It could’ve been called the All Star Soul Revue and that would’ve been equally apt. Mid last year, as a labour of love, Paul Kelly united some of this shore’s sassiest soul divas and dudes (specifically, Linda and Vika Bull, Clairy Brown, Dan Sultan and Kira Peru) and recorded Merri Soul Sessions. Tonight, he replicated the experiment.
Not that we would have minded, but it’s not exactly a Kelly vehicle – while our beloved troubadour did a couple of his own tunes, he lets the others take the ropes on his songs. It’s also very much an ensemble piece and everyone shares the spotlight: just as well really because the lineup is one big soul crush.
However, if we’re picking favourites, shout out goes to Vika for Sweet Guy and Sultan for Look So Fine, Feel So Low. Also, something weird happened when Kelly sang Dumb Things and electricity came out of our eyes (it may have looked like a tear, but now you know better).
There was also a preponderance of tunes about rain, starting with Smells Like Rain – an apt metaphor for change in the circumstances given that it’s threatening to piss down.
The Zoo’s a glorious venue – it’s a proper treat to visit the butterflies and then see a gig. That said, a lot of the audience are clearly there for the craic rather than the music, so don’t go if you prefer your audience giving it rapt attention. On the plus side, a picnic precursor to a live gig is a sterling idea: we listen better when fed.
BY MEG CRAWFORD
Photo by Emily Day
Loved: The a capella version of Meet Me in the Middle of the Air (which someone, we shit you not, called an “archipelago song”) and the big cat bellow.
Hated: Hate’s too strong a word, but the ants gave us the shits. Note to self, take bug spray next time.
Drank: Water.
