As this represents the first appearance of the Small Hall Sessions in the pages of Muzic NZ, allow me to introduce you! The Small Hall Sessions are the brainchild of Jamie MacPhail, a man with most of the interesting people in Aotearoa’s musical firmament on speed dial. One of the tiny delights known only to the initiated (but always open to anyone willing to partake of the experience), they regularly bring truly world-class entertainment to the far-flung settlements of Hawkes Bay, with multi-night stands by an artist across up to 5 nights spread throughout the halls that form the hub of the local communities. Their reach has extended from Porangahau in the south to Wairoa in the north, and the list of performers that have graced the stages is staggering in its diversity and sheer star power. To pluck 5 of these artists off the top of my head: Reb Fountain, Tami Neilson, Hollie Smith, Julia Deans, and Finn Andrews. So these are events that are small only in capacity, drawing in some big names to perform for audience numbers ranging from 40 in the smallest venue to 120 in the largest. Truly the opportunity to get up close and personal with some great artists, often performing in a stripped-down format, showing the very bones and sinew of their material. Another slice of Te-Matau-a-Maui exclusivity for the rest of the motu to be jealous of!

Fittingly enough, with this marking the Halls’ debut on this outlet, the guest on this session was making his debut as a solo performer in his own right. As Jamie put it, “the first time anyone’s paid money to see him”! He has a long history of playing as part of many combos, to the extent that he’d be well up towards the top of the list of those who’ve performed in the most sessions. But it’s always been as part of a wider outfit, bringing his versatile multi-instrumental skills in an ensemble setting. Again to quote Jamie, “Always the bridesmaid...”. Although it might be equally valid to describe him, given the pivotal role he’s played in many others’ careers as a producer and sideman, as “Ever the midwife”.

Having finally succumbed to Jamie’s convincing, agreeing to perform in a solo setting, Dave Khan took the opportunity to bedazzle an enraptured audience with a selection of dark ballads from an alternative Great American Songbook, one that draws from the likes of Bob Dylan, Townes Van Zandt, Woody Guthrie and similar chroniclers of the rougher side of life. Nothing happy-clappy to be found here! But all pieced together with a mordant wit that drew many laughs and much amusement. The subjects of these songs of joy ranged across the full gamut – Sex and Drugs and Rock and Roll. All my brain and body needs, and very good indeed! With a side of gambling and anthropomorphism for good measure. If that doesn’t sound like your idea of a good night, I don’t know what would!

A big part of the charm of this night was the ease with which the music flowed-from one minute seeming to be trying to remember the setlist left behind in the greenroom, to the magic that burst forth as the memory kicked in. Tuning up to tantalising, in the space of less than a minute! The set being described by Dave as “songs that I like”, obviously these are songs that have deeply embedded themselves into his consciousness, such is the strength of their outflow. And we were the ones fortunate enough to witness this-the unanimous opinion seeming to be that we’d happily do so again. So here’s hoping that Dave takes this as the stepping stone to more appearances in this format-there’ll always be an audience in Poukawa, that’s for sure!

Photo Credit: Andrew Caldwell

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