Split Enz
TSB Arena, Wellington
Wednesday, May 6th
Icons in every sense of the word, Split Enz returned to Pōneke Wellington for a mesmerising show at TSB Arena last night.
Celebrating over 50 years since the release of their debut album Mental Notes, they’ve had ample time to hone their craft, and the first Wellington show of their highly anticipated reunion tour showed they do indeed still have it.
The stage was set by hometown heroes Hans Pucket (read our interview with the band here) whose indie rock songs perfectly warmed the crowd up. Their wry “make sure to stick around for Split Enz” at the end of their set drew a chuckle.
Rapturous applause welcomed the main event of the night as Split Enz emerged onto the stage.
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They launched straight into an electrifying rendition of “Shark Attack”, from their fifth album True Colours, which made clear from the outset that the band’s effortless stage presence is alive and well.
The energy and skill on display throughout the night made it seem like the band had never left. New members drummer Matt Eccles and bass guitarist James Milne, meanwhile, more than held their own alongside the Finn Brothers.
It’s impossible to discuss Split Enz without acknowledging the indelible mark they’ve left on Aotearoa culture, and their Wellington show lovingly paid homage to that without ever crossing into self-indulgence.
The band’s eclectic and colourful suits unsurprisingly made an appearance. A wonderfully psychedelic backdrop animation showed examples from throughout their career, which must surely have had seasoned fans reminiscing about unforgettable past tours and shows.
Credit: Supplied
Keyboardist Eddie Rayner told the story of watching Split Enz perform on the only TV channel in the country back in the day long before he joined the band; Tim Finn delighted in sharing how he only just learnt during this tour of Rayner’s previous job working in the Auckland sewers despite knowing each other for more than half of their lives.
The crowd was at its most alive towards the second half of the show with the ever-charismatic Finn brothers leading an arena-wide spooky sing-along to the 1977 classic “My Mistake”, which only grew over the following songs until every aisle was filled.
Split Enz deftly balanced their pedigree and whimsy in a show that had the entirety of TSB Arena smiling.
At their best, the band are truly dazzling, and as the performance concluded with their unforgettable hit “I See Red”, it was impossible not to be swept up by the exact same charisma that turned them into breakout stars all those decades ago.
That’s why Split Enz continue to sell out venues in Aotearoa more than 50 years on, playing to crowds that range from those who grew up listening to them to those who weren’t even born yet when they started.
Ticket information for Split Enz’s upcoming tour dates can be found here and here.
