Bob Dylan, Paul Kelly @ TheSydney Entertainment Centre(28/04/11)

Sat 30th Apr, 2011 in Gig Reviews

Two lone microphone stands, a scattering of guitars and a spotlight. As soon as Paul Kelly stepped onto the stage, he launched straight into an acoustic version of Difficult Woman, setting the tone for the rest of his low-key performance. Dan Kelly then joined him on stage for an unprecedented performance, ukulele in hand, for The Foggy Fields of France that had toes tapping throughout the Sydney Entertainment Centre.

While he mostly stuck to the slower songs of his repertoire – he did not jump from the Sixteenth Floor, nor did he go To Her Door – his stripped rendition of When I First Met Your Ma had audiences mesmerised. It goes to show that Paul Kelly needs nothing more than a guitar, harmonica and his emotive vocals to truly showcase his talents, even for a large scale arena performance. There were few hiccups – “no, we did not go for a drive in the country last night, it was much longer ago than that… I’m gonna start this song over” – but they only added to his relaxed charm, at which the audience barely blinked an eye. Dan Kelly provided stunningly understated harmonies to accompany his uncle, along with various appearances from his own electric guitars.

Kelly’s final song, an acapella version of the hymn Meet Me In The Middle Of The Air, seemed to suck the air out of spectators. It was a rare sight, to see Paul Kelly standing alone in front of the microphone, and it most certainly did not disappoint. As he faded back from the spotlight, all that followed was applause. As one of the constant talents in Australia’s music scene, anyone who has yet to see him live should do themselves the favour of doing so at the next opportunity.

Introduced in true rockstar style, Bob Dylan and his 5-piece band graced the stage only 20 minutes after Kelly, and were welcomed by a surge of screams and applause from the lifelong fans that filled the Entertainment Centre. As he walked over to his keyboard and adjusted his microphone stand, the majority of those sitting in the front sections jumped out of their seats to get a better look at the man who paled in comparison to the extensive stage and lighting effects that seemed to engulf him.

He started off a little shaky, his words barely distinguishable and audience members soon became restless. However, much to the relief of many, he warmed up into a bluesy setlist that had concertgoers visibly reverberating in their seats.

When seeing a live Dylan performance, a true fan knows that it’s a gamble as to how he will play with the rhythm and lyrics of classic songs on a whim, and how the performance will pan out as a result. This was undoubtedly the case, with both the audience and the band taken along for the ride on many incidents of improvisation; it was merely an opportunity for the man himself to show everyone that he still is the master of his musical domain, creating an altogether unique experience.

Tracks from recent albums Modern Times and Together Through Life proved just the ticket amongst lifetime fans, however it was the old gems of Highway 61 Revisited, Like a Rolling Stone and the finale, Forever Young that received the highest compliments from fans throughout the audience. He ended with a (not altogether unexpected) standing ovation, with screams and adoration lasting long after the crowd dispersed.

He’s not the same Bob Dylan as when he first started performing nearly 50 years ago – you’d be crazy to expect him to be – but he maintains his cheek and conviction when playing that makes him so magnetising to watch. When strumming his guitar, gliding along the keys or bellowing down the barrels of his harmonica, it’s his own enjoyment on stage that reminds you of the Dylan from the early days. For young and old, it was a genuine pleasure to catch that twinkle in his eye that makes him a lifelong entertainer.