Carole King

13.01.13 Brisbane Entertainment Centre

The last time Carole King passed through Brisbane it was part of a double-header with James Taylor. It was a helluva gig: one the best of the last five years. This time around King is touring Australia under her own steam. With a five-piece band, and two additional singers, King’s Brisbane stopover felt more like a recital than a typical big name concert. Let’s face it, when you’re in the presence of song-writing royalty you want to listen to every word and enjoy those near perfect pop melodies.

One of the great songwriters of her generation King hit the stage all in black and took her place at the grand piano.  Home Again opened proceedings and then it was into the first heart stopper of the evening, Up On The Roof. Together with her early song writing partner, and husband, Gerry Goffin, King did her part in fusing rock and roll with pop. These songs are part of our shared DNA. Way Over Yonder is next and then it’s onto the “Gilmoure Girls Theme”, with revised lyrics that celebrate the sisterhood, Where You Lead.

Surprisingly, for a venue of this size, King’s sole video screen only displayed static images: maybe King is camera shy, but in a room this size screens are a big help.

As King explored the margins of her songbook, the show lifted substantially in the final furlong. The spectre of Tapestry, one of the biggest albums of the 1970’s, always hangs over King: and she didn’t disappoint.

It’s Too Late was sheer magic, and then came her re-appropriation of the hit she co-wrote for the Shirelles, Will You Still Love Me Tomorrow. I Feel The Earth Move was fantastic: there’s something about the way King hits those keys that’s not only idiosyncratic … it’s primal.

Called back for a well-deserved encore King & Co didn’t disappoint. So Far Away really is timeless. The only way to follow it was to perform her take on the tune she and Goffin penned for Aretha Franklin, (You Make Me Feel Like) A Natural Woman. After You’ve Got a Friend, King left the stage. We were in the company of one of the titans of modern music. It was a privilege to be there.

Sean Sennett