Music Man’s Legacy of Song
By GILL COOPER
There’s no doubting the talents of country star Troy Cassar-Daley as a song-writer and performer, whatever genre of music you prefer.
Cassar-Daley used a recent one-off visit to Geelong to launch his Greatest Hits tour around Australia’s regional cities and towns, before an appreciate audience of local fans, old and new.
The intimate stage of GPAC’s Drama Theatre was pared back to bare props – tall stool, guitar on a stand, electric keyboard, harmonicas, didgeridoo, simple lighting and set song sheets for the man himself and 18-year-old daughter Jem.
He proudly introduced Jem “to my people” as the show’s opening act and fledgling keyboard artist and singer. She capably delivered a mix of nostalgic covers from the likes of Carol King as well as a poignant coming-of-age original “Finding My Own Song”.
Joining her famous country music father on tour this year after a scattering of duets at Tamworth, this final track really hit the mark. It also showed great signs for her future identity as an artist in her own right. Delivering her first full solo set, she shrugged off minor tech glitches to hold her composure and nail a haunting delivery of “I’m A Ghost In This House”.
Cold Chisel’s Flame Trees received a fresh take while family favourite I Can’t Make You Love Me showed off Jem’s keyboard skills, warm tone and strong range. Her modest, genuine thanks to “a lovely crowd” drew a warm response from locals.
Golden Guitar Award winner Cassar-Daley’s own performance ever-so-gently amplified what decades of experience on the road has done to refine his own impressive musicianship and audience repartee to ensure an entertaining show for all ages.
A story-teller at heart, Cassar-Daley weaves yarns of family history, industry friendships with Paul Kelly and Jimmy Barnes and his own Indigenous heritage into a very special acoustic show for followers of the Australian country music scene.
For a man who admits to initially wanting to emulate guitar hero Tommy Emmanuel, his highly developed skills on multiple instruments, including his own warm tenor voice, has carried Cassar-Daley on a different road to deserved industry success.
A scattering of hits from his ‘greatest’ collection featured at the Geelong gig. These included Wouldn’t Change a Thing, Trains, River Boy, Bird on A Wire, Sing About This Country, Home, Freedom Ride, Things I Carry Around and Born to Survive – which strikes a chord for those with rural connections.
However, his mastery of intricate fretwork on guitar, high energy, sense of fun, warmth and interaction continues to impress well into the night, along with Cassar-Daley’s abiding respect for the bonds of family and country.
By encouraging a mature audience to sing-along with him for the familiar ‘Lights on The Hill’ cover of Slim Dusty’s classic and other suitable tracks, he keeps them in the palm of his hand. And his smooth blending of flesh and blood harmonies during a mid-show duet with his daughter Jem was itself a gem.
Cassar-Daley’s wistful, feel-good rendition of Dream Out Loud and eery dedication to slain indigenous communities in the award-winning Shadows on the Hill stand out for their magical appeal across the generations.
Authentic as ever, Troy Cassar-Daley generously shares true personal stories behind his song lyrics, which should impress other audiences well into their next road trip…