There’s no doubt that Paul Kelly is one of Australia’s finest singer songwriter and performer. The asking price of seventy-five dollars for this spectacle is enough to make anyone do a back flip and is obviously in the budget constraints of Adelaide’s music elite. The music elite who were more than content to sit back relax, sip of chardonnay (minus the yuppie cheese) and not really get involved in the show.
The support came by way of New Buffalo (aka Sally Seltmenn) who can only be described as a little left of centre. Her performance was solid but to be honest this style of music doesn’t really do it for me.
Her Majesty’s Theatre is one fine establishment and to be able to watch someone of the calibre of Paul Kelly strut his stuff makes for a great night of entertainment. The set was split in to two sections. The first featuring the new album Stolen Apples and the second being a greatest hits and memories set.
The surrounding atmosphere was a little lack lustre as the music elite made their way back after swilling their premium beverages during the break. There was no sense of anticipation or excitement even a couple of minutes before the scheduled start time. It didn’t take long before they gave Paul Kelly and band a warm welcome before kicking off proceedings. This was no ordinary band featuring Kelly’s nephew Dan Kelly, Even’s Ash Naylor, Cameron Bruce and the long time rhythm section consisting of the ever reliable Peter Luscombe and Bill McDonald.
The first set was quite easy to remember as Kelly and band played Stolen Apples in its entirety from track one in order to track eleven. Hearing these songs come to life for the first time was a really treat and some of the antidotes gave them even greater meaning. Whether it was Feelings Of Grief to the closer of the first set in Please Leave Your Light On, tonight was something special.
Kelly and band returned to drag out some of the greatest hits from the back catalogue, which lifted the roof off the joint. When I Met Your Ma is a sentimental favourite and one of my favourites that got an airing. Some of the greatest included Before Too Long, Deeper Water, How To Make Gravy and Wintercoat. There were just as many hits that were left out but how could you be disappointed with what had just unfolded.
