Live Review: Neil Finn & Paul Kelly, Lisa Mitchell

In 2006 Lisa Mitchell covered Crowded House's Fall At Your Feet on Australian Idol. The then-16 year old seemed overwhelmed and consumed by doing the famed song justice live on national television. In 2013 her nervous energy remains, this time to her advantage; an endearing charm complementing the quirks of her music. She now writes her own songs and has them in spades, with back-to-back hits Coin Laundry and Neopolitan Dreams early set highlights. Handpicked to support the songwriter she grew up idolising, she connects with the words she sings, jaunting between pop, folk and indie influences with comfort. If anyone's overwhelmed tonight it's the audience.

As the theatre lights fade to black, cricket chirps invade the building. The duo of Neil Finn and Paul Kelly walk on stage holding lanterns, the white light emitting just enough brightness to be seen. Dressed in suits and with little fanfare, Finn straps on an acoustic guitar and Kelly assembles a harmonica around his neck. It's clear tonight is going to be special. They open with Don't Stand So Close To The Window, from Kelly's 1987 album Under The Sun, an album he and his Coloured Girls toured America to promote, as the support band for Crowded House. Fittingly, they follow it with Crowded House's Four Seasons In One Day and are soon joined by a band, which includes Kelly's nephew Dan on guitar and Finn's son Elroy on drums. As the lanterns are replaced and stage lights kick in, they break into Before Too Long. The energy on stage is immense; a connection between friends and family so natural and unscripted it's a joy to watch.

The first of many spine-tingling moments comes when they perform Leaps And Bounds, alternating vocal duties and playing off each other like schoolboys. Then the band depart and Finn takes to the grand piano for a heartbreaking rendition of Kelly's (You Can Put Your) Shoes Under My Bed. 

Finn, as Kelly puts it, draws from “an intricate clockwork of beautiful songs”, which tonight include solo songs as well as those from Split Endz, Crowded House and The Finn Brothers. Better Be Home Soon has the 2,500-strong audience singing along and it's magic. “Sorry for the next song. It doesn't have a chorus or anything to sing along to,” says a cheeky Kelly, before breaking into How To Make Gravy. With two hours of music, two encores and a flawless setlist, there is nothing to be apologetic about.