the greatest confirmed age in the world.^[4]   

@Annie99999 posted:

The Ulmus Procera the English Elm  is found in Williamstown 😊 it was the preferred Elm for planting the Avenues from 1900 onwards. The Dutch Elm was also a preferred Elm.  The Elms were chosen for the yellow leaves. Must take a drive there during Autumn 😊 . The Chinese Elm I believe has a more green foliage. Am I right?

Yes I think that's right... The Chinese Elm has smaller and leatherier leaves, if indeed leatherier is a real word 🤔 I'm still learnding.

18th February 2021
Studio A - Roundhead Studios in Auckland
Neil Finn, Nick Seymour, Liam Finn and Elroy Finn
All acoustic .. Nick only on vocals


To The Island
World Where You Live - partial
'capo on three' segue/medley: Fall At Your Feet ~ Distant Sun ~ Pineapple Head
Private Universe ~ Strangeness and Charm (snippet)
Time Immemorial (snippet)
Whatever You Want
Better Be Home Soon
To The Island - (mastered version) - the Crowded House single released today
To The Island (original demo) - cut off

Neil intended playing Don't Dream It's Over once Mitchell Froom was in the studio but ... maybe next broadcast ..

which is only a week away !

This was such a fun episode. So great to hear everyone (minus Mitchell) there in person. The songs sounded great, everyone seems in good spirits, and Nick still confidently chimes in with comments that don’t quite work (I mean that in an endearing way). Roll on the shows in March, and please, please, consider streaming/releasing one of them.

@Thom Bullock posted:

This was such a fun episode. So great to hear everyone (minus Mitchell) there in person. The songs sounded great, everyone seems in good spirits, and Nick still confidently chimes in with comments that don’t quite work (I mean that in an endearing way). Roll on the shows in March, and please, please, consider streaming/releasing one of them.

I agree was a fun packed live instagram show Shame they didn't play Rob Thomas and Santana though I think Liam and Neil would do it perfect justice

I'm very intrigued by the rest of the album.  The titles leave a bit to the old imagination (thumbs up!)

neilfinn.com/journal

'Hi everyone,

Coming up tomorrow [Thursday 25 February 2021 at 11am (NZ time)] is another Fangradio at the usual time, but it’s far from usual. We are currently rehearsing all together, Crowded House in the same room, and might be able to give you a listen at some point. I do have a radio show prepared for Time On Earth, but I may abandon the script.

Whatever the outcome, it’ll be worth tuning in, I reckon. I’m very happy that you are listening!

Love

Neil'

24th February 2021
Roundhead Studios in Auckland
FULL BAND !
CROWDED HOUSE - Album by Album
TIME ON EARTH - all acoustic (piano, guitar) except * full band

Nobody Wants To
Don’t Stop Now *
She Called Up - new arragement !
Say That Again
Whispers and Moans .. and a bit of feedback  *
interludium episode 2 - Pinus Pinea (Nick’s tree review)
Silent House *
English Trees
You Are The One To Make Me Cry
People Are Like Suns
Lost Island
Locked Out *
To The Island (instrumental demo)

Neil had pointed out he had a radio show prepared for Time On Earth, but might abandon the script ... Even a Child, Heaven That I'm Making, A Sigh, Walked Her Way Down, Transit Lounge not part of the playlist, HOWEVER ... marvellous versions of Whispers and Moans, Lost Island !! and a smoooookin' Locked Out wrapping up the live performance.

WOODFACE up next Thursday 4 March 2021 at 11am (NZ time) ... TO THE ISLAND TOUR about to kick off !

Despite not being a huge "Time on Earth" fan this was my favourite Fangradio broadcast I reckon. It had its own feel, more melancholy than the others.

Also the piano playing was incredible.

Great versions of great songs, both from the band and pre-recorded from Neil. Very cool reworking of She Called Up.

Hearing him mock the people saying there was too much reverb, combined with last time when he had a go at the reviewer who said negative things about TOLM back in the day… Neil sure has a thin skin sometimes.

@harrytrousers posted:

Despite not being a huge "Time on Earth" fan this was my favourite Fangradio broadcast I reckon. It had its own feel, more melancholy than the others.

Also the piano playing was incredible.

It’s a very melancholy record over all. The passing of Paul Hester brings a heaviness to it, I feel.

I’ve rarely listened to it since release, partly due to the fact that it reminds me of a person whom I miss dearly, one I will probably not see again.

But I found myself singing along to Silent House, and English Trees, which is a heartbreaker. And of course People Are Like Suns, which is also drenched in loss.

Wonderful to hear Lost Island. Lovely sensitive version.

As someone who started working in horticulture recently, I love having a tree for each album. Confess that I’ve made my own share of Pinus jokes. If anyone's familiar with the Frankston-Baxter Trail, you can see some very impressive Pinuses along there.

Noted that Neil once again mentioned the bad plimsoles he was wearing for Locked Out shoot. 😂 Must have been very traumatic.

Pour le monde is especially poignant. Written during the W Bush era, its words also evoke the Trump/QAnon era to me:

They believe their own dark medicine / Believing it's good

The lady who was a man who answered Rand Paul 2x on Senate she won't say if she'll force young children to take hormones to transition; That's also believing in dark medicine, believing it's good.

I'm so glad Trump is out of office so now there are no more problems!  This is a good year!

And I don't want this to be a flame fest, so I walk away.

I get it. I'm the rebel in these parts.   I'll be back after Lent. Have a fun Spring everyone!

@Thom Bullock posted:

Great versions of great songs, both from the band and pre-recorded from Neil. Very cool reworking of She Called Up.

Hearing him mock the people saying there was too much reverb, combined with last time when he had a go at the reviewer who said negative things about TOLM back in the day… Neil sure has a thin skin sometimes.

I also enjoyed this version of She Called Up.

And I had the same thought about the reverb. It certainly sounded excessive in his spoken intro. But Neil’s response to the criticism was rather reactive I thought.

As for the reviewer, I got a laugh out of Neil’s response, even if it was quite defensive. I think it’s unreasonable to write off TOLM as a self-pitying record, with the inclusion of life-affirming songs like When You Come and Love This Life.

Really enjoyed it.

Some of my favorite songs are on that album but for some reason I've always enjoyed the songs individually more than the album (if that makes sense).

Having them presented in this way was really enjoyable. 

PS. I suspect there will never be a global shortage of dark medicine. No matter who has power.

@Byrds Talk to Me posted:

As for the reviewer, I got a laugh out of Neil’s response, even if it was quite defensive. I think it’s unreasonable to write off TOLM as a self-pitying record, with the inclusion of life-affirming songs like When You Come and Love This Life.

For sure - I love TOLM, my second favorite Crowdies album. But if some reviewer wants to say he thinks it’s self pitying… just roll with it, Neil, don’t make a podcast 30 years later to say “**** you.”

Anyway. Fangradio is great and I’m glad we get to hear it.

Somehow I don't think Neil has been harbouring an issue over a TOLM review for 30 years and made a Fangradio show to respond...

I think people are reading things that are not there. The reverb comment was pure humour and banter among the band if you listen.

Neil mentioning a reviewer's out of touch review of TOLM came up in the moment in talking about that album. Any reviewer who sees Love This Life, Sister Madly, Mansion in the Slums, Kill Eye , Into Temptation, In the Lowlands and When You Come as constituting 'self pitying' would stick in my memory too. Reading into Neil mentioning it once in 30 years can't reasonably be read as someone who is "thin skinned' is over reading.

@sinner62 posted:

I think people are reading things that are not there. The reverb comment was pure humour and banter among the band if you listen.

Reading into Neil mentioning it once in 30 years can't reasonably be read as someone who is "thin skinned' is over reading.

Totally agree. I'm sure Neil occasionally winces or takes to heart certain criticisms -- he's only human. But I really doubt he holds them as serious grudges for years and years. He's just being loose and goofy, which in my limited experience with fangradio, seems to be the general vibe of it.

@slowpogo posted:

Totally agree. I'm sure Neil occasionally winces or takes to heart certain criticisms -- he's only human. But I really doubt he holds them as serious grudges for years and years. He's just being loose and goofy, which in my limited experience with fangradio, seems to be the general vibe of it.

It’s a pro-reverb conspiracy, I tell you! Any Dissenters of TOLM shall be struck down with the Reverb of Finn!

Hello all,

Just caught up on the last two Fang Radio episodes - I had missed that Fang Radio is available as a podcast and that suits me much better as my podcast app does a good job of remembering where I left off.

Some fantastic music in these eps - they really were good. Whisper and Moans was as noted great.  Earlier I enjoyed the revisit to Temple of Low Men, including the shortened version of I think it was Never Be The Same? It was either that or Love This Life.

Anyway what I actually wanted to remark on was a comment by either Liam or Elroy about an unreleased Ch song being one that was really special to him. I hadn't thought about how much Neil's kids may have listened to his music as they grew up. It may be, so to speak, "in their blood".

Really happy about how good, vibrant, powerful the new line up sounds. In a couple of interviews Neil has remarked on how much attention to detail that Liam and Elroy have brought to the table - working on details in the songs that have been forgotten/lost - they have both commented on working on that and un how mindful they are of the legacy of the band and on wanting to push it forwards. There is a group on Facebook - some of whom, on any new release  always find a moment for a "it's not crowded house", "which members do you miss most from current line"...I hope the recent broadcasts and upcoming shows will ease some of that.

@jamesp posted:

some of whom, on any new release  always find a moment for a "it's not crowded house", "which members do you miss most from current line"...I hope the recent broadcasts and upcoming shows will ease some of that.

Just as, in 2007, we all got used to the fact that the thing we loved in 1996 was not coming back, now we’re all getting used to the fact that the thing we loved in 2010 is not coming back. But the new thing is very good.

@Chris Camfield posted:

Hello all,

Just caught up on the last two Fang Radio episodes - I had missed that Fang Radio is available as a podcast and that suits me much better as my podcast app does a good job of remembering where I left off.

Some fantastic music in these eps - they really were good. Whisper and Moans was as noted great.  Earlier I enjoyed the revisit to Temple of Low Men, including the shortened version of I think it was Never Be The Same? It was either that or Love This Life.

Anyway what I actually wanted to remark on was a comment by either Liam or Elroy about an unreleased Ch song being one that was really special to him. I hadn't thought about how much Neil's kids may have listened to his music as they grew up. It may be, so to speak, "in their blood".

Great, thanks for the tip, Chris. I also missed fangradio’s podcast presence! So far I’ve only had luck finding it on Apple Podcasts... Google tells me it’s also on Audible but I can’t actually find it there. Stitcher is my go-to podcast app.

Always love Whispers and Moans live, especially shouting along with Neil’s “Allan’s sound investments” rant

Byrd, what was that line about anyway??

I use the Android app Doggcatcher and I guess it searches some of the popular sites for feeds. Apparently Fangradio is on Soundcloud because this is the RSS feed URL in the app.

https://feeds.soundcloud.com/u...:15687130/sounds.rss

@Chris Camfield posted:

Byrd, what was that line about anyway??

I use the Android app Doggcatcher and I guess it searches some of the popular sites for feeds. Apparently Fangradio is on Soundcloud because this is the RSS feed URL in the app.

https://feeds.soundcloud.com/u...:15687130/sounds.rss

https://soundcloud.com/neilfinnofficial/

Alan Bond (https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Alan_Bond) if I'm remembering correctly?

Fangradio podcasts have existed for a while now. Check the links at https://www.fangradio.com/faq or https://www.fangradio.com/episodes

If you're missing info like this, sign up to the newsletters at https://www.neilfinn.com. The sign-up form is at the bottom of each page on the site.

@Chris Camfield posted:

Byrd, what was that line about anyway??

I use the Android app Doggcatcher and I guess it searches some of the popular sites for feeds. Apparently Fangradio is on Soundcloud because this is the RSS feed URL in the app.

https://feeds.soundcloud.com/u...:15687130/sounds.rss

@Romer posted:

Alan Bond (https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Alan_Bond) if I'm remembering correctly?

Oh, I always thought it was referring to the chain of music stores, Allans Music, which went out of business about ten years ago 🤔

Listening to the band perform Silent House last week has made me wonder whether Neil ever publicly acknowledges his co-writers. I don’t recall him ever mentioning the Dixie Chicks when introducing the song, even though they are credited in the liner notes for the album.

I’d make a similar observation about most of One Nil, which was apparently co-written by Wendy Melvoin and Lisa Coleman.

Is it possible their names appear solely as a result of some kind of publishing contract, and not as a result of their contributions to the song?

@Black&WhiteBoy posted:

Is it possible their names appear solely as a result of some kind of publishing contract, and not as a result of their contributions to the song?

No

@Jaffaman posted:

No

How can you be sure? Other artists have agreed songwriting credits as part of contractual agreements.