Last night I headed out to Mingara Rec Club to see Australia’s own king of swing, David Campbell. The crowd was more diverse than any I’ve seen before, with folks from 18 to 80 filling the auditorium.
They all rose to their feet as David made his way from the rear of the room to the stage, with his band behind him. They played the opening strains of “King of the Road” as David greeted the enthusiastic audience with high fives and kisses.
Once he took the stage he filled it, with the sort of energy and personality I haven’t witnessed for some time. He encouraged us to sing along, and we were all compelled to comply. The upbeat fun continued with a rollicking rendition of “This Ole House.”
Swing and old fashioned rock and roll was the order of the day, but David delivers them both with such passion that the classic tunes never seem dated. His larger than life personality shines through in all of it, whether it’s hamming it up with a cover of his daddy’s hit “Cheap Wine” or joking about recent gay rumours.
While David’s a very funny guy, it wasn’t all lighthearted. His empowered rendition of “That’s Life” was spellbinding, and I felt myself tear up when he played “One for the Road” and “Mr Bojangles.”
David’s touring to support his recent Swing Sessions 2 recording, but he knows people will never tire of this turn as Johnny O’Keefe. So it was a real thrill to hear “She’s My Baby” and of course, “Shout.”
With his penchant for swing standards I suppose comparisons with Michael Bublé are unavoidable. I’ve seen them both live, and I honestly believe David is every bit as good as the Canadian megastar. Both perform with equal measures of cheeky charisma and reverence for the classics. Both make these old songs relevant today. And both are drop dead gorgeous. Don’t wait until Michael’s shows in May to get your live swing fix. David Campbell is touring around the country now.
