Paul McDermott. He’s witty, outrageous and sings like an angel. And now he’s partnered up with Steve Gates from comedy group – Tripod. They’ve been touring the country singing songs of beauty. But that’s not what this show is about, they explained. For the Fringe, they have a bunch of lighter, silly songs to share, about things like shopping malls, unsung heroes and Tim Finn.

Both have amazing voices – the sort you could listen to all day long, and they harmonised beautifully, with Steve providing the instrumentals on guitar and sometimes ukulele. The songs were interwoven with funny stories and anecdotes, such as Paul’s appendix operation and the washing of his intestines, which made us laugh and feel squeamish. Steve played the nice guy, trying to pull Paul back in line when he wandered off track with his comic rants. The pair bounced off each other, with banter reminiscent of the Doug Anthony All Stars.

Paul is sporting a different look from his Good News Week days. Now in his 50s, his big, grey beard and shaggy hair look a lot like Santa’s. But if you think age may have mellowed Paul, think again. He’s still as cheeky and rude as ever. But they encouraged the audience to just come up and tell them if they crossed the line, rather than trolling them on Twitter the next day.

One of the intriguing things about these guys was their ability to switch from lightheartedness in one moment to deeply moving songs in the next. And it was in these moments that the pair really excelled. The audience was captivated by the duo’s delivery of songs with a touch of melancholy and heartbreak.

I was left wanting more, which was beneficial for the duo as they reminded us their CD was for sale outside. The dynamic between the two really worked and their show had a bit of everything – fun songs, poignant songs and comedy. Go Gatesy and Macca!

By Carolyn J Wild

Dates: March 1 – 10

Venue: The Spiegeltent, Garden of Unearthly Delights

Tickets: https://adelaidefringe.com.au/fringetix/paul-mcdermott-and-steven-gates-af2019