Liam Finn
Biography -
The critically acclaimed I’ll Be Lightning was Liam’s first solo album, but not by a country mile his debut musical endeavour. Fruits of his musicianship were first publically showcased in the band Betchadupa, a close knit group who Liam fronted, leading them from their New Zealand home to London, England toward the end of 2004. It was a relocation that inspired a flurry of creative activity, and saw the birth of a new, more personal, confessional sound deemed unsuitable to be tackled by a group of childhood friends such as Betchadupa were.
“The songs were quite emotional, so I was a little hesitant to show them to my band, who are my three best mates. It just felt more natural to play these songs by myself”, says Finn of the decision to go it alone. It soon became more and more clear that the songs that would form I’ll Be Lightning were not destined to work with a band, but did need to be worked with all the same. Yet instead of becoming your average, run of the mill, lonesome and boring as hell solo artist, Liam decided to become his own band.
For Liam, recording a song is not a way of setting it in stone – and his live show is a thrilling testament to his belief in the power of that idea. Records are only one interpretation of a composition, relative to the space and time in which they were recorded, not the final be all and end all. Rather than going through the motions on a note for note rendition, what you get from a Liam Finn show is far more honest, and vital – each attendee gets their own, often radically expanded or altered but always unique version of a song to cherish for themselves, all the while in the knowledge that tomorrow night’s performance of the same track will sound different yet again.
“Whenever I walk in and see just a guy and a guitar, I think, ‘here we go again.’ I wanted to give people something different”, thought Liam, commendably. That he sets himself apart in such a way is not in any doubt – if ever the term “singer songwriter” seemed laughably inadequate (offensive, even?) in describing an artist’s craft, it’s with Liam Finn. “I think the fact of doing this looping, one-man-band sort of thing really keeps you on your toes and keeps it fresh. The more you mess up, the more you’re forced to turn it into a good mess, and people seem to respond more. I find it really stimulating. I just love the danger of it, really.”
Liam might have enjoyed the dictatorial power that comes from being the only person playing on a record, but live, collaboration adds to the fun. A vital role is played by percussionist, auto harp player and vocalist Eliza Jane ‘EJ’ Barnes – far from merely the effortlessly glamorous assistant you assume she might be before she unleashes that incredible voice of hers and deftly manipulates the vast array of looping and sampling equipment before bashing the living crap out of a few defenceless drums, watching her casually being awesome, holding it together whilst Liam threatens to get completely lost in the music, is one of the many delights of a Liam Finn show.
Over time, EJ has become so integral to the sound that the logical next step of involving her in the creative process at an earlier point was taken, when the pair returned to New Zealand to work on new EP Champagne and Seashells. Named after the recording session’s drink of choice and the receptacle from which it was supped, it was recorded over a two week period in which the pair again used a computer in the process as much as they slept during the fortnight, which was never. An insomniac’s psychedelic nightmare about plane crashes, poetry and the beauty to be found in darkness, it’s the latest chapter in what’s shaping up to be a pretty fascinating sonic story.
News -
Constantly evolving as a performer, Liam’s latest creation is a new band formed with fellow solo musicians and collaborators Connan Mockasin, Lawrence Arabia, Seamus and Eliza Jane. They are currently recording an album under the name ‘Having a baby’ (www.myspace.com/tobeadad).
Tour dates -
23/9/09 – The Zoo, Brisbane
24/9/09 – Lizotte’s, Newcastle
25/9/09 – Gaelic Theatre, Sydney
1/10/09 – University of Iowa (with Wilco)
2/10/09 – Roy Wilkins Auditorium, Minnesota (with Wilco)
4/10/09 – Majestic Theatre, Wisconsin
6/10 /09 – Crossroads, Kansas (with Wilco)
8/10/09 – Cedar Park Centre, Texas (with Wilco)
9/10/09 – The Palladium Ballroom, Dallas (with Wilco)
10/10/09 – Orpheum Theatre, Memphis (with Wilco)
12/10/09 – Merchon Auditorum, Ohio (with Wilco)
14/10/09 – Massey Hall, Toronto (with Wilco)
15/10/09 – Massey Hall, Toronto
16/10/09 – Hill Auditorium, Ann Arbor (with Wilco)
17/10/09 – Lincoln Hall, Chicago
19/10/09 – Larimer Lounge, Denver
22/10/09 – Echoplex, Los Angeles
23/10/09 – The Independent, San Francisco
24/10/09 – Dantes, Portland
25/10/09 – The Crocodile, Seattle
30/10/09 – Theatre Plaza, Montreal
1/11/09 – Middle East Downstairs, Cambridge Massachusetts
3/11/09 – Rock and Roll Hotel, Washington DC
4/11/09 – The Bell House, Brooklyn
9/11/09 – Bush Hall, London
10/11/09 – Bush Hall, London
14/11/09 – Members Equity Stadium, Perth (with Pearl Jam & Ben Harper R7)
17/11/09 – Adelaide Oval (with Pearl Jam & Ben Harper R7)
20/11/09 – Etihad Stadium (with Pearl Jam and Ben Harper R7)
22/11/09 – Sydney Football Stadium (with Pear Jam and Ben Harper R7)
Links:
Videos:
GATHER TO THE CHAPEL (LIVE):
SECOND CHANCE:
I’LL BE LIGHTNING (LIVE):