Kerre Woodham: A fraction too much diction

Tim Finn. Photo / Greg Bowker

When did it become OK to talk through concerts?

I was so looking forward to seeing Tim Finn live.

I seldom go to live gigs because I'm short and being in a crowd means inhaling armpits and seeing nothing but backs. But when I heard Tim Finn and Eddie Rayner were going to be live at the Windsor to celebrate both Tim's anthology album, North, South, East West and the launch of iTunes gift cards, I put my misgivings aside and my mojo on and headed out.

Tim and Eddie were brilliant of course - as were the other musos - but the cacophony of sound coming from some members of the crowd was appalling. At times, Tim could barely be heard above the baying of the masses.

At first I thought it must be me. That I was getting old and cranky. But even if I am, talking through a performance is just so bloody rude. Especially one from a world-class artist.

Eventually, Tim's talent won them over and by three-quarters of the way through the set, the noise had settled to a dull drone. Perhaps it was because it was a free concert and there are some who don't value what they don't pay for. Whatever.

It was plain bad manners, as far as I'm concerned. No wonder modern bands have the noise cranked up to ear-splitting levels.

Better to blow your eardrums than have to suffer the chattering classes.