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     Austin Member Username: Bruegelpie Post Number: 82 Registered: 09-2004 |
Did anyone go to this show? I would be curious to learn more about Paul's tribute to Grant. Paul Kelly Bush Hall, W12:Pop David Sinclair. The Times. London (UK):Sep 1, 2011. p. 13 The Australian singer Paul Kelly has written a lot of songs in the 30 or so years since his recording career began. In recent times he has taken to performing about 100 of them arranged in alphabetical sequence over four-night stretches. The show made its "northern hemisphere debut" in Shepherds Bush this week to tie in with the release of an eight-CD box set, The A to Z Recordings, in this country. On the opening night, Kelly got from Adelaide, a song about his hometown, to Everything's Turning to White, a story about the brutal murder of a girl in the mountains. Along the way he paid homage to the great Australian cricketer in Bradman, hymned the Cities of Texas and negotiated a trilogy of "Don't" songs: Don't Explain, Don't Harm the Messenger and Don't Stand so Close to the Window. Kelly, 56, is a spry character with an easygoing manner and a sharp eye for songwriting detail. He sang and played guitar, piano and harmonica, sounding at times like an Aussie Bob Dylan. He was accompanied by his nephew Dan Kelly, who played perfectly judged electric guitar parts and added spot-on, spine-tingling harmony vocals. The alphabetical device was as good an organisational principle as any, given Kelly's mission to range over such a vast repertoire. Putting on four nights without repeating any songs is an ambitious programme, but it was clear that many of the fans here had signed up for all of the gigs. His folksy storytelling routines between numbers prompted gales of laughter, some of it a little harder than was strictly called for. He talked of his family history and made a moving tribute to the late Grant McLennan of the Go-Betweens. Kelly described Desdemona as his attempt to condense the story of Othello into a few verses and explained how he came to write Difficult Woman for the famously demanding Australian soul singer Renee Geye, with whom he remains on friendly terms. Dumb Things which he began and ended with a frightening, ululating shriek, was possibly his best-known number of the night. Naturally, the hardcore fans loved it all. But this was also a fine introduction to a songwriter who deserves wider recognition on this side of the world. David Sinclair Paul Kelly's A-Z shows continue at Bush Hall, tonight and Sep 2 | ||
| Burgers Member Username: Burgers Post Number: 33 Registered: 05-2005 |
some more detail in this review http://www.spectator.co.uk/arts-and-cult ure/night-and-day/7217953/paul-kelly-pro ves-hes-equal-to-any-songwriter-working- today.thtml | ||
| Shane Greentree Member Username: Realinspectorshane Post Number: 100 Registered: 03-2007 |
Just got the story from a friend who attended. Paul said that he heard Cattle and Cane for the first time on the radio in his car, and was so impressed that he pulled over and immediately got to learning the chords. He also made a joke about Grant using difficult-to-identify time signatures. | ||
| fsh Member Username: Fsh Post Number: 256 Registered: 05-2005 |
Paul Kelly: Did you hear the one about Grant McLennan's difficult-to-identify time signatures? Me: No Paul Kelly: OK then, this next song is called .... |