Colin Hay
Acoustic Performance
Bears Den Inside Seneca Niagara Casino
Niagara Falls, NY
May 12, 2012
Review/Photos By: Joseph Suto
Sometimes bands or artists start their career off by burning up the charts, then for one reason or another things dematerialize and they never recover. Case in point with the Australian band Men At Work, whose main member Colin Hay, performed in acoustic fashion Saturday evening at The Bears Den. Hay was a one man band with his three guitars and a microphone as he showered the crowd with his wit and humor along with his music.
Hay started things off with “Wayfaring Sons” the self titled cut from his 1990 solo album. From there it took awhile before he broke into the next song. By the time he played his next song, the chart topping breakthrough with Men At Work “Who Can It Be Now?”, the crowd was easily enthralled. It is hard to believe that Hay has now released a total of eleven solo albums. What he did do was focus mostly on the post Men At Work material. Perhaps the lone blemish on the evening was that he failed to play his other #1 hit “Down Under”. How often does an artist or band ever do that?
Hay is a darn good entertainer as he told stories about a wide range of topics such as The Beatles, Paul McCartney, Ringo Starr and many other facets of life. More than that he even took several pot shots at himself and his career. Hay has said numerous times it has been a long road to try to get back to respectability as he has played to less than a hundred people numerous times over the years.
This will more than likely be as close to a Men At Work concert anyone will probably ever see. Hay was the main songwriter and lead vocalist on the majority of their short three album career. Former member Greg Ham, who played keyboards and sax, passed away a short time ago as Hay brought to light as he introduced “Blue For You” a song he said Ham really enjoyed. Don’t let this appearance as an acoustic show beguile you as Hay brings humor and comicality to his show. If you’re real good he might even treat you to some of his fantastic music as well.
Set List
Wayfaring Sons
Who Can It Be Now?
Conversation
Beautiful World
Gathering Mercury
Family Man
Going Somewhere
Blue For You
Maggie
Far From Home
Prison Time
Send Somebody
I Just Don’t Think I’ll Ever Get Over You
Overkill
Waiting For My Real Life to Begin
Special Thanks to Tony Astran for setting us up to review the show
