THE PEARLY SHELLS PLAY RAY By Lachlan Bryan On Friday, 20th May, Steve Purcell’s Pearly Shells Big Band take on Ray Charles at St Kilda’s Memo Music Hall (located at The St Kilda RSL). Performing the music of Ray, one of the twentieth century’s greatest and most influential artists, is an intimidating task but one that, in the hands of Purcell and co., should turn out to be a joyous spectacle. The Pearly Shells are the very closest we Australians in 2016 will ever get to the great Hollywood big bands of the 1930s, complete with the signature shell-backed music stands (you’ve probably seen these before in the great dance numbers of old Hollywood films,
such as Singin’ in the Rain). For those of us, myself included, who missed Charles’ final tour to Australia in the early 2000s, this will probably also be the closest we get to the great man himself – well, unless you count Jamie Foxx’s excellent portrayal in the biopic Ray. Memo, an old hall but a relative newcomer on the live scene, is the perfect setting for this show – with plenty of room for dancers. With Purcell as charismatic front-man and a slew of special guests, this is a show not to be missed – it may even be the perfect Mothers’ Day present!
SONGS FROM THE WEST COAST By Lachlan Bryan
Perth’s Davey Craddock follows in the great tradition of Australian songwriters for whom tiny details form the nucleus of powerful songs. Don’t know what I’m talking about? Think of Paul Kelly’s How to Make Gravy, Cold Chisel’s Khe Sanh or pretty much anything from Tim Rogers’ or Perry Keys’ catalogue. Clean cut, articulate and friendly, Craddock subverts the notion of the brooding songwriter, yet manages to compose truly affecting tunes that capture the experience of being a twenty, thirty or even fortysomething in a modern Australian city. City West, Craddock’s debut album, follows music | arts | events | entertainment
a couple of well-received EPs and sees Craddock’s acoustic guitar-based narratives fleshed out but never overpowered by an electric band. Particular highlights include Peaceful Bay, which tells the story of a lonely young girl dealing with isolation and pregnancy whilst working at a coastal caravan park, and Number 9 – a clever, thought-provoking look at adulthood through the eyes of a spectator watching the last few overs of a local cricket match. A regular visitor to Melbourne, Craddock’s next local performance is at The Melbourne Folk Club – recently relocated to Bakehouse Studios in Richmond – on Sunday, 15th May with James Kenyon.
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