Paul Kelly @ Enmore Theatre

On The Street, 2/8/94, #708
By Barry Watts

Paul Kelly has long been considered one of Australia's finest songwriters, and his songs have been kind to him, in the sense that he is not only able to have his songs chart quite well every time he releases but also that he can play to a crowd the size of the one that he did on this particular night at the Enmore Theatre. Paul Kelly decided to play without a support act, for reasons that weren't offered and are difficult to understand whatever they may be. With the success Paul Kelly has had and the size of the crowd, he could have offered a local act some much needed exposure. However, it was decided it would be better to play some new American releases over the PA instead. [it was actually the Underground Lovers, and Australian band]

The first half of the show was obviously entertainment for Paul Kelly fans only, he took four songs before he actually spoke and when he did it was to the guitarist in the band. On the other hand the quality of the music was excellent, there were absolutely no technical problems and they used the equipment they had in a way that made the sound "perfect". It was everything you would expect from an artist of Paul Kelly's status. That fact that is was everything you would expect was possibly the only problem with the show, in that it would have been nice to see something challenging to listen to or watch or something.

Unfortunately, what seems to be the case is that Paul Kelly has reached a level of songwriting and performance that he is comfortable with and he has no desire or need to stretch any further, musically or lyrically. Of course, that is the point where it is up to the individual and their taste in music - to decide whether they want to listen to what Paul Kelly can and does do very well or whether they need something more challenging. As for Paul Kelly thought, it is disappointing to see someone as accomplished as him resting on his laurels.

And so, the first half of the concert was something of a disappointment but it did pick up a bit when the band come back for the most obvious, anticipated, rock cliched, don't-turn-the-house-lights-on-yet, encores ever. It was at this point, after the shouts for more, that Kelly actually started to perform, he put some heart into the show and it picked up to the level of entertainment it should have started on. He came back for two more encores and they were again more enjoyable than the show itself, the crowd responded with rapturous applause after Paul Kelly (rebel that he is) used that 'f' word... once.

Overall the crowd loved Paul Kelly, he gave them what they wanted, which was songs they already knew being played live. The entire show was polished and polite but was nothing that you couldn't hear if you bought the CD, apart from the lengthened guitar solos.