- Member of: Betchadupa
- Genre: Rock & Alternative
- Similar Artists: Gentleman Reg, Elliott Smith
Liam Finn lives and performs in the lengthy shadow of his famous father, Neil Finn of Crowded House and Split Enz -- a man who seems to be able to write memorable pop songs as easily as other people write shopping lists. Finn the younger succeeded in making a name for himself while still a teenager as the lead singer of the quirky rock band Betchadupa, formed after he met bandmate Matt Eccles during a beach holiday with his family. They recorded two EPs and two albums -- The Alphabetchadupa in 2002 and Aiming for Your Head in 2004 -- before taking an informal break, with Finn in New Zealand while the rest of the band resided in London.
In 2007 Crowded House re-formed and Finn the elder asked Finn the younger to join their touring band, which he did beginning with their reunion gig at that year's Coachella Festival. Later that year, Liam Finn released a solo album, I'll Be Lightning. The album was recorded in Neil Finn's Roundhead Studios, using analog equipment to give it the spontaneous feeling of a demo recording. Most of the instruments were played by Liam, a sound he re-created during his following tour through looping with an effects pedal as he moved from instrument to instrument, with E.J. Barnes performing his backing vocals. Popularly received in New Zealand and Australia, I'll Be Lightning, as well as the 2009 EP Champagne in Seashells, cemented Liam Finn's status as a formidable talent in his own right. ~ Jody Macgregor, All Music Guide