Colin Hay at Royal Oak Music Theater, March 27, 2022

Colin Hay at Royal Oak Music Theater, March 27, 2022

"Waiting For My Real Life to Begin" seems like a suitable title for the past two years of pandemic life. COVID-19 isn't gone, but we're collectively doing our best -- some more than others -- to carry on as if it's no longer a defining factor.

So when a friend called and said he had 7th row center seats staring back at him from a computer screen to see Colin Hay, my first instance wasn't to say, "who?" Rather, it was, "yes, I'll go... Who?" 

Colin Hay was the primary songwriter and singer for Men At Work, the popular Australian band. He's touring solo acoustic, and his show is well worth catching. I don't know how full the 1,700 seat Royal Oak Music Theater was, but it sure felt like a good turnout and an enthusiastic crowd.

I wasn't familiar with Hay's solo output, but it didn't really matter. He gave most songs extended humorous introductions. Everything from experiences playing in Ringo's All-Star Band to streets encounters with missionaries was fair game, while keeping his best light-hearted jabs aimed for himself and his biggest fans. Some of the songs off his new album, "Now and the Evermore," released on March 18th, continued in a somewhat lighter manner, at least musically. But scratch the surface, and the singer of "A Man Without a Name" is singing, "I can't answer or explain How / I got here or became / A man without a name." More affecting are the memories, from the new song "Starfish and Unicorns," a tribute to his parents, to one of my new favorites, "Maggie," about a childhood crush.

Hay's set, which spanned 16 songs over a bit more than 2 hours, included a really nice take on The Kinks' "Waterloo Sunset," and the Men at Work hits "Who Can it Be Now?" and "Down Under."

I haven't listened yet to "Now and the Evermore," but I picked up a copy -- signed! -- on vinyl! -- at the show. It's going to get some spins soon