Well what about that. Recently went to a single launch by Brooke Russell and the Mean Reds.. and who was in the audience but Paul Kelly! It’s amazing what an effect he can have on a room.. you sense everyone trying to be cool, but really we’re all so starstruck. Gasp. #LivingLegend.

Anyway, I’d seen him on TV just days before playing his new single on Adam Hills Tonight. Paul hasn’t written anything for a couple of years because he’s been working on the book. So this was his first song back on the horse.

What I loved about it was that I find him even more captivating than before. This is such a beautiful and moving song.. surprising in the end too. It’s not always that an artist becomes stronger and richer as they mature. Often you’ll find musicians get worn down by the industry machines and their work is either stale or highly commercialised. But Paul is that rare human, who just sticks to the simple storytelling.

Ooh look, here’s the full episode. I forgot – Molly Ringwald is in there as well. Oh yes.

PS [Link]: Brooke Russell and the Mean Reds, CD Launch 25 August 2013 at the Toff in Town.

Ah the joys of cross-genre inventiveness. Like cabaret grunge or death metal prog folk. Here’s the "candlelight mashup", with Scott Bradlee, whom i first saw in the classic “Vintage Thrift Shop”.. which is the best kind of Opp Shop, right?

Mashups By Candlelight, Vol. 2 by Scott Bradlee

And here’s the Vintage Thrift Shop. Glorious.
(Perhaps they could have thought more about the staging, but the song is great.)

I’ve been reading Leticia Keighley’s stories about raising a child with Down’s Syndrome. She’s a naturally gifted writer who draws you in with her candour and strong feeling. This post had me very tearful within minutes.. a real heart-stopper. Have a read and tell me you’re not affected.

In the Blink of an Eye, via Embracing Wade.

I’ve never really listened to Martha, and after seeing this performance I’ve realised my terrible mistake. Here she is live in the Q&A studio singing a beautiful song by her mum (Kate McGarrigle), backed by the lovely tones of Virginia and Jaye of Brighter Later.

Soundscapey duo Jaye Kranz and Virginia Bott were selected to perform as Brighter Later with Martha Wainwright on parts of her Australian tour. The Sydney Opera House banned local support acts, but Martha got them up to accompany anyway.. and she also brought them onto QandA when she was invited to join in the discussion there.

(Virginia is also the musical director of the first chorus band of singers, which is why i’m especially enthusiastic about this performance.)