INTERVIEW | Neil Finn on The Finn Brothers’ new album, Everyone Is Here.

He’s collaborated with Pearl Jam’s Eddie Vedder, two guys from Radiohead, and Sheryl Crow used to be his opening act. Still, Neil Finn isn’t a household name.

And he’s okay with that.

Formerly of new wave band Split Enz and pop group Crowded House, Neil Finn and brother Tim have been around for awhile. And while the Finn Brothers’ new collaborative album is all about the here and now, their tour might feel like a blast from the past.

The Finn Brothers: Everyone Is Here.

I interviewed Neil Finn over the phone, from his hotel room in LA. He says that the current tour will feature “a selection of quite a few of the new album’s songs, plus a really good selection of songs from right through our respective careers.” A smart decision considering that the new album Everyone Is Here isn’t scheduled for release until Aug. 24, 2004 and will be unfamiliar to most of the audience.

Crowded House broke up in 1996.

This revisiting might come as a surprise to those who know that it was Neil’s decision to dismantle Crowded House. He cut the cord, despite opposition from fans and band members alike. Nonetheless Neil is quick to explain that while he looks forward to performing older numbers, he’s “very at ease with that decision … I was totally sure in my heart at the time that it was the right thing to do. And I still believe it was.”

Despite a fondness for his musical history, Finn is all about moving forward with his work.

“You can’t settle into a comfort zone,” he says.

“Sure, you can probably keep touring … Maybe even become an icon or whatever.” But that’s not Finn’s goal. “I’m much more interested in making every record that comes out feel like it’s a new adventure.” And while it might not seem like it, the brothers’ new collaboration is their way of doing just that.

Often seemingly in competition, the Finn Brothers appear to have achieved equilibrium.

They’ve traded places as front men. Neil joined Tim’s group Split Enz in ’77, then fronted Crowded House, which Tim joined in ’91. And unlike their last collaborative effort, which was produced as a side project, this time around their union is their primary focus.

“There has to be an equality or else you can’t really function,” Neil explains. “It’s about what we can do collectively, and it’s thrilling, and it’s probably stronger than either of us could do on our own.”

Like Hanson with staying power, music has always been a family affair for the Finns.

Liam (the older of Neil’s two sons) toured with his dad in 1998 and is now touring Australia with his own band Betchadupa. “He’s cut me loose,” Neil says fondly, adding, “He’s on his own path.” Following in his big brother’s footsteps (much as Neil did with Tim), Neil’s younger son Elroy will be joining the Finn’s current tour. Dad calls the boy “eminently good company,” coming across much more dad than rock star. “He’s an incredibly funny and warm young man. I’m very proud of him.”

It’s likely the feeling’s mutual.

Though they never achieved massive North American success, these New Zealanders have still spent more than 20 years on this continent’s music scene.

Their shows are well attended and the records still sell in decent numbers. Neil says he “couldn’t imagine a better scenario after 20 years.” Likening the larger stadium shows to “watching a giant TV” he’s happy to keep playing smaller venues. Finn enjoys playing “with the audience and not just at them.”

Along with regularly reincarnating their dynamic, The Finn Brothers’ staying power might be attributed to what Neil calls the “pan-generational” state of the pop music scene. “If you can have people like Johnny Cash suddenly appealing to the MTV generation,” he says, “that’s a healthy sign.” And while the brothers are decades younger than Cash was at the time of his own comeback, the point is well taken.

Another hit might even be on the horizon.

“It’s exciting to have your music reach new audiences” Neil admits. “I’ll take it any time it happens, but I’m not counting on it. And I’m not dependent on it.” He’s just happy with the status quo.

The Finn Brothers will crowd the house at the Orpheum on Friday. More music articles by Jen Selk are here. More interviews are here.

A version of “The Finn Brothers’ new album” was originally published in the Vancouver Sun, July 8, 2004. The original headline was “Neil Finn moves forward, every record seen as a new adventure”. See below. 

Published July 8, 2004 in The Vancouver Sun.