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Crowding in
A string of outdoor gigs has acquainted New Zealand's greatest ever band to the vagaries of the British summer.
So Crowded House are packing both suncream and umbrellas for their headline appearance at this weekend's Cornbury Festival.
"We know we're in the hands of the gods," laughs Neil Finn, frontman and the reformed band's creative powerhouse.
"We've been putting on some gigs in out of the way places and are getting quite used to it," he adds, while preparing for a show deep in a dripping Sherwood Forest, followed the next night by a date in an equally moist Westonbirt Arboretum, in Gloucestershire.
It seemed they had, in the words of their best-loved song brought 'the weather with' them - it being a rainy winter in their native Auckland right now.
"But we are keen to get playing again," he adds, "and the idea of playing our new songs on stage again sounded right to us while we were in the studio."
For fans of the Australasian pedlars of sunshine pop, the band's Sunday night slot in Charlbury will be a historic occasion.
After a string of impossible-not-to-love hits (Don't Dream it's Over, Fall at Your Feet, Four Seasons in One Day, It's Only Natural, Locked Out, and Instinct), revered albums Woodface and Together Alone, and a Best
International Group Brit Award, they broke up in 1996.
The death of drummer and former Split Enz man Paul Hester in 2005, seemed to symbolise the end of the project, with Neil building up a solid solo career and recording with brother, Crowded House bandmate, and fellow OBE holder, Tim - including 2001's 7 Worlds Collide, consisting of songs recorded with the likes of Radiohead's Ed O'Brien and Phil Selway, The Smith's Johnny Marr and Pearl Jam's Eddie Vedder.
Against the odds, they reformed last year, and are busy making up for lost time with glorious new album Time On Earth - which entered the UK charts at number three - and a hectic tour of more than 70 live shows in 12 countries.
And judging by performances, including last Saturday's slot at Glastonbury, it is going down as well as ever.
"We didn't know if people would know the new songs, or whether they would hold the audience's attention," he says.
"But they are going down really well. Of course, we play the hits - though we don't play them all every night."
And which of those old anthems remains his personal favourite? "Fall at Your Feet," he replies without hesitation. "I particularly enjoy it. It's got a distinct sound. But it's not stale.
"We play it really well, and it has an uplifting quality to it. And the audience sing it well."
With his impressive back catalogue, not to mention the OBE safely in his back pocket, Neil has become antipodean rock royalty. But has he ever been tempted to leave the southern hemisphere, and join the music industry maelstrom?
"It's a long way away, New Zealand, but my family are here, and it's a good place to be.
"There's good feeling and appreciation to me there, but New Zealanders are not overly impressed with celebrity.
"I keep a low profile and don't go to A-list parties. I haven't turned up for so many of them, that I don't get invited."
As the creator of so many songs, which mean so much to so many people, does he have a routine?
"It should be possible to write a song anywhere, but I can't, and I don't know why," he says.
"It's best if I'm not worried about anything, but if I'm writing songs about a particular emotion, it helps if I'm not feeling that way. I have to clear the deck and have a clear mind.
"A friend of mine always says that before you write, you should clean the house and make sure the kitchen is tidy - and that does help.
"As New Zealanders, we are prepared to travel and work hard, and do what has to be done, and not look for glory - unlike Australians."
One of Neil's less conventional roles lately was a cameo in hit Kiwi comedy Flight of the Conchords, in which New Zealand's self-styled 'fourth most popular folk parody band' attempt to crack the lucrative novelty music scene with songs such as Frodo, don't wear the Ring.
The guys repeatedly stalk Neil (who they describe as "New Zealand's Paul Simon") for advice.
"I didn't know much about it when I did it," he laughs. "But it seemed to work really well."
Crowded House headline Sunday's line-up at Cornbury Festival.
Tickets are £40 a day or £70 for the weekend. Go to www.cornburyfestival.com
3:48pm Thursday 3rd July 2008
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