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Paul Kelly – Before Too Long: Triple J’s Tribute
Thank God for the ABC and thank God for Triple J.
They continue to represent Australian music with knowledge and class. The Paul Kelly Tribute “Before Too Long” in Melbourne on Friday and Saturday evening is testament to that.
A stellar line up of Australian artists assembled for the evening, hand picked by Richard Kingsmill and music director (and Even leader) Ash Naylor. John Butler, The Herd’s Ozi Batler, Missy Higgins, Bob Evans, Claire Bowditch, Adalita, Megan Washington, Paul Dempsey, Dan Sultan, Katy Steele, The Panic’s Jae Laffer and Dan Kelly made up the vocalists for the evening with Ash and Augie March the amazing backing band. With artists and and a band such as this you know you’re in for a night of magic.
But what really made the night special was the song selection. Sure, the PK “hits” were in there, From St Kilda To Kings Cross (Bob Evans), Dumb Things (Paul Dempsey), To Her Door (Claire Bowditch) but it was the songs that aren’t quite as well known but were cleverly matched with the right artists. Dan Sultan’s rendition of Everybody Loves You Baby from the Stardust Five album had the audience dancing, Adalita’s spoken word of Everything’s Turning To White and Ozi Batla singing Careless (that’s right, singing), and Megan Washington’s a capella of Meet Me In The Middle Of the Air floored many.
But it was the man of the moment, Paul Kelly who graced the stage on the Saturday night for the final song Leaps & Bounds, joined by the entire cast, that topped the evening off. It summed up just what an amazing singer songwriter Paul Kelly is. I felt privileged to attend and I kept thinking all evening how lucky we are to have a station like Triple J who just get Australian music and know how to represent it. The Go-Betweens tribute a couple of years ago was just as memorable. I can’t wait to see what they will do next. Nick Cave anyone?
For those of you who had the misfortune not to attend the live event, it will be broadcast on triple j in two parts:
- Part 1 – Monday November 30, 8pm (encore Sunday December 6, 5pm)
- Part 2 – Monday December 7, 8pm (encore Sunday December 13, 5pm)
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mark says
On November 16, 2009 at 7:35 pm
I will never forget it. So many magic moments and a collective feel in the room of sharing a moment…and when PK came out at the end the roof almost came off. He is our Bob Dylan!
Sean Sennett says
On November 16, 2009 at 9:17 pm
Wow – sounds amazing. Can we twist their arm to tour it? Riverstage … end of summer?
Trent T says
On November 17, 2009 at 7:49 am
Yep the night was AMAZING!! I was so proud to be an Australian and have the privilege to be in the same room as all of these talented artists and of course Mr Paul Kelly himself.
Fez says
On November 17, 2009 at 1:51 pm
The PK tribute really was something special. I can’t wait to watch it back on dvd to relive those magic oz music moments.
Seeing the cream of the crop in our industry perform at such an amazing venue like the Forum was sesnsory overload for me. I even got to hear my fav PK song ‘They thought i was asleep’, interprated beautifully by Jae Laffer with some sweet pedal steel guitar.
Making the road trip down there with such an A Team of music lovers made it one to remember also..