REVIEW: PAUL DEMPSEY W/ DIDIRRI - TWILIGHT AT TARONGA
Nestled in the Taronga Zoo amphitheatre, sprawled out on a picnic blanket with cold drink in hand, serenaded by the sublime sounds of Melbourne’s Didirri – is there a more perfect way to spend a Friday evening in Sydney?
That is until an intense thunderstorm brought it all to an abrupt halt; the sky blackened, huge bolts of lightning flashed across the backdrop and Didirri’s beautiful solo set was cut painfully short. Yet the peculiar thing was, even as the rain started to fall, not one person got up to leave. Several people did leap up to join the growing merchandise/poncho line, but it took an official evacuation announcement from organisers before the crowd started moving.
Sometimes it’s the wild and unpredictable ‘inconveniences’ that make a show unforgettable. No, nobody wants to get absolutely drenched at an outdoor show, yet huddled together in the toilet block and dripping wet, there emerged a strange sense of camaraderie between us all. The girl next to me turned to an equally soggy stranger to enquire about his favourite Paul Dempsey song while the couple next to me giggled about checking whether the bar was still open as the storm raged on.
To be honest, at this point I thought the weather had won, but staff finally waved us back down to the lawn. Without hesitation, the crowd returned, wringing out their blankets with no complaints. And it turned out Paul Dempsey had something of a treat for us. See, in the extra time they were backstage, the band had quickly learned Fleetwood Mac’s ‘Dreams’ – a fitting cover to restart the night.
Looking out over the large crowd that had stuck it out, Dempsey began by saying, “I’m not going to ask how you are… I’m just going to say thank you.” And for those who feared the set back would shorten the show, Dempsey crammed as many classics as possible without compromise. As the setlist came to life, I watched as each member of the audience recognised their favourite, a different song for each. A group of previously unacquainted kids found their way to the front, chatting with Dempsey throughout the set, while parents began their musical education, introducing their children to the songs they’d grown up with.
A surprise cover of Amy Shark’s ‘Adore’ was also a crowd favourite, as well as tracks from Dempsey’s most recent album including ‘Morningless’.
In spite of it all, this show was incredibly special – perhaps more so, having been such a touch-and-go turn of events – and I just know it will remain a favourite for many. My only heartbreak was not being allowed to indulge a little longer in the incredible voice of Didirri, though the rendition of ‘Blind You’ we were granted was just enough to make this saturated girl very, very happy.
Written by: Sheri Young
