So here we are, crammed into one of London's better venues, a smile on our faces as we prepare to greet our old mate, best friend, good buddy, Neil Finn.
Well that's what it feels like. Finn's last London show back in March was like spending two hours with your best mucker from school who learned to play guitar, knows all your favourite jokes, doesn't take himself too seriously AND invites you to join in the fun if you can sing, play piano or know the chords to old Crowded House hits.
Damn it, if both of us weren't married already, I'd have brought along a ring. Tonight's show won't feature those triumphant audience participation numbers. In keeping with Finn's standing among his fellow musicians, we have some serious heavyweight names doing their tasteful stuff onstage. Step forward Johnny Marr and Lisa Germano formerly of the Smiths and John Mellencamp's backing band's respectively.
From the off, Neil bathes in the glow of an audience that is begging to be entertained. We don't want to be ignored, we don't want to see any bare midriff dancing girls, we don't want to pretend we can change the world...just give us some great songs - old and new, and make us feel special and involved. Call for Finn!
'Distant Sun' kicks things off reassuringly and a selection from the brilliant new 'One Nil' album confirms that if anything, the lovable Kiwi's songwriting is growing in stature. Finn invites the audience to pepper the stage with paper planes bearing requests and, preferably, bits of philosophy, and he takes on audience member Phil in a quiz about his long career. Phil wins of course.
Johnny Marr appears for 'Four Seasons In One Day' and delivers a startling harmonica solo before the crowd takes over on the choruses, while Lisa quietly moves around the stage playing anything and everything that she can get her hands on. The nation's vacuous pop wannabes should be forced to watch this stuff.
Neil plays solo piano on the Split Enz classic 'Message To My Girl', revives the lost classic 'She Will Have Her Way' and pretends to leave us. As if. Ever eager to pass the glory around, he returns with Marr - and a glass of red wine - for a storming version of the Smiths classic 'How Soon Is Now' and a funked up rendition of the obligatory 'Weather With You' featuring double bass solo!! Lock the doors and let's party all night.
'Private Universe' and the ancient 'I Got You' keep the spirit soaring before, mindful that London will be shutting down shortly, Neil tears himself away with 'Don't Dream It's Over' and we tumble out into the night and give up our seats on the tube to folk less fortunate than us - those without tickets to a Neil Finn show. Such mastery of songwriting and stagecraft is a very rare thing indeed. You must go and see this man.
