Dan Kelly, Eagle And The Worm,Little Scout @ The Troubadour(21/05/2010)

Wed 26th May, 2010 in Gig Reviews

Lower-key gigs at the Troubador always tend to start with a seated-round-the-fire kind of atmosphere, and that suits Little Scout just fine. Performing a man short of their usual four, the Brisbane ménage a melody have an engaging cuteness falling just short of the likes of those famous Stone siblings. Although the fluffiness is intentional, each song titters oh-so-close to becoming something more powerful, yet doesn’t. The Easiest Way, sung by thorn-between-two-roses Patrick Elliot is their strongest with a moving maturity that’s all too short-lived. As the trio finish to half-hearted applause, I am still interested to see the group at full strength.

It seems a night of under-strength line-ups as quirky Melbournian sometimes-nine-tonight-four-piece Eagle And The Worm take the stage and immediately up the anti with their glorious mess of pop-rock fun reminiscent of a time majority of the crowd has only read about. Vocalist Jarrad Brown looks like the skinniest Gibb brother from the Bee Gees and has a certain endearing overconfident nervousness. Between song banter revolves almost entirely around self-defaming humor, with sarcastic remarks like “Good response. That’s a good response,” following virtually every tune.

Their “Big Triple J hit” Futureman is second song off the rank and is even more fun live. The happy honky-tonk Corroboree continues infusing 60’s pop hooks with 70’s blues-rock guitar tone to entertaining but not ground-breaking effect. The Cat Empire-esque, trumpet-lead closer stamps the party ‘open for shenanigans’ and just in time for the main event.

No it’s not Cosmo Kramer’s younger brother, but it is one of Australian music’s more eccentric and wonderfully lateral minds, Dan Kelly and his newly assembled conglomerate band. Introducing himself and band casually, you’d swear there was nothing unusual about the nautical themes set complete with Patrick Star (Sponge Bob’s best mate, derr!) and costumes. Too Young is a reverb-soaked blues waltz strengthened (like all of Kelly’s creations) by loaded, poignant lyrics.

Whether you’re a fan of Kelly’s music or not, his presence in undeniable and his song introductions second to none. Should his music career suddenly dissipate, a solid safety-net is waiting in the world of stand-up. The ridiculously named Bindi Irwin Apocalypse Jam, Kelly’s latest single and main plug on this tour, is early to arrive. Love it or hate it, it’s a fantastical pop nugget and catchy as fuck.

Clearly the only way to somewhat erase the “Oooh Weee’s” from the previous track’s hook is to follow up with an equally memorable and far more fun-to-sing one, so in rolls Drunk On Election Night. Kelly proved long before those banjo-plucking Poms that a seriously-toned pop song can have intelligent, powerful lyrics as well as a curse-loaded chorus. The apple sure doesn’t fall far from the extended family tree.

Kelly’s skill as a story teller, although infinitely different in approach to his uncle’s is definitely, like Paul Kelly’s, the rock solid foundation to all of his work. Get along to a Dan Kelly show, remember not to take him or yourself to seriously, and you’ll have a ball.