More than a decade’s passed since I last saw Crowded House live. It was October 2010, according to setlist.fm, in an arena at a Cape Town casino. The band played well, and the songs sounded good. But the most memorable part of the show was the warm, casual vibe they created in a venue with all the charm of an aircraft hangar.
“It’s nearly 20 bloody years ago?” laughs a surprised Nick Seymour when I remind him that Crowded House last visited South Africa in 1993.
“I haven’t been there since, so I’m expecting some changes,” reasons the affable bass player on the line from his home in Ireland. “Last time I was in Cape Town I did hook up with some of the locals and went surfing, so when I get back there I’m definitely going to want to get a wave or two. One of the things is being able to say you’ve surfed in South Africa when talking to South Africans here in Ireland or Australia. And one of the benefits of touring is being able to surf internationally.”
Nils van der Linden