Venue: Variety Playhouse, Atlanta
Support: Michael Tolcher
In the Company of: Chris, Joel C., Margo C., Nathan J., Alexa J.
At 56 years of age, Colin Hay has little to prove. Reaching the peaks of success in the eighties with his band Men at Work, Hay put together an impressive body of work. The band’s first album, Business As Usual, stayed in the top spot on the U.S. charts for fifteen weeks in late ’82 and early ’83.
After only three studio albums, Men at Work called it quits, paving the way for a Colin Hay solo career. Born in Scotland in 1953, Hay’s family moved to Australia when he was fourteen. So, it was a surprise for many when Hay spoke with a Scottish brogue when everyone knows he comes from a land down under.
Hay kicked off the show with “Oh California,” an ode to his adopted American home. In an effort to “sound like Cat Stevens,” he performed “No Time.” Hay is touring with the ultimate stripped down set: just an acoustic guitar and catalog of catchy tunes. Coming from the new wave/alternative rock scene of the early eighties, it’s a wonder his new sound works. But it does. The lead-off single from that first release, “Who Can It Be Now,” sounded as fresh and relevant today as it did twenty-seven years ago (“Who can it be knocking at my door? / Go away, don't come 'round here no more / Can't you see that it's late at night? / I'm very tired, and I'm not feeling right”).
While the music was outstanding, between-the-songs banter was brilliant. Hay is a master storyteller of the hilarious kind. Mostly talking about the early days, his family, and life in America, Hay had the crowd doubling over with laughter for what seemed like half the show. Yes, we paid to hear that pure, raspy voice sing those incredible songs, but this was like getting two shows in one.
He did his fair share of jabbing at contemporaries who, let’s just say, have enjoyed a little more success. Hay expressed his true admiration of Sting’s shoulders. “I mean, he’s an incredible singer and songwriter - ‘Roxanne!’ – but have you seen those shoulders?” And fun was also made of Sting’s name. He then went on to have a run on U2’s the Edge, and how Edge’s grandmother may have reacted to hearing his new nickname (“He’s calling himself what?”). Not coincidentally, Men at Work, the Police, and U2 were all vying for record sales at the same time. So, you may say Colin is a tad bitter, but I’d like to believe that he’s just having some fun.
Getting back into the music, Hay performed “Down Under,” which is to this day the most successful song he’s written (“Do you come from a land down under? / Where women glow and men plunder? / Can’t you hear, can’t you hear the thunder? / You better run, you better take cover”). “Water Over You” is an exceptionally beautiful tune written for Hay’s father.
A surprising side note to the evening was Hay’s incredible guitar ability. While not a key guitar player in his days with Men at Work, he ruled the frets this evening.
Every artist who’s ever gone solo from a successful band has that one (hopefully, at least one) single that defines his or her new venture. Arguably for Colin Hay, that song is “Beautiful World.” It seems to define the second chapter in his professional life, with an affirmative message on life. Hay sings, “My, my, my it’s a beautiful world / I like swimming in the sea / I like to go out beyond the white breakers / Where a man can still be free (or a woman if you are one) / I like swimming in the sea.” This one was a gem.
Then there was “Waiting For My Real Life To Begin,” which hints at a third chapter. Hay informed the crowd that this song referred to his wish that he could return to the glory days of his success (“Any minute now, my ship is coming in / I'll keep checking the horizon / I'll stand on the bow, feel the waves come crashing / Come crashing down, down, down on me”).
Before his final song, Hay shared with us his opinion on encores: they’re silly. “I’m just going backstage and stand there like a fool. How about I just stay here and do one more?” That one more was the wonderful “Overkill,” from 1983’s Cargo.
Opening the show was Atlantan Michael Tolcher, who like the headliner, offered up an acoustic set of beauties. Also like Hay, Tolcher has had his music featured on the TV series Scrubs. Telling the throngs at the Variety Playhouse about the call he received to open for Colin Hay, Tolcher repeated his answer to the caller: “Hell yeah! How much do I have to pay?”
After working with the likes of producer Will Turpin (Collective Soul), Tolcher has created a fine catalog of songs. “Sooner Or Later” is a beauty that you’ve probably heard (“Sooner or later / We'll be lookin' back on everything / And we'll laugh about it like we knew what all was happening / And someday you might listen to what people have to say / Now you learn the hard way”).
Tolcher’s smooth vocals and exceptional guitar work made him a crowd favorite. Catch him on the road if he comes to your city.
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