Crowded House & Supergroove in Auckland

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DON'T DREAM IT'S OVER: Neil Finn performs with Crowded House during the band's sold out show in Auckland's Vector Arena.

JASON OXENHAM/Fairfax Media

RED DELIGHT: Crowded House perform during their sold out show at Auckland's Vector Arena.

JASON OXENHAM/Fairfax Media

WHAT'S THE TIME? Bassist Nick Seymour performs with Crowded House at the band's sold out show at Vector Arena in Auckland.

JASON OXENHAM/Fairfax Media

SOULFUL STUFF: Che Fu performs with Supergroove during the band's show with Crowded House at Vector Arena.

JASON OXENHAM/Fairfax Media

SPOOKY STUFF: Karl Steven performs with Supergroove during the band's show at Vector Arena.

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Reunited Kiwi rock acts Crowded House and Supergroove joined forces with Pluto for a sold out show at Auckland's Vector Arena. Reviewer Chris Schulz was there.

When it comes to trips down memory lane, for New Zealanders they don't get much more nostalgic than Crowded House and Supergroove. That's two generations of Kiwi anthems right there.

So, when the two defunct acts reformed and invited Pluto to Auckland's Vector Arena for a three-way concert, they should have just given out slices of pavlova and bottles of L&P at the door.

Yep, bring on the Kiwiana.

Still, it's a brave band that shares a stage with Supergroove. Despite playing their first show together in 11 years on Friday, the seven-piece act are in the form of their lives.

They won a standing ovation from the sit-down crowd with a hugely energetic set full of their classic tracks, including Sitting Inside My Head, Here Come the Supergroove and Can't Get Enough.

A moshpit of three was made to sit down by security during a fiery Don't Look Down, while a particularly heavy version of You Freak Me had vocalist Che Fu roaring like a metal singer, rounded out with feedback from Karl Steven's harmonica.

It was so rowdy older patrons were seen putting fingers in their ears. Luckily for them they didn't play Scorpio Girls - despite the audience's demands.

Pluto, despite a growing arsenal of catchy, askew numbers, didn't have a hope in hell of matching that.

But Crowded House did, keeping the pace flowing the only way they know how - with one classic sing-along anthem after another.

Against a theatre-style backdrop, Neil Finn and the boys proved to be a tight, professional unit, altering tempo and atmosphere at will with a set packed full of older and newer hits. They looked mighty dapper in those suits, too.

Kiwi legend Neil Finn is an experienced showman, and he rallied the crowd around him - creating an intimacy rarely seen at Vector. It helped that most Kiwis know songs like Four Seasons In One Day, Something So Strong and Fall at Your Feet almost as well as Neil himself.

Despite the somber tone of many Crowded House songs, there were plenty of lighter moments. The set was peppered with jokes by bassist Nick Seymour, while a stray dog and a giant tree threatening to topple raised laughs and briefly stole the limelight.

An up-tempo Locked Out saw the band almost match Supergroove for intensity, while only the hardest of hearts couldn't help out on the chorus for Don't Dream It's Over.

There were more treats in store as Don McGlashan, and then Tim Finn, joined Crowded House on stage for several songs - the latter providing two of the best moments during the first encore with Weather With You and It's Only Natural.

But the best was predictably saved for last as Neil belted out - what else? - Better Be Home Soon, one last dose of sing-along Kiwiana from a night full of it.

On the way out, a nearly-satisfied punter said he felt like picking up a pie to eat on the way home. Steak and cheese, by any chance?

- © Fairfax NZ News