Live Review: Paul Kelly

The annual Sonic Sessions series at the Fremantle Arts Centre landed its biggest fish when it secured Paul Kelly, perhaps Australia's finest songwriter, and it came as no surprise when the show quickly sold out. For the uninitiated, the series sees an artist play an ostensibly solo set as they open up to Grammy Award winner and radio broadcaster Lucky Oceans. Countless performers have taken part in this fantastic initiative, but Kelly was the prize catch; as Oceans pointed out at the beginning of the show, they had been trying to get this immensely gifted musician, who usually shuns the spotlight, for some time. Tonight, as the residual heat and stunning venue set a beautiful scene, Kelly took centre stage and engrossed a reverential crowd.

Before a word was spoken, though, Kelly and Oceans – the latter on pedal steel guitar and, later, accordion – cut the still air with Maralinga (Rainy Land) from the 1986 album Gossip. With a friendship that has lasted decades, there was an easy, affable connection between the two and the conversation, which moved from explanations of songs to shared memories, flowed effortlessly. Tracks from Kelly's latest album Spring And Fall, such as Cold As Canada and For The Ages, had all the qualities that constitute his finest work. The instantly memorable melodies, which sat on a few tried and trusted guitar chords, were masterstrokes, but it was the lyrics that stuck hardest. With lines such as, “Darling you're one for the ages, I'm glad you live here in mine,” (For The Ages) it's impossible not to be swept away by the strength and simplicity of his observations. How To Make Gravy, Deeper Water and From Little Things Big Things Grow were particularly moving, and aided by the contributions of special guest Alan Pigram, but it was the between-song conversations that resonated most powerfully. In fact, it was when discussing They Thought I Was Asleep, a song he'd written about pretending to be asleep in the car as a kid, that Kelly exemplified his incredible gift of speaking to everyone, personally, at the same time. He is, without question, a national treasure.