Kia ora to everyone wherever they are – Matty Flatt here, and apologies for this late Hoddle. It’s late because 1) I forgot Fitzie was going away, and 2) by the time I remembered I was on my way to see Split Enz in concert.
Now I’m back from said concert and I am writing this!
Seeing Split Enz play live was an actual, bonafide dream come true. Growing up as a young child through the 90’s, while my friends were into boy bands (okay, okay, I loved the Backstreet Boys, don’t @ me) I was really digging
this crazy Kiwi new wave band. I could not tell you why six-year-old Matty was obsessed with a band that had their heyday through the latter part of the 70’s and early part of the 80’s… I just was. I was a bit of a weird kid.
I would listen to their greatest hits compilation, Spellbound, back to back, and one of my earliest memories of playing guitar was me sitting down next to the stereo with my beat up old nylon string, trying to work out the vocal melodies by ear. One of my most precious possessions is actually that copy of Spellbound, which my uncle “stole” for a bit – it turns out he went to university with a relation of the Finn brothers who were a big part of the genius at the core of the band, and he got that friend of his to have it signed for me for a Christmas present: “To Matthew, our #1 fan” – signed Tim & Neil Finn, 25/12/97.
Split Enz were probably the first Kiwi band with any real international success, having a cult following in the UK and Canada. They had obviously long broken up by the time I was of concert-going age, with some of the members going on to solo careers, others to other bands (such as the very successful Crowded House); but I always dreamed of seeing them live. It was something I never thought possible.
And today it did! It was such incredible fun; Tim Finn’s voice is a little older now, and they’re all a little slower – but they still bring this madcap energy to everything they do. The crowd in the arena was raucous and I’m so grateful I got to experience it!
Do you have any bucket list concerts that you thought would never happen but did? What about weird bands you were into in your childhood?
Matty Flatt’s track of the day: Message To My Girl, by Split Enz
And now for your links:
Jack Pitt-Brooke, James Maw, and Kate Mason break down De Zerbi’s impact at Spurs on The Athletic’s podcast
Since we’ve given up on doing them this season, here’s Alasdair Gold’s player ratings from the win against Aston Villa
The Athletic ($$$) break down the Premier League title race
