Gig Watch: Dan Kelly

By Sean Lynch

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Dan Kelly is taking on the world - solo!

There's very little in life which in doesn't occasionally benefit for simplifying - just look at Jack Johnson, if the guy simplified anymore he would barely exist as a physical being (but he would be a barely existing physical being with a bulging bank account).

So it's no surprise that Dan Kelly has taken this advice on board, freed himself of The Alpha Males, and cut his act down to a man & his guitar. And what an aural treat that is!

Making the now familiar (and physically draining) trek from the Melbourne Central car park, across Swanston Street and up the mountain of stairs into the beautifully constructed Toff In Town - I have to admit - I was more than a little excited for what was awaiting me.

It's been a long time between drinks for Dan Kelly fans. The Alpha Males have long since disbanded (those at their final ever show at the Northcote Social Club last year may still be creaming their jeans at it's awesome nature) and Dan Kelly's solo shows have been few and far between. Yep, almost like the elusive Big Foot - Kelly's solo support show with Hollie Throsby was a blink-and-you'll-miss-it affair.

Thankfully, several months and a couple of Aria Nominations later - Kelly finally stepped up to the plate headlining a series of shows across Australia.

The 1920's-vibed room is filled with ex-Alpha Males, Boon Companions, assorted industry folk and an array of music fans (oh - and let's not forget the slew of "Look at me, I'm Fashionably Slumming It" douchebags with Buddy Holly glasses). The bar is positively booming, with the chilled out environs (tables and chairs set up at the front of the room resemble those old jazz clubs you see in the "Picture Films" of yesteryear) making for a rather cosy mood.

The background music left a lot to be desired (normally music prior to the act should inspire excitement - but this seemed only to excite many to perform various acts of self-harm... or pash a french girl) and with a decidedly anti-climactic curtain opening - there stood Dan Kelly.

With his hair skewiff, resembling a young Elvis (if Elvis enjoyed a drop of red as opposed to a bucket of burgers) Kelly immediately got into his boyish & naively nervous explanations of his songs. It's for this very reason that Dan Kelly solo is worth the entrance price.

Sure, it's a completely different experience to watching the layered energy of the Alpha Males - and often, the tunes did lack magic once simplified. But the charm and approachable charisma of Kelly simply lit up the room. Each song is carefully explained, humerously delivered and genuinely loved by Dan. From Babysitters of the World Unite to the complex lyrical backstory of Safeway Holiday, the energy of Summer Wino and the Jimmy Barnes inspired Bunk Lovin' Man  or the soulful blues of Lutherin Hall.

Surprisingly, for his first solo show in many months - there was an extreme lack of new material... as in... none at all. And while it was good to hear all the classics from "Sing The Tabloid Blues" and "Drowning In The Fountain Of Youth", there was a certain part of me that would have liked, or even been hinted, to see what lay in the future in the world of DK.

That's not to say there wasn't a good dose of fresh tracks, with some extremely cool cover song choices. The winners being from The Kinks - and the utterly amazing cover of Sinead O'Connors Nothing Compares To You (bare with me now - I haven't gone crazy!!). Taking some Hawaiian influence on board (as well as some help from some angelic voiced back up players), this Ukulele laced track (so often annoying and ridiculed) morphed into a one of the most hypmotizingly beautiful live moments I've yet experienced. It's the sort of cover version that Triple J always seems to latch onto and milk dry - and for mine - I'm glad I heard it before they did. Because it was pretty much perfect.

A few stories about Dan's first foray into living in Melbourne: "I didn't know anyone, except my Uncle Paul... but he was off being all iconic and shit, so there wasn't much to do", as well as a few more clever instrumentals (could the use of mobile phone interference soon become the best new instrument to hit the music scene?) and the end drew near.

Easily one of the most enjoyable solo shows one can experience, with the jovial and absurd lyric explanations setting it apart from anyone else on the scene at the moment. Sure - it suffered at times without Kelly's regular sidekicks, but it allowed us to get a glimpse of what's in store from Kelly in the years to come. A man who is ready to step out of the shadows of his Uncle and truly become great.

Because when it comes to the Kelly gang - to borrow a phrase from Sinead - nothing compares.

Dan Kelly has charmed the pants of punters across Australia with his nervous charisma

Overall: 80%

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