LA2
25.11.08
Other than a brief UK visit around Give It A Name this year, Finch haven’t been here to tour proper in a considerable amount of time. From what I remember, they had a reputation of being somewhat shambolic and selfish live, refusing to play obvious crowd pleaser ‘Letters To You’ and, by most reports, failing to put on a decent performance.
As the band takes to the stage at the LA2, there are certainly echoes of Finch’s first incarnation with several setbacks in the first song. It’s almost as if it’s their very first time playing together since they broke up all those years ago with guitar tunings mid-song, guitar strap mishaps, builders’ style bums being bared to the audience and a general sense of confusion. Singer Nate seems self involved and not at all concerned with the salivating crowd he could so easily command. At several points during their set he kneels with his back to the audience and it’s as if he’s serenading a beer can on the drum riser.
Having said that, Finch have certainly grown to realise that a cunning variety of classic hits and stunning new material is what keeps everyone interested. The band plays a hefty set including all the golden oldies such as ‘Letters To You‘ and ‘Perfection Through Silence‘ and they put every bit of energy into the songs they’ve written since reuniting this year including a stirring performance of ‘Daylight‘.
Nate’s energy is almost childlike but their encore really demonstrates maturity, particularly in its selection of songs which include a beautifully understated rendition of ‘Ender‘ and an explosive closing of the evening with ‘What It Is To Burn‘. When Nate does turn his attention to the eager mass of people hanging on his every lyric, the effect is quite magical with enthusiasm dripping from every pore of every body present. It’s just a shame that this occurrence was all too infrequent during what was, despite being a tad ropey in places, an enthralling set of expertly crafted songs spanning the band’s career.
Winey G.