A veteran musical act announcing they’re about to perform a new song live can often be the cue for many punters to head to the bar.
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However, Colin Hay, former frontman for Aussie rock hit-makers Men at Work said this isn’t typically an issue for him at his shows.
“They don't tend to do that... I don't even bother telling them anyway,” he said. “I don't say, 'here's a song from the new record', I just play it. They wouldn't know (that way). So by the time I've played it they either like it or they don’t.”
Men at Work aside, Scottish born singer-songwriter Hay has embarked upon an extensive solo career, and released Fierce Mercy, his 13th solo album, last year.
Hay, who has been based in Los Angeles for the past few decades, returns to Australia with his US band. The tour includes a show at Anita’s Theatre on Friday, February 2.
The band features Cuban, San Miguel Perez on guitar, tres and vocals, with fellow Cuban Yosmel Montejo on bass and vocals; Scheila Gonzalez on keyboard, flute, sax and vocals; Cecilia Noel on percussion and vocals and Jimmy Branly on drums.
Hay said attendees could expect a career-spanning set, from Men at Work through to his latest solo records.
Hay said he still enjoyed playing Men at Work songs. “I probably enjoy playing new songs much better, simply because they're new songs and so you always like to play newer songs because it's more current,” he said.
“With the band shows so to speak, there's some Men at Work songs... Which are obviously big punctuation marks, whether it’s Down Under, Who Can it Be Now?, Overkill, It's A Mistake, Be Good Johnny.”
Hay said it was a case of the aforementioned hits being undeniable.
“So you can't ignore them. But there’s a lot of people that come along and see me who have seen me over the past, say 20 or 25 years who love songs that I’ve done since then.
“So I suppose people who haven’t particularly been paying attention to what I've done since Men at Work come along and want to hear those songs. But there's a lot of people who don't particularly care about that so much, (because) they've really been following me ever since.
“So it's good in a way, because people react to different songs. It's not like people are just waiting to hear Down Under or Who Can it Be Now? If it was like that then I'd probably just stay home, I wouldn't really bother because it really wouldn't particularly be worth it.
“Unless of course you need to renovate the kitchen, and then you do what you have to do,” he joked.
Brendan Crabb
I'm a member of ACM's national property team, covering the Illawarra and South Coast. Based in Albion Park, NSW, I write about exciting, interesting or just downright quirky properties that have been listed for sale, major sales, market trends, auctions and more. One of my favourite aspects of being a journalist is I believe everyone has a story to tell. What's yours?
I'm a member of ACM's national property team, covering the Illawarra and South Coast. Based in Albion Park, NSW, I write about exciting, interesting or just downright quirky properties that have been listed for sale, major sales, market trends, auctions and more. One of my favourite aspects of being a journalist is I believe everyone has a story to tell. What's yours?
