There are a lot of things us Aussies have allegedly stolen from our Kiwi mates across the pond and proudly claimed as our own. (Except pineapple lumps. You guys can keep those!) One of the most divisive phenomena that is sure to fire up debate during karaoke time at the pub is beloved band Crowded House. Aussie icons, right? Well, not exactly. Before they were Crowded House, the band started as Split Enz back in Auckland in 1972, before moving over to Sydney three years
later. The group eventually morphed into Crowded House in 1985 and became a global sensation. But for many young Aussies and New Zealanders, Split Enz defined the sound of their youth, with hits like I See Red (1979), I Got You (1980) and Message To My Girl (1983). 2026 marks just over a whopping 50 years since the launch of their debut album, Mental Notes (1975), which was followed by True Colours (1980) four years later. The latter was certified 5x platinum in Australia, selling
over 350,000 copies. So. How are the boys going to celebrate 50 years of magic? Perhaps with some pavlova? A flat white? Maybe a Gladiator rewatch? Time to rock out with their fans on a reunion tour Australia has waited far too long for. On Monday night, Sydney’s TikTok Entertainment Centre was truly a crowded house (sorry) as we were graced with music icons, brothers Tim and Neil Finn, along with Eddie Rayner and Noel Crombie from Split Enz, with drummer Matt Eccles and bassist
James Milne also joining the tour. Before the main act however, the auditorium was almost at full capacity to see the Enz’ opening act, Vika & Linda. The sisters first found the spotlight as the powerhouse backing vocalists of Aussie group The Black Sorrows, formed by Joe Camilleri in 1983, before launching their own successful career as a musical duo more than 30 years ago. As they casually opened up about their daily swimming ritual – even giving Sydney’s Prince Alfred Park pool a shoutout
– the sisters blew the crowd away with the sheer power of their soulful harmonies, their lungs clearly as strong as ever (must be all that time in the water!). Before long, as the lights went dark, all eyes were on the stage as we waited for Split Enz to grace the stage in Sydney for the first time in 20 years. But instead of musicians, we were met with. a giant orange silk sheet. The shiny piece of fabric maniacally danced across the stage,
a move very familiar to those of us who have known the struggle of trying to fold the cursedbottom sheet. As the crazed sheet scuffle came to sudden stop, the piece of linen was then triumphantly yanked away to reveal six men in fabulous suits. It was refreshing to see that the art of the fun theatrical entrance was not dead in 2026 and I wish more musicians would Houdini up their acts a little bit. Launching into their hit Shark Attack (1980), much of
the crowd had leapt out of their seats by the second song, History Never Repeats (1981). That felt like record time for the bums-out-of-seats movement to begin and I honestly could not be prouder. As an on-the-cusp ‘zillenial’ whose favourite tunes were recorded in studios decades before I was born, my friends often poke fun at me for rarely listening to anything made after 2003. But if there is one thing I’ve learnt from attending concerts spanning every age group, it is always the baby
boomers and gen-x’ers who are the first on their feet, belting out every lyric as if their lives depended on it. Last night was no different, as thousands of ‘Frenz Of The Enz’ brought down the house with an electric and excited energy that bounced across every corner of the venue. The boys then delighted with Poor Boy (1980) and Nobody Takes Me Seriously (1980), before getting everyone grooving with the catchy hit Dirty Creature (1982). “It is great to be here, the first gig
we did in Sydney was at the Hordern Pavilion with bands Buffalo and Finch,” Tim smiled, revealing that they had cigarettes flicked at them by the crowd back then. Very Rock and Roll. “Is that a measure of respect? The flicking of cigarettes?” Neil joked. “I don’t think so, but there was a massive fist fight at the soundcheck, I think that is a measure of respect,” laughed Tim. “Two roadies going in at it, and we thought, wow this is not Auckland.” The vibes
were high as the iconic Message To My Girl (1984) played, with my mum beside me reminiscing on how that tune was released when she was in Grade 12, regaling me on how her high school years were an epic time for music. Six Months on a Leaky Boat (1982) was a crowd favourite, with bangers I Got You (1980) and I See Red (1978) leading us into the encore. Tim’s emotional I Hope I Never (1980) entranced the audience, while the upbeat Strait Old
Line (1983) had us all dancing as the show came to a close. Giant smiles plastered across their faces as they took their final bow, it was clear the band had as much fun as we did relishing in the retro magic that is Split Enz. Looking as dashing as ever in their famous quirky suits, the two hour concert felt like a nostalgic time capsule back to one of music’s most fun and transformative eras. The Forever Enz Tour continues at Sydney’s TikTok Entertainment
Centre tonight before heading to Perth’s RAC Arena on Friday May 22 and Adelaide Entertaiment Centre on Monday May 25.
Split Enz, Tim Finn, Neil Finn, TikTok Entertainment Centre, Vika & Linda, Forever Enz Tour, Sydney, reunion tour, Mental Notes, True Colours