Crowded House are the archetypal rock’n’roll band, that refuse to sweat. That said, last Wednesday’s Paramount audience loved them and were more than demonstrative of this adoration from the word ‘go.’

‘’There’s gonna be a bit more life on the Boardwalk tonight,’’ announced singer, guitarist and all round landlord of the house, Neil Finn. Naturally, everyone agreed and then continued to jostle along to the boldly semi-blasphemic sounds of ‘There Goes God.’

The gorgeous ‘Four Seasons In One Day’ followed on from ‘God,’ and was - personally speaking - one of the finest songs of the evening. The reason for this being, the brushes of Paul Hester and the melody of Paul McCartney. Flowers then arrived on stage, which prompted the band into some casual interaction between one another, and assorted members of the audience.

Hearty thanks to Doug (overtly hardcore, zealous fan, who helped the band out on one number) for injecting a little unexpected spunk and danger into the proceedings.

Crowded House are a people’s band. They write songs of major melancholy that happen to be cloaked in a lyricism that is at times haunting, and at others, frustratingly opaque. They come across as an Australian cross betwixt Squeeze and Cosmopolitan Magazine.

‘Chocolate Cake,’ for instance – which is earning itself critical acclaim everywhere it’s heard – is (lyrically) cluttered and cumbersome, yet as hard hitting as any song of social indictment can be. Essentially concerned with fruitless Western consumption, it’s a song that happens to have a profound pop sensibility. Thus, possibly setting itself up for prime time misunderstanding. Rather like Springsteen’s ‘Born In The USA’ and Costello’s ‘Oliver’s Army.’

Still, with snatches of ‘Rock The Casbah’ and ‘Don’t Cry For Me Andrew Lloyd Webber (the truth is I never loved you),’ Crowded House proved themselves to be more than just another predictable four piece - with a swell sense of melody.

They encored with the best song off the Woodface album, ‘Fall At Your Feet.’ As a result, the band left the Paramount stage unquestionably victorious.

And rightly so.