Paul Kelly Live ~ A Masterclass ~ Review

Paul Kelly
Entertainment Centre
Thu 5 Sep, 2025

Originally from Adelaide, Paul Kelly bobbed up on the Melbourne pub rock scene in the mid-70s. Recordings of songs like Lover Never Runs on Time and Before Too Long around the mid-80s brought the music of this harmonica playing singer-songwriter to a wider audience. In November he’s releasing an album of new material to mark his 70th year. That’s as good as 50 years on the road and 40 years as a recording artist writing, singing and recording his own songs, many of which have become anthems of Australian culture.

It was a full house at The Entertainment Centre as Kelly and his long-time band graced the stage for the Adelaide leg of their nationwide tour. And from the moment he stepped on stage to begin the night with a quieter piece with himself on piano, to the closing moments of the a cappella Meet Me in the Middle of the Air, it was a masterclass in performance.

Kelly has learnt the art of crafting successful live shows – moods and tempos shift and change, we get the folkie solo on his guitar, the band morphs from duo to full tilt rock outfit; there are haunting almost still moments, and songs that build to crescendos of rock energy. And if you start to drift away from the music you can absorb the panoply of screened images of Australia floating past behind the band, which will inevitably have you questioning ‘why that image?’ which of course then leads you back to the music!

I don’t know if anyone else in Australia could currently lay claim to being the voice of the nation but it felt like Paul Kelly could claim that mantle. The Boomers were there in force of course, but so were younger generations – all singing along or at least mouthing the words to How To Make Gravy and To Her Door.  I doubt Kelly would want such a moniker but the fact is this concert was a brilliant snapshot of Australia in 2025.

Kelly’s songs touch the lives of everyday Australians – we relate to swimming pools on hot summer days, long drives in the car with parents, Christmas Day, Boxing Day cricket, friends from the NSW north coast. Melbourne’s Silvertop cabs, AFL football. His songs are littered with familiar references and personal markers that we can latch on to and call our own.

Kelly’s Australia is very much an inclusive place. His own personalised welcome to country was respectful and appropriate and done with a touch of self-deprecating humour. Every Day My Mother’s Voice tells the story of AFL footballer, Adam Goodes, and his struggles with racism was beautifully done with poignant images floating across the screen behind the song. Kelly also pays tribute to the many musicians who have played with him over the years, and in particular those who are no longer with us. “They do however live on in the songs.”

In the middle of all of this, just in case there wasn’t enough variety of tone and volume for you we’re treated to a Shakespearean sonnet with just solo acoustic guitar.

The core of the Kelly band have been together a good while, and they are on record as saying that they try and make every song different to challenge themselves. Many of Kelly’s songs are written in a similar country or folk ballad style, but the band arrangements bring out the individuality of each track and highlight Kelly’s undoubted knack for a good melody. The result – every song sounds great!

Jess Hitchcock has joined the band for this tour and adds subtle textures and harmonies to the vocals. Dan Kelly’s and special guest Ash Naylor‘s guitar duelling was melodic, fresh, and clean. Dan’s mandolin and Paul’s guitar partnership on his ode to Ned Kelly was another lovely change of mood.

The fact that Paul Kelly is still writing and performing after all these years is a remarkable achievement. Artists performing for decades is not that unusual. Artists who are still performing after 50 years and still presenting new original material are rare. Presenting new original material that also maintains quality and appeal is even rarer. Paul Kelly is a special talent. His spoken intros were brief, laced with a wry wit, and provided just enough context to launch the songs. This concert was a beautifully crafted event with a mix of moods that cruised and soared and flowed in perfect balance. All done with respect, dignity, humility, and obvious gratitude towards his band members, past and present, and his audience. He touches us all.  I’d go so far as to say he speaks for many of us. He certainly speaks for me. He makes me remember; his songs make me appreciate where I/we have come from. He may be the closest thing Australia has to a poet laureate.

5 stars

Michael Coghlan

This was Paul Kelly’s only Adelaide performance on the current tour.