2026 is a significant time stamp for New Zealand’s Split Enz. It celebrates the 50th anniversary of their debut album ‘Mental Notes’, twenty years since their last major tour and seventeen years since they last performed live together on Australian soil. That last performance was just across the road as a part of Sound Relief at The Melbourne Cricket Ground in 2009 here in Melbourne Australia.
The celebration and reuniting of original and classic line up members in Tim Finn, Neil Finn, Eddie Rayner and Noel Crombie here is 2026 was set to be launched at the ill-fated Bluesfest in April. In 2025 Neil Finn gave us clues that this tour was happening when an array of Split Enz classics were scattered through the Crowded House Red Hot Summer shows to incredible crowd response. The announcement of some New Zealand shows in early 2026 also gave us the inkling that there could be more than a one-off show at Bluesfest and that there would in fact be a multi date run of shows through Australia, and here today it all began. The Forever Enz Tour kicked off tonight.
The always incredible Vika & Linda Bull opened tonight’s show and gave us a stellar set of songs, somethings old, something borrowed and somethings new.
Opening with a cover of Paul Kelly’s ‘Be Careful What You Prey For’ you got sent chills as the sisters Bull do what they do best, connect with you. Somehow Vika & Linda have this ability to just reach into your soul and pull you in.
It is the Bull sister’s own material that connects so directly. Every line, every phrase and every harmony means something and ‘Raise Your Hand’ simply sent chills down your spine.
Songs like ‘Never Let Me Go’ might belong to The Black Sorrows but it truly is a Vika and Linda song. Tonight they proved that in every way. Hearing both voices soar and come together, just as it was recorded is nothing but sublime. Every ounce of the songs passion and energy belong to these sisters.
It also introduced us to the sister’s new band The Bullettes who were nothing short of perfection.
The stories, the songs and the love that flowed from that stage was such an uplifting experience. Raw, honest relevant tales about life, dark and light connect perfectly.
There is a magic in these two ladies’ voices, both different, but when put together is unlike anything else. While they may be sisters, there is a much bigger connection between Vika & Linda on stage it’s as if they become one incredible entity of power and soul. Simply breathtaking in every day.
Tonight’s set was closed out with two more songs from their forthcoming June 5 album “Where Do You Come From?” The first was ‘Bliss’ a brand-new track from the forthcoming album, its slick and graceful delivery creates even more anticipation for the new album. The title track and first single from the new album I was treated to hear late last year as a part of their run of shows with Mark Seymour. Since that day I have been counting down the day until the album’s release as it is one of this year’s most anticipated releases.
Tonight’s forty-minute set had it all, power, beauty, passion, fire precision and was a master class in storytelling, musicianship and sisterhood. Everything I expected and a little more.
Oh and by the way their album is out June 5.
Setlist : Be Careful What You Prey For, Raise Your Hand, The Parting Song, When Will You Fall For Me, Pigface & Calendula, Never Let Me Go, Bliss, Where Do You Come From ?
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Split Enz I didn’t catch on to until their the ‘I See Red’ single and groundbreaking “True Colours” album. The Singles ‘I Got You’ and ‘I See Red’ were played constantly their post-punk, new wave evolution caught me.
“True Colours” and that incredible laser etched vinyl to a nine-year-old mesmerising and the music well it was groundbreaking. There was something so different about this band and it appealed to this kid who loved everything that was visual and resembled rock n roll.
As I matured so did my musical tastes and the output of Split Enz up until their breakup in 1984. I recall the back catalogue sitting in my uncle’s record collection and the covers of ‘Second Thoughts’ and ‘Dizrythmia’ just didn’t quite gel with this then six year old. Visually it did but musically I just didn’t get it. The bands combination of art rock and street circus clown imagery confused me and musically it just went over my head. That was until the mid 90’s when I revisited those early albums and found much more than I had expected in them. That frantic carnival-esqe experimentation finally made sense.
Fast forward to 2026 and here I am at Rod Laver Arena about to see a band that I never thought I would see live. The band that has a catalogue that is so rich in masterful songwriting, musical layers and textures.
While there are the radio hits, there is so much more to Split Enz as I have touched on before and the setlist from the New Zealand leg of the tour earlier this year had me grinning from ear to ear in anticipation.
Opening with the quirky ‘Shark Attack’ is a statement that only Split Enz can make. The band dressed in their outlandishly signature loud suits. Neil Finn with his hair teased out just took me back to what I remember seeing on Countdown. Sure, there have been a few years that have passed since those days, but I was immediately taken back to 1980. Tim Finn’s eccentric movement oozed nothing but youth in a mature man, his voice comforting and chaotic. Simply seeing the Finn brothers together sharing the stage and performing these songs is spellbinding.
‘History Never Repeats’ surges from the PA as we are treated to that melodic mastery and incredible pop sensibility that is so deeply embedded in the bands musical DNA. Neil Finn’s voice hasn’t aged a day, and his guitar work is better than ever. Hearing the Finn Brothers harmonise is chilling and pure bliss, I really can’t put it any other way.
It isn’t until ‘Nobody Takes Me Seriously’ and ‘Give It A Whirl’ that I began to really pay attention to just how incredible Eddie Rayner is and how he orchestrated so much of the band’s sound. His proficiency and technical ability are incredible, mixing such an eclectic array of sounds with precision and melodies that really do set the footprint of what the Split Enz sound is. I could have simply listened to Rayners playing on its own and left satisfying. So much so I would love to experience a solo performance from Rayner. In Rayners playing there truly is a world where beauty and chaos live harmoniously.
I can’t go on without mentioning the importance of Noel Crombie either; while not drumming tonight he is providing us with a smorgasbord of accentuating percussion, finer details and sounds that just build the layers of this music to a point where it can’t be disputed. Without his contributions his absence would be noticed, the songs would lack finesse and would detract from the way these songs present themselves.
From this point on tonight’s show ebbs and flows in and out of the hit singles into deeper cuts and makes sure it pays respect to the legacy of the back catalogue. Everything tonight is masterfully executed and deeply appreciated. Regardless of your level of fandom there was something here for everyone.
The stories of early shows and those shows that shaped the band and who they would become were light, funny, honest and charming. So much so that it set a picture in your mind of what it was like to be a part of it.
The hits single obviously pulled the biggest crowd reactions. ‘One Step Ahead’, ‘Dirty Creature’, ‘Message To My Girl’, My Mistake’, Six Months In A Leaky Boat’ has Rod Laver singing and dancing in their seats.
The deeper cuts like ‘Double Happy’, ‘Pioneer’, ‘Time For A Change’ and ‘Matinee Idyll (129)’ engaged you on a different level and truly show you a different side of the band that explains the depth and evolution in a more definite way. The structures of these songs and their layers are put under the spotlight and connect differently, and I find myself becoming a student of their musical vision and depth. Simply WOW.
Closing out the main set is the pairing of two songs that simply whip Rod Laver Arena into a frenzy, the two songs that I mentioned earlier that made me a fan. ‘I Got You’ and ‘I See Red’ are every bit as good as they were on discovery way back then, maybe better. There is this connection that has really gelled on that stage. It’s almost as if time has stood still and the chemistry is back; the band seems so comfortable with each other again as if there has not been a significant absence from the stage. We sang, we danced, we smiled. It’s really that simple.
While it isn’t the complete original line up, new bassist James Milne fits the band so perfectly, those irresistible bass lines replicated perfectly with Milnes own touch, his backing vocals were perfect and added to the magic of the original members.
Drummer Matt Eccles is such a joy to watch his beaming smile was infectious and had all of the swing and groove required to fill the shoes of Crombie. It has to be hard knowing the guy who you are covering for is standing just to your right watching, feeling and playing along with everything you do.
The first of three encores was ‘Spellbound’ took us back to where it all began, a mix of fusion and eccentric. Live it is magnificent and Neil Finns guitar work is beautifully on point.
‘I Hope I Never’ is one of those songs from the bands catalogue that simply brings an embrace with it that tugs at the heart and soul. Its beauty and grace pulls out an emotional connection. That piano line and that vocal delivery … simply chilling.
For the finale we were treated by Crombie playing drums on the final song ‘Strait Old Line’ you felt that original magic again they synergy of it all and how his feel really drove this catalogue of songs. To watch Crombie behind the kit is something to behold. However, it is his spoon solo at the end of the song that just blew your mind. His efforts were melodic, rhythmically inspiring and a blast to watch.
I know it’s cliched to say History Never Repeats, yet tonight it certainly did. Finally seeing Split Enz live is truly a full circle moment for me. I never thought it would happen to be honest, but there I was and there they were, the band I have had a deep connection to for over four and a half decades. I can only imagine how incredible those shows in the seventies and eighties were, tonight I got treated to the past merging into the present and I loved every moment of it.
The chatter leaving Rod Laver so full of positivity and joy, the smiles and reminiscing were great to hear. What we witnessed, felt and heard tonight was exceptional. Split Enz after fifty years are still as relevant and important as ever.
Setlist : Shark Attack, History Never Repeats, Poor Boy, Nobody Takes Me Seriously, Give It A Whirl, Dirty Creature, Time Foe A Change, One Step Ahead, Missing Person, Message To My Girl, Double Happy, Stuff And Nonsense, Matinee Idyll (129), My Mistake, Hard Act To Follow, Pioneer, Six Months In A Leaky Boat, Got You, I See Red.
Encore : Spellbound, I Hope I Never, Strait Old Line
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With special thanks to Nicole & Live Nation for the media access
All image credit: Shot by Slaidins
