ON THE TOWN: You always expect the...

ON THE TOWN: You always expect the unexpected at a Crowded House concert--and the New Zealand popsters’ pair of shows at the Palace last weekend were no exception. Midway through the set Friday night, the band asked its fans whether they preferred a “loose” show or a “professional” one. The fans unanimously voted for “loose,” which is what they got. The group is so eager to please that they even offered four free tickets to the next night’s show to anyone who would bring them a favorite American delicacy--a Fatburger--before the show was over.

Exhibiting the sloppy but endearing charm of a mid-’70s Kinks concert, the band turned its Top 5 hit, “Don’t Dream It’s Over,” into an audience sing-along, staged a goofy whistling contest and swapped instruments at will (allowing drummer Paul Hester to show an unlikely prowess on rhythm guitar). Singer Neil Finn also survived a nasty electrical shock and, while he was re-routing his microphone circuits, the rest of the band engaged in a lively dance contest, taking center stage for an impromptu jitter-bug demonstration.

And yes--by the second encore, a resourceful fan raced out of the crowd and delivered an enormous Fatburger, prompting Hester to clear off his snare drum, spread a tablecloth and make a game attempt at devouring the whole messy concoction. The band’s Saturday night show was nearly as much fun, with lots more high jinks as well as an encore guest appearance by Bangle Michael Steele, who helped the lads with an inspired version of an old Split Enz tune, “I Got You,” as well as such oldies as “Not Fade Away” and “Twist & Shout.”