Crowded House had been on hiatus for some ten years, and the band that played the Bank of America Pavilion on Sunday night was at first a reunion of just the redoubtable Neil Finn and bassist Nick Seymour. Keyboardist/guitarist Mark Hart re-upped for the recording of new release Time on Earth, and drummer Matt Sherrod was chosen to replace the deceased Paul Hester.
From the opening notes of "Locked Out", it was evident that the reconstituted Crowded House has retained the ability to produce superbly crafted, harmonic music. The Boston audience has lost none of their affection for the band, and joined in major sing-a-longs on "Don't Dream, it's Over", "Fall at your Feet", and "Weather with You". Other gems included the new song "Don't Stop Now", "Four Seasons in One Day", and "Fall at Your Feet". Curiously, the 80's hit "Something So Strong" was not included on the set list. Ah, well.
Neil Finn and the ebullient Nick Seymour engaged in entertaining repartee between songs, especially when a fan called out "You're geniuses!" which Finn deliberately misheard as "You're senior citizens!" The passage of the years was underscored when Finn's son Liam, who had displayed his virtuosity earlier in the evening, came on stage as a sideman on acoustic guitar and supporting vocals. Sherrod and Hart were flawless if unobtrusive, especially Hart, who seems to eschew showmanship despite his excellence on keyboards, 12-string, and lead guitar..
The show was opened by Pete Yorn, who exhibited considerable charisma as he and his band presented his original songs.
