Liam Finn

Although he lives and performs in the lengthy shadow of his famous father, Neil Finn of Crowded House and Split Enz -- a man who seems to write memorable pop songs as easily as other people write shopping lists -- Liam Finn succeeded in making a name for himself, first as the teenage frontman of the quirky rock band Betchadupa and, several years later, as a talented solo artist in his own right. Formed after he met bandmate Matt Eccles during a beach holiday with his family, Betchadupa recorded two EPs and two albums -- The Alphabetchadupa in 2002 and Aiming for Your Head in 2004 -- before taking an informal break, with Finn returning to New Zealand while the rest of the band resided in London.

When Crowded House re-formed in 2007, Finn the elder asked Finn the younger to join the touring band. Liam agreed, and Crowded House kicked things off with a reunion gig at that year's Coachella Festival. Later that year, Liam Finn released a solo album, I'll Be Lightning. The album was recorded in Neil Finn's Roundhead Studios, using analog equipment to give it the spontaneous feeling of a demo recording. Most of the instruments were played solely by Liam, a sound he re-created during his following tour by moving from instrument to instrument, looping each part with an effects pedal while bandmate E.J. Barnes sang backup vocals. Popularly received in New Zealand and Australia, I'll Be Lightning, as well as the 2009 EP Champagne in Seashells, cemented Liam Finn's status as a formidable talent, and he returned two years later with a poised, poppy sophomore release, FOMO. ~ Jody Macgregor, Rovi...

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