The new album? Layered, rock-y.. too much, for me. Too dense. Too complex.

But a legend is a legend, so we popped along to the Juice Bar at the Windsor in Parnell to get a blast of the new Cribs experience, to see if it all made more sense.

A false start: we were driven from the venue by the execrable yowling of Bandicoot. Yup, I know Pearl is Don McGlashan‘s kid. I know they’re young. It’s OK to be arch and fey and chaotic. But learn how to play first, then un-learn it. I got the impression they’d just met each other and their instruments. Not good.

A quick sparkling burst of Collapsing Cities, and then on to the main event, hampered by stuffy sound (please god I should go to a gig in Auckland with a decent PA.. one day it may happen but in the meantime, Kiwi soundmen, sharpen up your act or I’ll be pushing you off the mixing desk and doing it myself). The Cribs were fiery and committed, and they put everything into it, and Ryan’s mic stand gets ever shorter.. but the old songs came over by far the best, even ‘Hey, Scenesters’. And that was a shame, because I like the Jarmans and I want more great music from them.

But linking up with an ex-Smith is a detour down a one way street. Turn around, guys. More songs like this, please:

The ears have stopped ringing. It’s time to tell you about my latest gig experiences.

First up: after a seven year break, Neil Finn got out his address book, contacted a few old mates and invited them over for a three night charity bash for Oxfam. It turns out Neil’s address book is pretty big, stuffed with the names and numbers of quality musicians. I’ve not seen a line up on stage like it. I doubt I ever will in future.

Neil may be the most talented member of his own family, but he brought along sons Liam and Ellroy so we could form our own opinion. Given the choice, who would you have on guitar? Johnny Marr and Ed O’Brien from Radiohead got the gig. Ed’s drumming buddy Phil Selway popped along and locked into a rhythmic groove with top bassman Sebastian Steinberg. Just in case anyone felt a little tired, 4/5ths of Wilco, including Jeff Tweedy, came along to provide vocal and instrumental support. Lisa Germano did her kooky vocal thing, KT Tunstall pitched in, and local favourites Bic Runga and Don McGlashan rounded off the ensemble.

Phew.

It was a chocolate cake gig.. you know, just one more slice, go on, I know you’re full, but there’s space in your tummy for another. We were stuffed with music.. two 90 minute sets, everyone having a bash at everyone else’s songs, and airing the new ones they’d all written over the turkey and stuffing at Christmas. New ones, the titles of which I can’t remember!

But how about the old ones I can? ‘Fake Plastic Trees’ sung very successfully by Mr. Tweedy, ‘Bodysnatchers’ sung slightly less successfully by Finn Snr. (Thom Yorke is a tough act to follow). Johnny Marr stepping up to the plate with ‘Please Please Please Let Me Get What I Want’ and backing Neil perfectly on ‘There Is A Light That Never Goes Out’. He’s looking very well, is Mr. Marr, almost as lithe as when I saw him last onstage (25/2/84, The Smiths at Brighton Polytechnic).

Lots of Finn-tastic fun as you might expect.. Four Seasons, Don’t Dream, Distant Sun, Weather and a beautifully judged ‘She Will Have Her Way’. Lots of Wilco too: particular standouts were ‘Jesus Etc’, and ‘I’m a Wheel’, but they are a truly great American rock band. The fur on the back of the neck was well and truly up on several occasions, not least when they tore into Split Enz’ ‘I Got You’.

KT and Bic had written a fine murder ballad together (title escaped me, we’ll have to wait for the DVD) and Bic herself did a plaintive country waltz through a song unfamiliar to me called ‘Change Of Heart’, which was a welcome change of style. Phil Selway came out from behind the traps for his vocal debut and gave us a gentle acoustic number of his own called ‘Family Madness’.

Liam Finn freaked out with a couple of numbers from his fine “I’ll Be Lightning” record, but if I had to be slightly critical (I feel such a grump).. Liam, it IS OK to leave the stage occasionally on this kind of gig, even though you’re having tremendous fun. Restraint is all. Follow your dad’s lead.

Tired and emotional, everyone piled on stage for a final jaw-dropping rendition of Thunderclap Newman‘s ‘Something In The Air’.. an inspired if unlikely choice of ending.

We were late home. We didn’t mind one bit. Neil Young? Well, he didn’t make it. I’ll tell you about Neil soon. For now, here’s a sample of 7WC (O’Brien, Finn Jnr., Sansone, Tweedy, Selway, Marr, Germano):