And the official bio says...

"It's always been the element of struggle that makes music human and exciting. Neil and Sharon Finn discovered that for themselves at home late one night in their pajamas, having their first jam, making a racket in the grand tradition of enthusiastic amateurs.

For Neil, after a career of writing songs and strumming guitars, it was liberating to be behind a drumkit, no chords or melody to navigate, just keeping time and making it swing. For Sharon, after raising 2 fine boys and coping with Neil it was just 3 notes, pure feel on the bass guitar...

And so inspired, Sharon and Neil were compelled to take it further. They invited respected Auckland songwriter and musician Sean Donnelly to lend a hand. The three of them went to work and steadily those jams became songs, a body of work more diverse and dynamic than any of them had imagined...."

As stated above, Pajama Club (who just officially changed their name from "Pajama Party") features the great Neil Finn and his wife Sharon Finn, with Sean Donnelly and Alana Skyring rounding out the lineup.

Already announced on the lineups of both Wilco's Solid Sound Festival (they go on right before Wilco) and Outside Lands in San Francisco, new June headlining dates are now starting to pop up. On June 23rd they'll play a show in Virginia (right after Solid Sound), and on June 26th you can catch them at Bowery Ballroom in NYC. Tickets for that show go on sale on Friday at noon.

All currently announced dates and a teaser video is below.

Continue reading "Neil & Sharon Finn & band are Pajama Club (formerly Pajama Party) -- U.S. dates announced"

photos by Kurt Christensen

"Let's get one thing straight: Crowded House isn't a one-hit wonder. Sure, the Australian band is known by '80s music fans for its 1987 hit "Don't Dream It's Over" (and maybe the subsequent "Something So Strong"), but songwriter Neil Finn has actually guided different incarnations of the band through six full-length albums and earned critical acclaim for his solo albums and side projects." [NPR]

You saw the setlist and the video from Wednesday night's show at Bowery Ballroom where David Byrne joined Crowded House and family (Sharon Finn and Liam Finn are both on the tour with Neil). Now here are the pics, along with video from the band's appearance on Jimmy Fallon (they really made the most of their trip here that included three shows at Bowery, and includes one at Wellmont Theatre tonight), below....

Continue reading "Crowded House played Fallon (video) & Bowery w/ David Byrne, Liam Finn, Sharon Finn & Lawrence Arabia (pics) "

photos by Andrew St Clair

Crowded House completed their three-night run at Bowery Ballroom in NYC last night (7/21). It was also at the third show that David Byrne came out for the encore to join the band on two Talking Heads covers. We actually have pictures from that show too, but the pictures in this post are from the 2nd night, July 20th. Stay tuned for the ones from night three.

If you missed the show, there's one more NYC-area chance when Crowded House plays Wellmont Theater in NJ on Friday.

More of the night two pictures, video of the David Byrne part from last night, and all three setlists (including which songs Neil Finn's wife Sharon son Liam played on), below...

Continue reading "Crowded House played 3 nights @ Bowery Ballroom (night 2 pics, all 3 setlists, video of last night's guest: David Byrne)"