Photos: Supplied.
The six members of the Finns Tribute Band were originally from South Australia. Now, they’re scattered across three states, but years of playing together in various bands have given the band members a shared musical understanding and cohesion that makes their performances a hit every time.
The vocal qualities in the group loaned themselves so well to the Finn brothers’ Split Enz and Crowded House songs in their repertoire that Simon Marafioti, the band’s manager and drummer, was inspired to develop a Finn tribute band. The idea sat on the back burner until the 2020 Adelaide Fringe Festival, when the tribute band was formed. With Greg, Curtis and Mikey on acoustic guitar, bass and violin respectively (Mikey also plays lap steel guitar), Grant on keyboard and David as lead guitarist, the group was ready to rock – and it does.
Simon says that offstage mateship and a genuine love of the Finn brothers’ music makes a magic combination.
“We have mutual respect and connection as a band and really love the songs we’re playing,” he says. “We don’t do the wigs and costumes; we’re a group of seasoned musicians paying respect to two great musical talents.”
Paying tribute to an individual performer is a challenge; to have six individuals create their own interpretations of bench-mark music while maintaining a consistency of sound – without attempting to copy the originals – is a real test.
“One of our points of difference with many tribute bands is that we don’t have a frontman,” says Simon. “We have three lead vocalists – Greg, Curtis and Mikey – and we all sing backing vocals and get some great four-and five-part harmonies going. We use projections and narrative, and we all share in telling the Finns’ story. There’s always something going on; the audience isn’t focussed on one part of the stage.”
Asking a musician to name a favourite song is like asking a parent to name a favourite child, but Simon confesses to a real weakness for the Split Enz song Stuff and Nonsense.
“I still get goosebumps playing it!” he says, “but Don’t Dream It’s Over is one that always gets the audience singing along and wanting to dance.”
RPAC may need to install a mosh pit!
The Finns Tribute Band will play RPAC on August 9. To book or for more information on the program, call 3829 8131 or visit rpac.com.au.
