Paul Kelly presents The Merri Soul Sessions – Powerstation April 12, 2015

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Paul Kelly brought his troupe of singers and players across the Tasman to light up the night in Auckland with soulful versions of his own tunes along with a few older classics thrown in for good measure.

Paul Kelly’s Merri Soul Sessions is the album Paul Kelly recorded and released last year that finds the Australian singer-songwriter essentially covering himself. While he and his crack band laid down a mighty groove, Kelly enlisted all five singers to handle the vocal duties. These include long-time Kelly touring mates Vika and Linda Bull along with Dan Sultan, Kira Puru and Clairy Browne. You can find out the background of these vocalists by checking out the recent 13th Floor interview with Paul Kelly here.

Kelly has been touring Australia with these folks, both the singers and the studio band, for the past several months and that tour wound up in Auckland on this Sunday night.

The Powerstation was fitted out with tables and chairs around the periphery of the downstairs area, and while they were comfortable to sit on while waiting for Kelly to take the stage, they were not needed once he and his band started pumping out the music as most everyone in the room got up close to sing and dance along.

Kiwi artist Anthonie Tonnon opened the show, and although I missed his set, photographer Michael Flynn assures me it was excellent and went down well with the crowd,

Kelly and his crew hit the stage at 8:30pm, with the full line-up of singers and players on display.

For the record, the band featured Ashley Naylor on guitar (and whistling), Cameron Bruce on keys, drummer Pete Luscombe and bass player Bill McDonald. Kelly himself played guitar, served as emcee and sang a fair few songs himself.

The entourage performed all 11 tracks from the Merri Soul album, beginning with What You Want, which was sung, primarily by Vika Bull.

And when I say performed, I mean it.

These folks weren’t just running through their paces, they sang these songs as if their lives depended on it and the audience responded in kind, whooping and hollering, dancing and singing along.

Everyone got their moment to shine.

Linda Bull took centre stage for Smells Like Rain and Bobby “Blue” Bland’s Lead Me On, Dan Sultan belted out Don’t Let A Good Thing Go and Sam & Dave’s When Something Is Wrong With My Baby.

Clairy Browne, dressed in a provocative outfit straight out of Victoria’s Secret, cooed the sultry Where Were You When I Needed You and joined in with Dan on the Sam & Dave classic.

Kira Puru showed off her chops during I Don’t Know What I’d Do and she duetted with Paul during the Dan Penn/Spooner Oldham chestnut Dark End Of The Street.

Kelly himself threw in a few of his other great songs including How To Make Gravy and Song From The 16th Floor.

It was a joyous celebration of songs and singing with the audience and performers all locked into the groove.

Everyone lined up for the final song of the set, the gospel-tinged Hasn’t It Rained, and they were inevitably called back for more, the encore beginning with Down In The Jetty, a tune Paul wrote with Linda Bull.

The evening final came to a glorious end with all six vocalists (including Kelly) circled around a single microphone, to sing the gospel song Meet Me In The Middle Of The Air acapella. It was a beautiful moment…possible the last time these folks will share the stage together…and we were honoured to share it with them.

Marty Duda

Click on any image to view a photo gallery by Michael Flynn:

Paul Kelly set list:

  1. What You Want
  2. Smells Like Rain
  3. Righteous Woman
  4. Where Were You When I Needed You
  5. Don’t Let A Good Thing Go
  6. Thank You
  7. Lead Me On
  8. How To Make Gravy
  9. I Don’t Know What I’d Do
  10. Dark End Of The Street
  11. Close My Eyes And Think Of You
  12. When Something Is Wrong With My Baby
  13. Song From The 16th Floor
  14. Give In To My Love
  15. Keep On Coming Back For More
  16. Look So Fine, Feel So Low
  17. Love Letter
  18. Sweet Guy
  19. Hasn’t It Rained
  20. Down On The Jetty
  21. Beggar On The Street Of Love
  22. Dumb Things
  23. Meet Me In The Middle Of The Air
Marty Duda
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