Bob Dylan, Paul Kelly @ TheRod Laver Arena, Melbourne(20/04/2011)

Sat 23rd Apr, 2011 in Gig Reviews

“Ladies and gentlemen, Bob Dylan.” The voice of this unseen hype-man may have uttered a few precursory details but really, that is all he needed to say. No detailed history was required. There was no need for any clumsy adjectives to introduce him. When you hear that name and know that its owner is about to take to the stage, you stop what you’re doing. Regardless of all the reports you’ve read of languid performances past, you are excited. You crane your neck for the best view. And then, he enters.

An hour or so earlier, a less cluttered stage was occupied by a man who similarly requires little introduction. There are few people who Paul Kelly should ever justifiably play support to. Fortunately, Bob Dylan is one of them. Putting aside any lazy comparisons between the two, this was a truly fitting way to begin the evening. Kelly is admittedly a performer who thrives on connecting with his audience, so the surrounds of the Rod Laver Arena did make for a predictably impersonal experience. Yet his relaxed demeanour helped alleviate some of the distance and his vocals effortlessly carried to every corner of the cavernous venue.

The real thrill of his brief set was seeing Kelly’s nephew Dan, a man with stadium-sized inclinations, given the opportunity to perform on such a scale. Earlier this month at the East Brunswick Club , Dan was all jokes and exaggerated ego. Here though, he adopted a respectful position within his uncle’s songs, and when he did take command, his swirling distorted solos sounded better than ever. A crowd pleasing triplet of Before Too Long, Dumb Things and How To Make Gravy was superbly capped off with an a cappela version of Meet Me In The Middle Of The Air; the beauty and innate melody of Kelly’s voice stunningly exposed.