Frantic spoon nonsense

During the final number the percussionist picks up the spoons, taps them into sound and dances, half walks across the stage. Whilst on the back the rest of the group look at each other with puzzled stares, then crowd together towards the exit backstage. Suddenly they turn, producing spoons themsleves. They begin flailing them everywhere, hopelessly trying to imitate the percussionist. The audience loved it.

The music? Those of you who have seen Split Enz before or have heard their recordings need not fear - I shall not bore you with the same adjectives which nebulously attempt to express what the music really is.

For those who have an idea what the music is, one or two introductory lessons: brilliant use of jazz and rock, changing moods and rhythms produced by a splendiferous array of instruments (including numerous keyboards).

Take 'Spellbound' for instance. Phil Judd (lead guitarist) introduced it with meaty acoustic guitar. Later the malotron added depth to the song as it progressed, whilst a strong sax line ran through the whole number.

A complete composition is 'Lovey-dovey' - introduced by Finn as a cynical love-song, it was just that. Some sharp jazz piano from Eddie Raynor expressed (amongst other things) the fickleness, shallowness of lovey-doveyness.

It is perhaps a waste of time to once again list the drawbacks of holding a concert such as this in the Town Hall but to put it bluntly, the visual experience of this show saved it from being a disaster. The acoustics were so bad that even when sitting five rows from the front downstairs it was well nigh impossible to pick out the vocals.

This complaint was common to all sections of the Town Hall and one has to wonder whether the group's knowledge of this major structural defect had anything to do with its decision to make its N.Z. tour substantially a visual display. The lighting was generally good but at times it was rather slow in picking out who was doing the vocals. This was particularly so in the couple of songs where Phil Judd took over the vocals from Tim Finn ('Under the Wheel' and 'Spellbound').

All in all it was an excellent performance. What more can be said? The local groupie set tells me that the group was overwhelmed by the audience response but they all say that about Wellington audiences, don't they?