Musgrave Park review: Crowded House (and The Waterboys) bring ...
After a day of piping hot sun, it seems only fitting that New Zealand band Crowded House should bring the weather with them to Virgin Media Park / Musgrave Park, the home of Munster rugby.
And while Thomond Park may have been the venue for Munster’s legendary 12-0 victory against the All Blacks back in 1978, these Kiwis brought almost as much joy to this hugely receptive crowd as that legendary win did for fans of the Munster Reds.
The crowd singing ‘Fall at Your Feet’ was really quite moving, and the band were clearly touched by the display.
”Thank you,” said Neil Finn. “You really do have voices. My mum is from Kilmallock, which is Limerick, I know, but it’s nearly Cork. I have lots of family here tonight, cousins from Mallow and Doneraile.
“They’ll be up late like the Doneraile donkeys tonight.”
Fans in Musgrave Park (Virgin Media Park) looking forward to the gig by Crowded House and The Waterboys in Cork on Sunday night. Picture: Eddie O'HareCrowded House in its current incarnation — Neil Finn, lead singer and guitar, Nick Seymour on bass, Mitchell Froom on keys, and Neil Finn’s sons, drummer Elroy and guitarist Liam (Paul Taylor also plays drums) — is a hugely entertaining outfit. Neil’s brother Tim is no longer in the band.
One standout feature is the band’s easy banter, both with the audience and within the band itself. The clearly unrehearsed exchanges between Neil Finn and bass player Nick Seymour are a real highlight in this show.
Kerry and Natalie Venter and Kerri and Chris Killian, Douglas, at the Crowded House / Waterboys concert at Virgin Media Park, Cork. Picture: Eddie O'Hare“Look at those hills. Well, I can tell you brought your voices tonight. Let’s send your voices out to the sheep and cattle on those hills. What do you think, Nick?”
“It is a beautiful view,” says Nick Seymour, an Australian who is now living in Sligo. “Up the Rebels.”
Just as highly pressurised as the blazing sunshine, the hits went down a storm. ‘Four Seasons in One Day’, ‘Fall at Your Feet’, ‘Don’t Dream It’s Over’ and, of course, ‘Weather With You’.
Meadbh Nolan, Silversprings; Siobhan Glin, Glanmire, and Marienne Watson, Crosshaven, ahead of Amble, The Waterboys, and Crowded House at Musgrave Park in Cork. Picture: Eddie O'HareThe set also features ’The Island’ and ‘Teenage Summer’ from their 2024 album Gravity Stairs, and these are well received by this cheerful crowd.
The new album is the band’s first new release since 2021’s Dreamers Are Waiting, a beauty, and it’s their eighth album overall.
But back to the banter.
Neil Finn of Crowded House engaged the crowd in Cork in quite a bit of banter. Picture: Eddie O'HareNeil says: “That [Munster Rugby] sign up there says ‘Never stop competing’. What does that mean? Come on, Bank of Ireland, aim higher. You can do better. Try to actually win something."
And more rugger references: “There used to be a shop here in Cork called Finn’s Corner. It’s gone now. I think one of the family, Maurice [Mossy Finn] played rugby with Ireland.
"Myself and Tim had our photo taken outside the store. That made our parents very happy.”
A word also to The Waterboys, who played a ripping opening act, featuring ‘How Long Will I Love You?’, ‘This is the Sea’, ‘A Bang on the Ear’ and a cover of Rory Gallagher’s ‘Bullfrog Blues’.
If we thought ‘Whole of the Moon’ was the highlight, they topped that with ‘Fisherman’s Blues’, complete with a guest appearance by violinist Steve Wickham.
Mike Scott pulled out all the stops. You might say he never stopped competing. It’s a real testament to how good Neil Finn’s songs are that the Kiwis were the undisputed champions of the night. Long may they rock.
Out and about at Virgin Media Park for Crowded House and The Waterboys
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Sisters Orla, Roisín and Aoife Noonan from Ringaskiddy enjoying ice creams before seeing Amble, The Waterboys, and Crowded House at Musgrave Park on Sunday night. Picture: Eddie O'Hare.
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Mike Scott of The Waterboys rocking out in Musgrave Park (Virgin Media Park) in Cork on Sunday night. Picture: Eddie O'Hare.
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Robbie Cunningham, Oisín McCaffrey, and Ross McNerney of Amble, who played support to Crowded House and The Waterboys at Virgin Media Park (Musgrave Park) in Cork on Sunday evening. Picture: Eddie O'Hare.
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Declan and Anne Moore, Douglas, and Treasa Lynch, Brussels, ahead of Sunday evening's gig by Amble, The Waterboys, and Crowded House in Musgrave Park, Cork. Picture: Eddie O'Hare.
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