Tag: Doug Parkinson

After seeing six concerts in the last two weeks, I’m feeling a bit exhausted. Of course none were on the Central Coast, so those trips up and down the freeway have taken their toll. I might be bleary-eyed and running on empty right now, but among them were some of the best shows I’ve ever seen. I love the excitement of a big-name show by an A-List artist but I think there’s also something so special about catching a great act in an RSL. He might not have been Prince or Rob Thomas, but I was pretty psyched about seeing Doug Parkinson paying tribute to Joe Cocker at Newcastle’s West Leagues.

A Newcastle boy himself, as Doug informed us, he seemed to be in good spirits as he took to the stage. The first half of the set was made up of familiar covers that you’ve likely heard him performing before. He regaled us with tales of the times he recorded this song or fell in love with that. “Unchained Melody” and “You Don’t Know Me.” Doug must have sung “Dear Prudence” more times than he can count, but you wouldn’t know it based on his heartfelt delivery. Doug’s voice doesn’t have quite the precision it once did, but what it lacks in refinement it makes up for in richness. Even in his advancing years, he has one of the most stunning voices on the Australian musical landscape. I couldn’t wait to see what he’d do to the songs of Joe Cocker in the second half.

In many ways the life of Joe Cocker echoed Doug’s own journey. Both were boys from industry towns, a little wild in their day, that made their living singing passionate renditions of other people’s songs. It should have been the perfect marriage, but there were a few things that left me wanting more. Clearly Doug is more comfortable with the covers in the first half than the Joe Cocker songs in the second. He forgot the lyrics countless times and didn’t hide the fact very well either. That sort of stuff really should be sorted out before a tour goes live I think. Doug can certainly sing better than Joe ever could. His rendition of “You Are So Beautiful,” with a much sweeter ending than Joe Cocker’s slightly out-of-tune squeaking, left no doubt about that. But there’s a real passion for the material that I found lacking a few times. It was especially apparent in “With a Little Help From My Friends.” I remember watching the live footage from Woodstock shortly after Joe’s passing and marvelling at the way it can still give me goosebumps. You will not find a cover that’s delivered with more passion. Doug sang it well, but he certainly didn’t dig in to the song the way I wanted him to.

That being said, I still had a fun night. And for $35, I’ve got no right to complain. It was worth that to see Doug doing “Dear Prudence” again and unleashing his sexy side in “You Can Leave Your Hat On.” “Up Where We Belong,” which saw Doug duetting with his stellar backing vocalists, was another special moment. A night out with Doug and such quality songs can never be a bad thing. However, the flaws detracted a little and they made this night out less than it might have been.

Image source: own photo