October 31st tends to be synonymous with themed nights, costume parties, fake blood and (as seen this year) answering the door to about 95 mini Elsas.

But last Friday night at The Capri on Goodwood Road, once the doors were closed on the beautiful art deco cinema, both Halloween and the countless Disney princesses were forgotten.

Singer/songwriter and Australian 90s pop icon Rick Price played an intimate set for a small, but appreciative, crowd at one of Adelaide’s most stunning, yet underused venues.

Price was supported by acoustic act Ian ‘Bushy’ Martin who entertained the crowd with a set of rather sweet songs about his life and family.

But if there was any doubt that the main act could still hit those notes that shot him to fame with the 1992 ballad ‘Heaven Knows’ they were laid to rest pretty quickly – the man can sing. Damned well, too.

Playing a selection of songs from his extensive catalogue, Price proved himself to be a master storyteller, his guitar becoming a prop through which he regales the tales.

Chatting easily and casually with the audience and sometimes coming down from the stage to play, Price was engaging and entertaining, and still as handsome as ever.

Moving between piano, guitar and ukelele, Price played many songs from his new album Tennessee Sky which is due for release in 2015, and a few old favourites.

Tennessee Sky, according to Price, is inspired by the sounds of gospel music; and the songs have the profound ability to transport you to a different time conjuring images of old churches, cotton fields and rusty freight trains rattling along.

Rick Price has now jet-setted out of here to head to Europe for a tour with Tommy Emmanuel, but it’s not too late to grab his back catalogue and pre-order his new album which you can do by clicking here.

Reviewed by Libby Parker
Photo supplied by Rick Price

***