Here’s an obliquely apt metaphor to describe the unique artist that is Dan Kelly. About halfway through tonight’s show he broke into Summer Wino from his 2004 debut The Tabloid Blues (apparently the first time the Dream Band had ever played the song). This prompted one particularly drunk crowd member to explode into utter hysterics. Not belligerent or drunk beyond the point of comprehension, but rather the performance of this song seemed to materialise a prized desire. Thus, he proceeded to sing along to every damn word, loud, off key and each line suffused with childlike glee, while also grabbing onto anyone in reaching distance in a show of miscued brotherhood. Seems a bit loutish, right? But given he was echoing lines such as “I’ve been reading lots of Charles Bukowski and all about the Motley Crüe/ Now I’m swirling and ducking like a punch drunk postman/ Hell bent on delivering you this song,” it almost made perfect sense. The song’s at once eloquent and a depiction of slacker hedonism.
Prior to the final chorus, the otherwise freewheeling tune broke down to a near-whispered bridge. Our boy, however, simply wasn’t able to turn down his enthusiasm. This led to the lyrics “In all good saints lies a sinner/ And in all good sinners a saint/ I know I feel quite faint/ I put my hand up for a halo/ Patron saint of the second rate/ Wouldn’t that be great,” becoming more pronounced than ever.
Kelly and the Dream Band were here to launch their latest LP Leisure Panic! and newer songs filled the setlist. In the satirical Melbourne vs Sydney, Kelly proffers, “I’m just a bumpkin among the great auteurs.” His self-appraisal may be correct within the context of the song (essentially indicating that he’s not one of the cool kids), but he certainly owns an identifiable and strongly evolved songwriting style. At moments he’s scrappy, daggy and drunken, but his songs are marked with wit and intelligence. He doesn’t say things for approval or egghead kudos, but rather he’s a playful poet, who’d get as much of a kick out of these songs as anyone.
They’re curious things, Dan Kelly songs, questioning, often amusing, sometimes ascerbic, but never angry. This was exemplified by the night’s final song Drunk On Election Night. It was presaged by the disclaimer that there isn’t anything wrong with cocksucking, and we should all suck as many as we like. The song laments another election going the way of the inept, and a continuing swing to the right. In the chorus, Kelly speaks of a “cocksucking, motherfucking playing on my mind.” It’s a tale borne of true disenchantment, but as is his wont, Kelly transforms it into an uplifting moment of allied dissent.
BY AUGUSTUS WELBY
Loved: The Dream Band.
Hated: Babysitters of the World Unite?
Drank: Red wine, summertime, two favourite friends of mine.
