Like most people in the 80s I dug Men At Work. I wasn’t a big fan, but I’m pretty sure I had Business As Usual on cassette, and I certainly wouldn’t change the station when they were on. But thanks to Zach Braff placing former frontman, Colin Hay in a couple episodes of Scrubs, I grew a deeper appreciation for his songwriting. Colin keeps up a pretty regular touring schedule, playing acoustic sets in small clubs. Finally last night I had a chance to catch one.
His opening act, also solo on acoustic guitar was Chris Trapper. He was a solid opener – of a similar style and laid-back mood. He played an entertaining collection of songs from light to melancholy, with some nice banter along the way. His last song however, really hit us off guard. It was a funeral sendoff, as sung from the recently deceased, with a bit of the feel of an Irish drinking song. The line “Don’t waste time praying, cus I’m never coming back. Just throw a party in my name” got us. Nige would’ve loved that.
Well, on to Colin then. Watching his set feels about like spending an evening hanging out at his house. The years of traveling and performing, especially solo, have really given him an ease with it all. He treats you to stories – maybe about a lost friend (sigh), or about a Beatle doing his dishes (poorly), or even just about Thursday nights (solid, they are). And they aren’t just a couple clever sentences segueing songs, but real unrushed sit-back-with-a-beer stories. At times the songs seem like transitions between stories. But his songs were of course the star. His voice filled the room with his unique, part Australian / part Scottish accent, and we were instantly transported 30 (!) years with “Who could it be Now” and “Overkill”.
