Paul Kelly and co coming back for more

Paul Kelly and The Merri Soul Sessions singers and band members. Photo / Supplied

The past couple of times Paul Kelly has crossed the Tasman he's travelled light. Just a big book of songs and a sideman or two.

This time the veteran singer-songwriter is one of 10.

He's bringing the musicians and the voices that appeared on The Merri Soul Sessions, last year's album of Kelly songs - some old, some new - in which he shares vocal duties with five others.

TMSS album has turned into an acclaimed hit tour in Australia - "it went gangbusters actually", says Kelly by phone - and it's heading to Auckland's Powerstation next Sunday.

The seed for the soul-shaped multi-voiced album sprang from having played many times with singers Vika and Linda Bull. Kelly wanted to ensure Vika's live version of his classic Sweet Guy was recorded.

"It's one of those things that, like most of my ideas, I don't quite know what I am doing until I am in the middle of it."

That was the start of corralling other Australian singers to interpret his songs alongside him and the band in a two-week studio session. "We went into the studio thinking we might make an EP but just got on a roll and it turned into an album."

Kelly's voice is still prominent among the tracks. But there's plenty of space to shine given to the Bull sisters as well as relative newcomers Clairy Browne, Kira Puru and singer-songwriter Dan Sultan, all of whom are heading here with Kelly and backing band.

Kelly has long written for others, especially for women, and his first-person narrative songs often come from a woman's perspective.

So having his words coming out of others' mouths isn't too much of an adjustment. "For me it's not a radical change. I am going along a course I have followed for a lot of years. I have written a lot for other singers and soul singers in Australia ... but they sang my songs on their records. So this was it in the one place.

"I was inspired by Ike Turner," he chuckles about the R&B band leader with the damaged reputation for his treatment of Tina Turner, "without the bad stuff. I was inspired by the good side of Ike."

He laughs when it's suggested that maybe Pops Staples, the paternal guitar-playing leader of the Staple Singers, may be a better role model.

Live, it's a pretty relaxed show for Pops Kelly. He sings some songs, including some more of his vast songbook arranged for the soul revue type show, plays rhythm guitar, does some harmonies, even has a couple of songs off. Nice work if you can get it.

"Yeah I love it. I don't know why I didn't think of this before."

What: The Merri Soul Sessions Tour
When and where: The Powerstation Auckland, Sunday April 12

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